An Irish farmer has lost “a couple of hundred thousand Euros” after being scammed in an online equipment fraud, warned a cyber tech expert.
Ronan Murphy of SmartTech247, revealed the farmer in Ireland thought he was buying equipment from a UK supplier. Mr Murphy urged businesses to be vigilant when it comes to cyber security, following a rise in increasingly sophisticated scams.
He said businesses need to do everything they can to protect themselves from fraudsters. “The supplier in the UK had clicked on a phishing email, the guys had got access to his computer. These guys comprised the email account. They sent on fake banking information and the money was transferred,” said Mr Murphy.
When the farmer followed up to find out why his equipment had not arrived the supplier told him that it had not been paid for.
The farmer checked their bank account and the money had been cleaned out. Mr Murphy warned that when the money has gone there is no recourse.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of an online scam or fraud, contact your local Garda Station. Copies of all emails, account details, copies of the advertisement or online posting and any other relevant information should be brought to the local Gardai.
LSL News.