NEW approaches used by online fraudsters are under investigation by Gardaí in Ennis with €15,000 lost by one woman in a recent scam.
Through the setting up of ghost or cloned Facebook accounts, online fraudsters are identifying actual friends leading people to think they are connecting with people that they know and trust.
Crime prevention officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks outlined that a woman recently sent €15,000 via iTunes, vouchers and physical cash when she was informed that she won the lottery online on Facebook and that in order to release the winnings her ‘friend’ had to send monies to other parties.
“We want to advise people that the person behind the Facebook page may not be the person they think it is and to always refrain from divulging personal information or take part in any online cash windfalls,” Brooks advised.
