Two hundred and forty-six fraud and deception crimes have been reported to gardaí in Co Monaghan so far this year, and 75 of those came in the third quarter of 2026 alone. Superintendent Pat O'Connell gave the figures to last week's meeting of the County Monaghan Joint Policing Committee, the Anglo-Celt reports, with a blunt message for anyone who gets an unexpected text or email: "Do not click on the links."
Where the reports are coming from
Supt O'Connell told the committee that many of the reports gardaí receive are referrals from banks. Others come directly from people who were caught out after clicking on a link in a text message or an email.
"The clear advice is that, if you receive an unsolicited text message or electronic message of any form from a source you do not identify, do not click on links or provide personal data or information because you will find yourself or your bank account compromised," he said.
He explained that scam text messages of this kind are sent from random numbers that appear and disappear quickly. Gardaí assess fraud incidents in a co-ordinated way through their crime unit, he said, and many are caught in time.
He also had a word of credit for the banks. "Banks are quite good at contacting people directly if they have a query about a payment and that is encouraging," he told the meeting.
Free talk in Monaghan Town in December
Barry Eaton, co-ordinator of the Local Community Safety Partnership, told members that AIB's cyber awareness leads John Haren and Audrey Doherty will give a presentation on protecting yourself against online fraud. It will be held at a public meeting of the partnership in St Joseph's Pastoral Centre, Monaghan Town, on Thursday 10 December at 10:30am.
Monaghan County Council Director of Services Nicola Payne pointed to a recent event at Doohamlet Community Centre, which helped older people in the area learn how to protect themselves from online fraud, as a success.
What the Gardaí advise
An Garda Síochána's own fraud advice describes "vishing" and "smishing", where criminals ring or text pretending to be your bank, card provider, a utility or a computer company, and try to get personal, banking or security details out of you, or persuade you to move money. Its advice includes:
- Say no to any unsolicited caller or texter looking for private information, such as your date of birth, account numbers, PIN or passwords.
- Check any request independently, and never use the phone number or contact details the caller or texter gave you.
- Don't trust a caller just because they already know your name or other details about you.
- Never click on a link or attachment in an unsolicited email.
Gardaí stress that neither they nor your bank will ever ask for your PIN or password, ask you to transfer money, or call to your home to collect your card, cheque book or cash.
If you think money has been taken from your account, contact your bank straight away to limit the loss, then report it to your local Garda station. Gardaí also ask people to report attempted frauds where nothing was taken, as the same methods are often used again and the information can help catch the people behind them.
