It’s the final day of International Fraud Awareness Week, and Bank of Ireland is urging the public to stop, think and check when making online purchases.

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, joined the studio, encouraging listeners to exercise caution when making payments.

Speaking on The Anton Savage Show, Sadlier advised listeners to use a credit or debit card whenever possible, as there are “additional consumer protections” provided by the card schemes.

The Bank of Ireland representative also warned that fraudsters are now “solely targeting customers to make payments.”

“Customers are willingly making payments with their own card information, and what they think they’re buying turns out to be fake or they never receive the goods,” she said.

Sadlier added that these fraudulent activities go beyond small purchase scams and can involve large-scale investment scams - such as Crypto or Quantum AI trading platform purchases, where consumers believe they will receive substantial financial returns.

“It’s really extensive, the manipulation that happens,”she added.

In some cases, consumers may even build relationships with these fraudsters, she explained, with communication lasting “weeks or months.”

Advice for consumers

When advising consumers on navigating online payments, Sadlier urged listeners to “be aware of the level of fake advertisements,” and to seek financial advice where possible when making significant purchases or investments.

She also highlighted the importance of confirming that websites are reputable and safe to use.

“Double check everything,” she said.

For more information visit https://www.bankofireland.com/security-zone/