Gardaí seconded to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) assisted by GNECB personnel have today, 9th March 2021, arrested a man, aged 35 years, in the Middleton area of Cork. The arrest was made in relation to an ongoing investigation into the fraudulent claiming of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
The man is currently detained at Cobh Garda Station under the provisions of Section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007 and he can be detained for up to seven days. This is the second arrest as part of this investigation.
To date, seventy three (73) people have been identified as having had their details fraudulently obtained in order to claim the payment. All 73, received an email under the pretence that it was from the Courts Service Ireland looking for them to do Jury duty. This email sought personal information, which included their PPSN, name, address, date of birth and mother’s maiden name.
These details were then used to apply online and claim the Covid payment of €350 per person, weekly. An estimated €187,000 was paid out in relation to the seventy three (73) people.
Previous Press Release – 8th December 2020
Gardaí have arrested a man in his 40s as part of an investigation into fraudulent claims of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
In June of this year, An Garda Síochána issued a warning to the public in relation to a phishing email purporting to be from Courts Service where individuals were told they had been selected for jury service.
Over 70 persons responded to this email and provided personal data. This data was used to make fraudulent applications for PUP payments and resulted in over €165,000 being paid out.
Gardaí seconded to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, along with the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and local Gardaí in Cork identified and arrested a suspect today, Tuesday 8th December 2020. He is currently being detained under the Provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Middleton Garda station. He can be held for up to 24 hours.
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