Phone fraud alert from An Garda

A warning has been issued by Naas gardai against attempted fraud by phone calls to people's landlines, writes Brian Byrne.

They are aware that a number of such calls have been made in the area, by people allegedly representing financial or other organisations and looking for bank details or other personal information.

The rule is simple. Don't ever give such details over the phone to an unsolicited caller. In the first instance, take their number and tell them you'll call back after you have validated their identity.

Make contact directly with the organisation they purport to represent — using the organisation's number as published on their website, NOT the one the caller gave you — and find out if it is a genuine call.

There are also scam texts around. As a rule, don't click on any links that come in a text from somebody you don't know — it could put malware on your phone that can extract personal details.

More information here on staying out of the fraudster's clutches.

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