- Most consumers ignored, deleted or blocked suspicious calls and messages, but only 15% checked if the company or website mentioned in a text or email was legitimate
- One in four people reported that suspicious calls and messages seemed AI-generated
- FraudSMART campaign focusing on the dangers of ‘social engineering’ tactics encourages consumers to pause and ‘See the scam behind the screen’
Scams are now part of everyday life for consumers, with the vast majority (85%) of Irish adults reporting that they have received suspicious calls, text messages, emails or online content at least once a month, according to the latest research undertaken by FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). More than half (51%) also believed they encountered more suspicious communications than last year. The research is published as FraudSMART launches its awareness campaign, See the Scam behind the Screen, which warns that fraudsters use social engineering tactics to build trust and trick people into transferring money or sharing personal or financial details.
Key findings from the research show that on a monthly basis:
- 85% of Irish adults reported encountering suspicious activity through phone calls, text messages, emails or online content.
- More than half of adults (51%) said they encountered more suspicious activity than the same time last year.
- Consumers most commonly encountered suspicious activity through mobile phone calls (61%), text messages (58%), and emails (51%).
- One in ten reported clicking on a link in a text or email before realising it was suspicious.
Red flags
- Respondents said they believed mobile calls and texts were suspicious because they came from numbers they didn’t recognise (48% and 46%, respectively) or they weren’t expecting them (35% and 39%).
- The most common red flag for emails was an unknown sender (39%) followed closely by poorly written content (36%) and unexpected emails (32%).
- One in four reported being suspicious of mobile phone calls, texts or emails because the communication appeared computer-generated or artificial (AI).
Protective measures
- More than half of those who said they received suspicious mobile phone calls said they ignored the calls (55%), with 62% saying they blocked the number. Similarly, 65% of those who said they received suspicious texts deleted the texts while 55% blocked the number.
- Two-thirds (66%) of those who received suspicious emails reported ignoring or deleting them, although less than half (44%) reported blocking a suspicious email address.
- Only 15% checked to see if the company or website referred to in a text or email was legitimate.
Speaking on the publication of today’s research, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI said:
“Our latest research demonstrates just how frequently consumers are being bombarded with suspicious communications, particularly mobile phone calls, text messages and emails. Consumers recognised familiar warning signs in many of these communications, including unknown senders, unexpected contact and poorly written content, indicating that many were likely attempted scams.
Social engineering lies behind many of the scams we see today, with fraudsters manipulating people into taking actions such as clicking a link or transferring money. They often exploit emotions such as fear and sympathy and may spend time building trust. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent communications. Fraudsters can impersonate trusted brands, while advances in AI are making it easier to create convincing content at scale. Through our FraudSMART awareness campaign, See the Scam behind the Screen, we want to encourage people to pause, question unexpected contact and look beyond how professional or familiar something appears before clicking, sharing information or taking action.”
Only 15% of those who had received suspicious texts or emails checked to see if the company or website was legitimate
Ms Davenport continued:
“While it is very positive that many consumers are alert to suspicious communications and taking some protective measures by ignoring, deleting or blocking suspicious calls and messages, worryingly our research reveals that one in 10 consumers have clicked on a link in a text message or email before realising it was suspicious. Only 15% of those who had received suspicious texts or emails checked to see if the company or website mentioned in the communication was legitimate. It’s important to go directly to the official company website or app, use a trusted contact number, and where you are unsure about a website or online communication, check it through Scamchecker.ie before taking any action.”
Simple steps consumers can take to protect themselves
Ms Davenport concluded:
“While scams are becoming more complex, the key message we want to communicate today is that there are a number of simple steps consumers can confidently take to protect themselves from falling victim:
- Think Before You Click – do not click links, open attachments or respond to unexpected messages.
- Check independently - Use the company’s official website, app or a trusted telephone number. Use Scamchecker.ie to check links and websites.
- Protect your Financial Information – never share banking security codes, full PINs, or passwords. Your bank will never ask for them
- Block & Report – block suspicious numbers, emails and social media accounts, and report suspected scams.
- Stay One Step Ahead – sign up for fraud alerts and advice at FraudSMART.ie.
For further information on today’s campaign and information on how you can protect yourself from fraud and scams check out www.FraudSMART.ie
