How to Report Cybercrime in Ireland (and Get Your Money Back)
A practical, victim-facing guide to reporting cybercrime and online fraud in Ireland: who to call first, how to report to An Garda Siochana, and how PSD2 refund rights work for unauthorised payments versus scams where you were tricked into paying.
Quick answer: If you are in immediate danger or a crime is in progress, call 112 or 999 (both reach the emergency services). For fraud and other cybercrime, report it in person at your local Garda station; Ireland has no nationwide online crime-reporting portal, and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) handles the more serious or complex investigations. Call your bank's fraud line straight away and ask them to freeze the account and attempt to recall the payment. If the transaction was unauthorised (you did not approve it), under PSD2 your bank must refund it and your maximum liability is normally EUR 50, unless you acted fraudulently or with gross negligence.
What to do in 3 steps
- Call your bank now. Phone the fraud number on the back of your card or in your banking app. Ask them to freeze the card or account, block further payments, and attempt to recall or trace any money already sent. The faster you call, the better the chance of recovery.
- Report to An Garda Siochana. Go to your local Garda station in person to report the crime and get a crime reference. There is no countrywide online crime-report portal, so do not rely on a website form; the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau supports the serious and complex investigations behind the scenes.
- Gather and preserve evidence, then follow up. Keep transaction records, screenshots, emails, texts and phone numbers. If your bank refuses to refund an unauthorised payment, ask for a final response in writing, then escalate to the FSPO.
How recovery actually works
Recovery is mostly a race against time. The moment you report fraud, your bank can try to recall the payment and contact the receiving bank to freeze whatever is left before the money is moved on through mule accounts. For unauthorised transactions, the law is on your side: the bank must refund you unless it can show you acted fraudulently or with gross negligence, and it should restore the account to the state it would have been in. For scams where you authorised the payment yourself, there is no automatic legal refund in Ireland, so outcomes vary by bank and by how quickly the funds can be frozen. In every case, the Garda report and your bank's investigation run in parallel: the Gardai pursue the criminals, while your bank decides the refund. If the bank refuses and you believe you are entitled to your money back, the FSPO can independently review the dispute for free and direct the bank to compensate you.
What to have ready
- The dates, times and exact amounts of every disputed transaction.
- The account, card or IBAN the money went to, plus any reference used.
- Screenshots of the scam: emails, texts, websites, social media messages and caller numbers.
- Any correspondence with the fraudster and with your bank.
- Your bank's case or complaint reference and the Garda crime reference number.
- A short written timeline of what happened, in order.
Frequently asked questions
Can I report cybercrime to the Gardai online?
No. Ireland does not have a nationwide online portal for reporting crimes. Report fraud and cybercrime in person at your local Garda station, where you can also get a crime reference number for your bank and insurer.
My bank refuses to refund an unauthorised payment. What now?
Ask for the bank's final response in writing. If you still believe the payment was unauthorised and you did not act fraudulently or with gross negligence, bring a free complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, which can independently investigate and direct the bank to pay compensation.
I was tricked into sending the money myself. Will I get it back?
Possibly, but not automatically. Authorised push-payment scams are not covered by the PSD2 refund right. Report it to your bank immediately so it can try to recall the funds, report it to the Gardai, and if you feel the bank mishandled your case you can still raise it with the FSPO.
Sources
- An Garda Siochana, Cyber Crime (reporting guidance)
- An Garda Siochana, Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB)
- Citizens Information, Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and your refund rights
- Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)
- FraudSMART (Banking and Payments Federation Ireland)
For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.