Banking scams are on the rise in Ireland, with impersonation fraud becoming increasingly sophisticated in the run-up to Christmas. From fake bank calls to convincing automated messages, scammers are finding new ways to trick people into handing over personal and financial information — and Irish consumers are being urged to stay vigilant.
Revolut says impersonation scams are now one of the biggest threats to customer security, particularly phone calls that appear to come from legitimate banks. To tackle this, the digital bank has launched a new live in-app call verification banner, designed to help customers instantly confirm whether a phone call is genuinely from Revolut.
When a Revolut customer receives a call claiming to be from the bank, the app will display a banner confirming whether the call is legitimate. If the banner confirms Revolut is speaking to you, the call is genuine. If not, customers are advised to hang up immediately. By tapping the banner, users are guided through next steps to:
Revolut is also encouraging users to complete its in-app fraud prevention course, which can be accessed through the app’s Security section. The course outlines common scam tactics, warning signs and steps to take if fraud is suspected. Revolut stresses that if a call is fake, the warning is real — and customers should never feel pressured to act quickly.
However, not all Irish consumers use Revolut. Customers with AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB or other traditional banks are still advised to follow universal scam-prevention rules. AIB promotes a simple system that applies to all banks and all types of scams, using the word SAFE.
S – Stop: Pause before acting. Ask yourself who is contacting you, why, and whether you feel rushed or pressured.
A – Assess: Check if the person or message is genuine. Banks will never pressure you to act immediately.
F – Factcheck: Verify the information independently. Banks will never ask for your full login details or tell you not to log into your account for several days.
E – Expose: Contact your bank directly using official contact details for advice.
AIB also operates a 24/7 fraud helpline on 1800 24 22 27, offering immediate support if customers suspect a scam.
The warning comes as many people across Ireland report receiving multiple scam calls every day from UK numbers, often using the +44 prefix. Some individuals say they are receiving up to 10 calls daily, each from a different number. According to Ireland’s communications regulator ComReg, these calls often use automated voices claiming to be from recruitment agencies or human resources departments, attempting to extract personal details.
ComReg advises avoiding answering calls from unknown +44 numbers where possible. While simply answering a call does not compromise your bank account, it can confirm that your number is active, potentially leading to more scam calls. Crucially, regulators stress that as long as no personal information is shared, scammers gain very little beyond knowing the number exists.
With scams becoming more frequent and more convincing, banks are urging customers to slow down, verify everything, and remember one key rule: a real bank will never rush you, scare you, or ask for sensitive details over the phone.
