VARIOUS scams and frauds are continuing around Limerick in an effort to obtain money from innocent victims. The gardaí say that the most common type of con of late is known as ‘Advance Fee Fraud’, and involves a request for a small payment with the promise of a windfall in return.
“Examples would be bogus lottery schemes, such as the Spanish Lottery and requests for assistance in transferring large sums of money in return for a percentage of the sum”,
explains Crime Prevention Officer Brian Broderick.
“Many of the latter type emanate from West Africa, where the writer claims to be an important government official who wants to transfer large amounts of money out of West Africa.
“It is often claimed that this money has been accumulated as a result of over-invoiced contracts”.
Officer Broderick advises that, once sent, the money will not be seen again.
“Some people have lost very large sums of money through this type of fraud. T
“Contact may be made by the con artist via phone or email and involves sophisticated deception, offering big profits.
“They also contain an element of secrecy and the victim is encouraged not to communicate with anyone”.
He urged that any promises of money from an unknown source be ignored and reported to gardaí.
