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The Irish have lost a staggering 3 million euros to investment fraud so far this year.
The vast majority of the cases involved people who were tricked into investing in cryptocurrencies, mainly through pop-up ads and online searches.
When people enter their details on such a site, the scammers contact them immediately and can gain access to computers or bank account details.
Gardai says this type of fraud is often underreported, mainly due to embarrassment.
Another popular forum for scammers is “pushy sales pitches,” where the victim is told they have a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to invest.
A staggering € 2.94 million was stolen in the first eight months of the year, while the total amount seized in 2019 was € 3.3 million.
According to gardai, almost 80% of those who reported this type of fraud were over 40 years old, while only 6% were under 30 years old.
Cases were reported from all over Ireland.
At a press conference this morning, Gardai appealed to anyone who is a victim of such crimes to come forward.
They also urged people to seek legal and financial advice before investing in anything, and to no longer respond to so-called “pop-up” ads online or “cold calls” on their phone.
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A spokeswoman said: “Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Key signs of investment fraud:
- The victim receives a cold call, that is, he receives an unexpected phone call or receives an email or is contacted through social networks about a great investment opportunity.
- The victim is rushed and pressured to make a decision on the spot, with no opportunity or time to consider the investment opportunity.
- There is the promise of a quick and profitable return on investment with little or no risk, and
- If the victim does a little research on the company name and sees terms such as “this broker’s reputation is dubious” or “at best it is an unregulated broker” then caution should be exercised and the victim should steer clear. .
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