More than half of payment fraud cases reported by AIB customers this year began with text messages.
The bank said the scam method, referred to as smishing, was responsible for 57% of reported fraud incidents during the first ten months of 2025, reports RTE.
The data was published as AIB called on people to remain especially alert to scams during the festive season.
“In the run up to Christmas as people attend school plays, get through work and go to Christmas parties, while getting last minute shopping done, AIB is urging vigilance against scammers who prey on busy people becoming distracted,” reports RTE.
As fraudsters continue to adapt their approaches, the bank warned that criminals are “developing sophisticated scams which are targeting individuals and businesses alike”.
AIB said smishing has been the most prevalent scam this year, based on customer reports from January to October, reports RTE.
The scam involves criminals sending convincing text messages pretending to be banks, delivery firms or government bodies, prompting people to click links, ring phone numbers or share security codes.
The bank has advised customers to “never click on links or call numbers from unexpected texts”, reports RTE.
“Always contact the sender using trusted details,” it added, reports RTE.
AIB is also warning about so-called safe account scams, where criminals impersonate bank staff, claim an account has been compromised and instruct victims to transfer money to an account controlled by the fraudsters.
The bank said a legitimate bank will never ask customers to move money for security reasons and advised that in such situations people should “hang up immediately”, reports RTE.
Eight percent of reported fraud cases related to investment scams and while volumes are lower, AIB said the financial losses involved can be much greater.
It said fraudsters promise high returns through fake investment opportunities, often linked to cryptocurrency, bonds or precious metals, reports RTE.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Seek independent financial advice before investing,” reports RTE.
The figures also show that romance scams accounted for 2% of recorded fraud incidents.
AIB said romance scam fraudsters “create fake online identities to build emotional relationships and trick victims into sending money or personal information”, reports RTE.
“Never send money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person,” the bank advised, reports RTE.
Other reported frauds this year included money mule recruitment, where individuals are lured into moving stolen funds through their accounts under the guise of ‘easy money’ jobs, as well as shopping scams involving cloned websites or fake social media shops offering goods that do not exist.
The Head of Financial Crime at AIB said fraudsters are “constantly adapting their methods, making scams harder to spot than ever before”, reports RTE.
Mary McHale said awareness is the strongest defence, explaining that it involves “knowing what to look for and taking a moment to wait a second and double check before acting which can make all the difference”, reports RTE.
“Ask yourself could this be a scam? You may be busy this festive season but always take the time to check,” reports RTE.
“It could save you tens of thousands of euro and could be the difference between a merry Christmas and a broke one,” she added, reports RTE.
Ms McHale said AIB continues to invest in strengthening its fraud monitoring systems to respond to emerging and existing fraud trends.
She encouraged people to visit the security centre on the bank’s website for guidance on protecting themselves from fraud, reports RTE.
Last year, Bank of Ireland’s fraud prevention team received more than 10,000 calls from customers during the peak Christmas period from 23 to 29 December, including 550 calls on Christmas Day alone.
The bank is also urging customers to remain alert to smishing scams over the festive period, reports RTE.
“With online shopping and parcel deliveries at peak levels, scammers are sending texts that look like they’ve been sent by trusted delivery companies, motorway toll services, utility providers, government agencies or even from the banks themselves,” the bank said in a statement, reports RTE.
It said these fraudulent messages often contain links to fake websites designed to steal card or online banking details, or pressure people into paying delivery or customs charges or updating bank account information.
“Other ‘smishing’ texts will contain a fake phone number that, when called, connects you to a fraudster posing as a representative of the company or from your own bank,” reports RTE.
Bank of Ireland also said its dedicated fraud support team will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout Christmas and into the New Year.
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