A single deceptive text mimicking AIB banking alerts arrives out of the blue, demanding quick replies to supposed transaction holds. This setup screams phishing scam, where fraudsters fish for confirmations to escalate into unauthorized charges or data theft. Don't engage—replying '1' or '9' could trigger premium-rate fees or worse. Block the number immediately, report it to your carrier and Ireland's Data Protection Commission, and verify any real bank issues directly via official channels. Stay vigilant; these traps prey on urgency to bypass caution.
Message received reads: “AIB: A hold has been placed on your account. Did you authorize a €168.90 charge at FOLEY'S PLUMBING LTD? Reply ‘1’ for yes, ‘9’ for no.” I don’t hold an AIB account.
