If Something Goes Wrong
If Something Goes Wrong

If Something Goes Wrong

Even when you take precautions, problems can still happen. If you suspect a scam, have already sent money, shared sensitive information or lost access to an account, the most important thing is to stop following instructions from the suspicious person and act quickly to protect your money and accounts.

1. Stop the transaction and end suspicious communication

If you think the situation may be fraudulent:

  • do not send any more money;
  • do not open any new links;
  • do not provide any more information;
  • do not enter additional verification codes;
  • do not install apps at another person’s request;
  • do not follow further instructions from someone you do not trust.

Do not continue a suspicious transaction just because you have already spent time on it or sent some money.

Important

Be especially cautious if someone tells you that you need to make another payment in order to recover money you have already lost.

2. If you sent money, contact your bank or payment provider immediately

If you believe you have sent money to a scammer, act as quickly as possible.

Contact your:

  • bank;
  • card provider;
  • payment service;
  • other financial institution used for the transaction.

Explain that you suspect fraud and provide the details of the payment. Depending on how the payment was made, your provider can advise you on what action may still be possible.

Use official contact details

Do not use a phone number, link or contact details provided by the suspicious person. Open your bank’s official app or website yourself.

3. If you shared banking details or a security code

If another person has obtained any of the following:

  • your card details;
  • online banking password;
  • PIN;
  • one-time security or verification code;
  • other sensitive banking information,

contact your bank immediately. Do not wait for an unfamiliar transaction to appear.

Your bank can advise whether you should:

  • block or replace your card;
  • change your login details;
  • review recent transactions;
  • take additional security measures.

4. If you shared a password, change it

If you entered your password on a suspicious website or shared it with another person, change it as soon as possible.

Check especially:

  • your EirFair account;
  • your email account;
  • your banking account;
  • any other service where you used the same or a similar password.

If you reused the same password on several websites, change it everywhere it was used. Where available, consider enabling additional account protection such as two-step verification.

5. If you have lost access to your EirFair account

If you can no longer sign in to your EirFair account or notice activity you do not recognise:

  • use the official password reset option;
  • change the password for the email account connected to EirFair if you think it may also have been compromised;
  • check your listings and messages;
  • report the possible unauthorised access to EirFair.

Avoid creating a second account just to deal with the problem if your original account can be recovered through the proper recovery or support process.

6. Keep evidence

Do not immediately delete messages or other information connected to the incident.

Keep anything that may help explain what happened, including:

  • messages;
  • screenshots;
  • emails;
  • links;
  • usernames or profile names;
  • listing URLs or Ad IDs;
  • phone numbers;
  • payment details;
  • dates and times;
  • delivery information;
  • other relevant documents.

Important

Keep the evidence you already have, but do not continue communicating with a suspected scammer just to collect more information if doing so could put you at further risk.

7. Report the problem to EirFair

Choose the reporting option that best matches the situation. Providing useful information such as the listing link, username, screenshots and a clear description of what happened can help EirFair review the issue.

Security & Fraud

Use this for suspected scams, phishing, fake buyers or sellers, suspicious payment requests, fake courier schemes, account security concerns or other suspicious behaviour.

Report an Ad

Use this if the problem relates to a specific listing.

Report Illegal Content

Use this if you believe specific content on EirFair is illegal.

Get Help

8. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud or another crime

Reporting an issue to EirFair does not replace reporting a crime to the appropriate authorities.

If you have lost money or property, or believe a crime has occurred, consider reporting the matter to An Garda Síochána.

Keep and provide any relevant information you have, such as:

  • messages;
  • user details;
  • payment information;
  • screenshots;
  • listing links;
  • other available evidence.

If there is an immediate threat to your personal safety, contact the emergency services.

9. If you shared identity documents or personal information

If you sent someone:

  • a copy of your passport;
  • driving licence;
  • PPS Number;
  • other important identifying information,

make a note of exactly what you shared and who received it.

Watch for unexpected:

  • attempts to access your accounts;
  • emails about accounts you did not create;
  • banking activity;
  • requests to approve actions you did not initiate.

Where appropriate, contact the organisation responsible for the document or account and ask what additional steps you should take to protect yourself.

10. Watch out for recovery scams

After someone has already lost money, scammers may try to target them again.

Someone may contact you and claim that they can:

  • recover your money;
  • find the scammer;
  • unlock a transfer;
  • obtain compensation;
  • recover cryptocurrency;
  • reverse a transaction;

but first ask you to pay a:

  • fee;
  • deposit;
  • tax;
  • processing charge;
  • legal fee;
  • other advance payment.

Be especially cautious

Do not send more money to an unknown person or service simply because they promise to recover money you have already lost.

Act quickly, but do not let anyone rush you

After a scam, acting quickly can be important — especially when contacting your bank or securing your accounts. But that does not mean you should follow urgent instructions from the person who contacted you.

A safer approach is

stop the suspicious transaction → contact your bank or official service directly → secure your accounts → keep the evidence → report the issue to EirFair and, where appropriate, An Garda Síochána.

Back to Safety Centre