Ireland adults lose GBP £760 million to scam texts

Research commissioned by Ekco found that scammers cost adults in Ireland about €760 million over the past year. It also found that 96% of adults encountered a scam or phishing attempt.

The study, carried out by Censuswide among 1,000 adults in Ireland, estimated that 22.1% made one or more payments after believing a communication was legitimate. Based on Ireland's adult population and an average reported loss of €889.69 among those who paid, that equates to an estimated total loss of about €763.6 million.

Respondents reported frequent contact. On average, each person received more than five scam or phishing messages a month, or 63 a year.

Most said they believed they could spot a scam, but the survey suggested that confidence did not always prevent losses. Some 80% said they were confident they could identify a phishing text or email, yet more than one in five still made at least one payment.

A further 15% said they made two or more payments over the course of the year, pointing to repeat victimisation among a notable share of those surveyed.

Common tactics

The most common scam named by respondents was a customs charge payment request, cited by 48% of adults. That was followed by requests to verify payment details at 37% and toll charge payment requests at 27%.

The findings also pointed to the strain created by repeated exposure to fraudulent messages. Some 41% of adults said they felt stressed by the need to stay vigilant against scams.

Views on victims were divided. While many people had either been targeted or had lost money, 24% said people who fall victim to scams are naive or careless, rising to 31% among those aged 18 to 24.

One in nine people who lost money said they had to seek financial help from a loved one after falling victim to cybercrime, suggesting the impact extended beyond the immediate payment for some victims.

Industry response

Ekco, a managed IT and cybersecurity services provider with operations in Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands, said the findings reflected the scale and persistence of online fraud aimed at consumers.

Conor Scolard, director of cyber resilience at Ekco, said: "The reason so many of us are fielding scam attempts month in, month out, is because cybercriminals know they work. And, while most people believe they can spot a scam attempt a mile off, the reality is that they are getting more sophisticated to the point where many are falling victim to scams multiple times per year.

"At Ekco, we are working hard to shut down the cybercrime economy. Businesses and service providers can do their bit by empowering customers to differentiate between legitimate and bogus communications. Doubling down on cyber defences, while also educating consumers about clicking on links, or providing payment information and PINs over the phone, can make a significant difference."

The company employs more than 1,000 people and reports annual revenue of more than €200 million. Its research adds to wider concern among businesses, banks and public bodies in Ireland about fraud attempts that mimic everyday transactions and official notices.

The prevalence of customs fee, payment verification and toll charge scams highlights how criminals are increasingly using familiar, low-value requests to prompt quick action. Such messages often rely on routine digital interactions, making them harder for consumers to dismiss at first glance.

The survey's combination of high exposure, strong self-confidence and significant financial loss points to a gap between awareness and behaviour. With nearly every adult surveyed reporting at least one scam approach and more than a fifth saying they paid, the data suggests fraudulent contact has become a regular feature of daily life for many people in Ireland.

Among those who did pay, the average loss over the year was €890.