Gardaí are urging people to look after themselves and their mobile phones this Christmas party season.
The warning was prompted by recent phone thefts in the Dublin area. Thieves have been gaining victims’ PIN codes and subsequently stealing mobile phones to access bank accounts and payment apps.
People have been advised to be more ‘streetwise’ on nights out: Avoid getting over intoxicated, be wary of your surroundings, mind your valuables, protect your mobile devices, never hand your device to a strange person, protect your PIN if using your device at cash terminals.
“Your mobile phone is probably the most expensive item in your possession when you go out socialising,” gardaí said.
“Would you hand your wallet, containing your bank cards and the PIN codes to a stranger?”
Gardaí, particularly in Dublin, are aware of a type of crime which is targeting people making their way home at night. This crime primarily targets males, out during the night time, who may appear vulnerable as they are on their own or may appear inebriated.
The thief, through befriending the injured party, or other forms of deception obtains the injured parties mobile phone and also the PIN number for the device. On occasions the injured party is approached by a ‘good citizen’ or may have gotten into a vehicle on the belief that it is a taxi or that the ‘stranger’ or ‘good citizen’ is offering them a lift.
Once the thief, through deception, has identified the PIN number and stolen the mobile phone they then have access to the phone. This allows them to transfer money from a victim’s bank account to a Revolut account belonging to the criminal. This allows them to withdraw the money at ATMs.
Mobile phones, through modern apps and online banking, are an electronic wallet carrying details of bank accounts and bank cards. An Garda Síochána advises people to ensure passwords and codes for Apple Pay, Revolut, etc, are all different and completely different to the PIN to access the mobile device.
The advice is:
- Always protect your pin codes, when accessing your phone
- Don’t let others see you input your pins
- Don’t open your phone and hand it over to another person
- Have limits set to what can be transferred
- Don’t save pins, etc. on phone – always input them each time
Gardaí attached to the DMR South Central investigating these crime types have recently carried out a number of searches during which stolen property has been recovered. Two males (21 years and 18 years) have been arrested and have appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice in relation to these investigations.
Investigations are ongoing.
This Christmas will see more of us out enjoying the festivities but this also means that the opportunities for criminals and the risk of personal thefts and attacks increases. Gardaí would like to advise the public to be ‘Streetwise’ and have PLANS.
PLAN your night out: How are you travelling? Have you a designated driver? Use Public Transport; busses, trains and Taxis remain the safest modes of travel. If getting a Taxi use Taxi Check (link here) to verify details. Always double check before getting into the car to make sure it is actually a Taxi. Take a picture of the registration/Taxi number. Do not accept unsolicited offers of lifts.
LET : Someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back, if your plan changes let someone know, send a message.
AVOID : Walking alone and in dark places, always try to stay in the company of friends, it’s safer together.
NEVER : Attempt to reason with drunk or aggressive people, walk away and continue to enjoy your night out.
STREETWISE : Avoid getting over intoxicated, be wary of your surroundings, mind your valuables, protect your mobile devices, never hand your device to a strange person, protect your PIN if using your device at cash terminals.
