Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer is warning people about the re-emergence of a scam involving fraudsters claiming to be Gardaí and telling people they’ve been accused of pornography crimes.
An email containing a Garda logo tells people they are accused of sexual offences by talking to minors and asks the recipient to contact a fake Garda email address with ‘evidence’ or face an arrest warrant and detention.
An Garda Síochána has confirmed the scam email, which first emerged in 2022 but has been circulating in Clare this week, is not genuine and is designed by the scammers to elicit fear and obtain money by deception.
Sergeant Catriona Holohan, who’s based at the Crime Prevention Unit at Ennis Garda Station is warning anyone who receives this email not to respond, but to delete it and block the sender.
The email states “We have initiated legal proceedings against you following seizure by cyber-infiltration for: child pornography, pedophilia, cyber-pornography and exhibitionism.
“Please send evidence by email so that it can be examined and verified within a strict 48-hour period. After this time, we will be forced to send our report to the court in your area to issue and arrest warrant, which will result in your immediate arrest by the security police closest to your home”.
Sergeant Catriona Holohan, who’s based at the Crime Prevention Unit at Ennis Garda Station is warning anyone who receives this email not to respond and not to panic.
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