Phone & SMS Scams
One-ring scams, fake missed calls, Garda impersonation SMS, and more.
Overview
Phone and SMS scams use calls and text messages to trick victims. These range from simple one-ring scams (designed to make you call back a premium number) to sophisticated impersonation of An Garda Síochána, service providers, and government agencies. Scammers exploit caller ID spoofing to make calls appear to come from legitimate numbers.
Common Approaches
How scammers typically operate in this category:
- •One-ring calls from international numbers charging premium rates when called back
- •Texts claiming to be from Gardaí about legal summons or arrest warrants
- •Calls from fake broadband engineers offering "upgrades"
- •Smishing (SMS phishing) with links to fake websites
- •Vishing (voice phishing) calls impersonating banks or government
- •Fake utility company calls threatening disconnection
Scams in this Category (7)
Fake Broadband Engineer Scam
Scammers pose as Eir or Vodafone engineers to gain access to your home, router, or personal data.
One Ring Scam – International Number Trap
Missed calls from international numbers that charge premium rates when you call back.
Fake Garda SMS – Legal Summons Scam
Alarming texts claiming you have missed a court summons or are under investigation.
Vodafone Loyalty Discount Scam – One-Time Code Theft
TrendingScammers call pretending to be Vodafone, offering a 40% loyalty discount, then ask you to share one-time verification codes to hijack your account.
eFlow Toll Text Scam – Fake Unpaid M50 Toll Demands
TrendingTexts claiming an unpaid M50 toll or a "radar ticket", linking to a copy of the eFlow payment page. eFlow says it does not send text messages with links to customers.
Eir Scam Calls – The Fake "Download Speed" Support Call
Cold calls from someone claiming to be from eir, asking about your broadband download speed and modem, then seeking remote access to your device or your card details.
ESB Impersonation Scam – Fake Rebate Calls and Clone Login Pages
Calls offering a rebate and texts or emails linking to a fake login page, using the ESB name. ESB Networks says it will never send a link to a login page, and it is not the company that bills you.
How to Protect Yourself
- Don't call back unknown international numbers
- An Garda Síochána never sends texts about warrants or demands payment
- Verify any engineer visits by calling your provider's official number
- Never give personal information to unsolicited callers
- Ask for reference numbers and call back on official numbers
- Report scam texts by forwarding them to 7726
- Consider call blocking apps for known scam numbers