Fraudsters are using property listings sites to trick would-be renters into handing over money, according to AIB.
The bank's latest Fraud Trend series has warned about a new scam, which sees criminals pose as landlords on legitimate property platforms.
The scammers ask those interested in the property to pay a small deposit to secure a viewing, which they claim is used to discourage no-shows.
Following this the victim receives a call claiming to be from their bank, where they are asked to authorise a small payment and confirm their personal details.
This is then used by the fraudsters to take more money, as well as gain access to the user's other accounts.
AIB says any advert asking for a deposit to secure a viewing to a property should be seen as an immediate red flag. It said consumers should also be cautious about sending any kind of payment before they've viewed a property in-person.
"Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and it's imperative that we don’t let them get one step ahead of us," said Mary McHale, head of financial crime at AIB. "That’s why we should never make payments, even small ones, to view a property.
"If something doesn’t feel right, stop, and wait a sec to double check.Don’t give in to pressure for your banking and security details on a phone call. The best way to protect your money from being stolen is to remain vigilant."
Hi Mam...
A separate warning from Bank of Ireland today says that there has been a "notable" rise in the number of impersonation scams.
This often takes the form of a fraudster posing as a person's child over text, claiming that their phone has been lost or broken and asking for money urgently.
It says there have also been more messages that mimic the bank's own fraud alert texts, which often ask consumers to confirm recent account activity.
"These scam texts are designed to look authentic, using similar wording and formats to real security messages," said the bank. "While Bank of Ireland may contact customers to verify transactions, genuine staff will never ask you to share your full card details, one-time passcodes or to move your money to keep it safe."
It said in all suspicious cases, consumers should first make contact on the number they know to be legitimate to verify the situation.
