HSE Scam Texts – Fake Medical Payment Requests

High Risk

Got a message, call or offer like this?

Take your time. Treat it as a scam until you have checked it yourself.

Don't tap links, reply, or ring numbers it gives you. On a call, hang up.
Don't pay, and don't share card details, PINs, passwords or codes.
Check with whoever it claims to be, using contact details you find yourself.

Already paid or shared details? What to do now Full step-by-step guide Report it

Overview

Fraudsters are sending text messages pretending to be from the HSE (Health Service Executive), claiming that recipients owe an outstanding balance for medical services such as hospital visits, blood tests, or GP referrals. The texts contain a link to a convincing fake HSE payment portal designed to steal your banking and personal details. The HSE has confirmed these messages are fraudulent – the HSE never requests payments via SMS or asks patients to click links to settle bills.

What This Scam Looks Like

Tap a highlighted part to see why it's suspicious. Every red flag is also listed under the message.

9:41

100%

+353 87 XXX 91031

Today, 09:47

HSE: You have an outstanding balance of €18.502: red flag 2, show why for medical services (Ref: HSE-2026-84231). Pay now to avoid a late fee of €253: red flag 3, show why. Settle here: https://hse-payments-ie.com/pay4: red flag 4, show why

Text Message

Red flags in this message

1
Sender: +353 87 XXX 9103
Random mobile number – the HSE uses official sender IDs or postal letters, never random phone numbers
2
“€18.50”
The HSE never requests payments via SMS
3
“late fee of €25”
Urgency tactic – the HSE does not threaten late fees by text
4
“https://hse-payments-ie.com/pay”
Fake URL! The real HSE website is hse.ie

Typical Targets

•Anyone who has recently visited a hospital or GP
•Elderly people who attend regular medical appointments
•Parents who have brought children for vaccinations or check-ups
•Medical card holders unfamiliar with billing processes
•People awaiting HSE correspondence about appointments

Why This Scam Works

•Many people have recent interactions with the HSE and assume a bill is plausible
•The amounts are small (€12–€45) so victims pay without questioning
•The fake sites closely mimic the official HSE.ie branding and colours
•Texts create urgency with threats of late fees or referral to debt collection
•People trust health service communications and act quickly
•Victims may confuse this with legitimate hospital charges or drug payment scheme fees

Example

A retired teacher in Galway received a text reading "HSE: Outstanding balance of €18.50 for blood test services. Pay now to avoid a €25 late fee: hse-payments-ie.com". Believing it related to her recent bloods at University Hospital Galway, she clicked the link and entered her debit card details on a site that looked identical to HSE.ie. Within 48 hours, three unauthorised transactions totalling €2,800 appeared on her account, including transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges.

* An illustration of how this scam works, not from a victim case we hold.

How to Avoid This Scam

The HSE NEVER sends payment requests via text message or SMS links
Hospital charges are billed by post through official HSE/hospital letters
Never click links in unexpected texts claiming to be from the HSE
If in doubt, contact your local hospital's accounts department directly
Check the URL carefully – the real HSE website is hse.ie, not hse-payments-ie.com or similar
Mark the text as spam and block the sender
Medical card holders do not pay for public hospital services – if you have a medical card and receive a bill, it is almost certainly a scam
Verify any supposed charges by calling HSELive on 1800 700 700

If You've Been Caught Out

Don't panic – take these steps immediately:

1Contact your bank or credit union immediately to freeze your card and flag the transactions
2Request a chargeback for any unauthorised payments
3Report the scam to An Garda Síochána at your local station
4Report to the HSE directly via hse.ie so they can issue public warnings
5Keep a screenshot of the text to show your bank and the Gardaí
6Change passwords for any online banking or email accounts you may have accessed around the same time
7Monitor your bank statements closely for the following 3–6 months
8Contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for advice

* This information is for guidance only. Always seek professional advice for your specific situation.