Rising Card Tapping & Contactless Scams Targeting Irish Consumers: How to Stay Safe

Bank of Ireland has issued a warning to consumers regarding an increase in payment fraud where customers are being significantly overcharged during card transactions at the point of sale.

The scam typically occurs when a customer is verbally told one amount for a purchase, but a much higher figure is entered into the card terminal by the operator. Fraudsters rely on the customer failing to verify the amount displayed on the terminal screen before tapping their card or entering a PIN.

High-Pressure Environments

According to reports from the bank, these incidents frequently take place in busy or high-pressure environments. Specific locations identified include bars, cafes, and restaurants, where customers may be distracted or rushed.

The bank noted that in these settings, people are less likely to carefully check the payment amount before completing the transaction, a vulnerability that fraudsters actively exploit.

Guidance from Bank of Ireland

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, has urged consumers to maintain control of the payment process and to pause to validate the total shown on the card terminal before finalizing any transaction.

Sadlier noted that while the speed of card payments provides convenience, that same efficiency can be used against the consumer.

Card payments are quick and convenient, but that speed can also be exploited by fraudsters. We are seeing an uplift in cases where people are being caught out by significantly higher amounts being entered at the point of payment.

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland

The bank’s current fraud campaign encourages customers to think before you tap to prevent these losses from the outset.

Preventative Measures

To avoid falling victim to this type of overcharging, Bank of Ireland recommends the following steps:

• Slow down during the payment process and avoid distractions.
• Explicitly check the amount input on the point-of-sale terminal screen.
• Verify the total before tapping a contactless card or inserting a card to enter a PIN.

Bank of Ireland stated that its services are available 24-7 for customers who need to report fraudulent activity or address overcharging issues.

The key message is simple: check the total before you tap. Fraudsters often rely on distraction, pressure or a busy environment to push a payment through before the customer has had a chance to notice the amount being charged.

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland