Stay alert to new fraud schemes

Offers that are too good to be true, time sensitive, and/or in limited supply are a common scam. 

Fake adviser calls: 

• Someone pretending to be an adviser calls to offer “special interest rates” and asks you to transfer money to a different account.

Social engineering: 

• The fraudster builds trust first (i.e. by posing as an employee at a financial institution), and then asks for something unusual: money, data, or access to your devices.

Scammers often try to contact you directly — by email, phone, or text message — pretending to be a trusted provider.

Email scams (phishing):

• You receive an email that looks like it’s from your bank or Raisin, asking you to log in or verify your details. The email may contain urgent wording like "Your account is at risk" or "Immediate action required." These emails usually link to fake websites designed to steal your credentials.

Text message scams (often called "smishing"):

• These are phishing scams sent via SMS or WhatsApp. The message may claim there's a problem with your account or offer a reward, asking you to click a link. That link leads to a fake login page or installs malware on your device.

Phone scams (sometimes called "vishing"):

• You may get a call from someone claiming to be a bank employee or adviser, offering you an “exclusive rate” or alerting you to suspicious activity. They may ask you to share login credentials or move your funds — this is always a red flag. Financial institutions, like Raisin, will never ask you to do this by phone.

Some fraudsters create copies of legitimate websites, including logos and layouts, to trick you into thinking you're logging into a secure platform. The website might look exactly like Raisin, but it's designed to steal your data.

How to protect yourself:

• Website copies: Scammers create fake versions of trusted platforms. You can verify whether a financial service provider is authorised in Ireland by checking the Central Bank of Ireland’s register at https://registers.centralbank.ie. Never click on links from suspicious emails or messages. Always go directly to the official Raisin website and log in via the standard login. If a message claims that action is needed — for example, providing a mobile verification code — you will always see a corresponding notification or task within your secure Raisin account. If no such prompt appears after logging in, the message you received is possibly fraudulent.

• Look for the padlock icon in the browser and check that the web address starts with https:// and includes Raisin's official domain.

A newer trend is for fraudsters to send letters by post, pretending to be a bank or financial partner. These letters may include:

• QR codes that may link to malicious websites or install malware when scanned with a phone
• Special "promotional offers" that ask you to transfer money to an account outside the Raisin platform

Some QR codes have also been included with online shopping orders, often disguised as a "gift" or "exclusive reward" from a payment provider. This is a scam method known as "QR phishing" (or "quishing") — it's phishing via a QR code.

Raisin may occasionally send letters by post with QR codes to customers. It’s good practice to always inspect the link behind the QR code, and verify that it points to Raisin’s official domain.

In some cases, fraudsters appear at your doorstep, claiming to represent the police, a financial authority, or even your bank. They often present a convincing story, for example, that your account has been compromised or that they need to “secure your device” to prevent further fraud. Their goal is to pressure you into handing over your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or to grant access so they can manipulate your online banking.

Important:

Legitimate authorities, banks, and financial institutions, including Raisin, will never visit you at home to inspect your devices, request access, or collect personal information. Any unscheduled home visit with such a request is a strong sign of fraud.

In these scams, the fraudster builds a relationship first. They might interact with you over time, by email, phone, or even video call, pretending to be a trusted adviser, financial partner or even a new romantic interest. Once trust is established, they ask for something unusual:

• Transfer money to a different account
• Provide sensitive information
• Give access to your device

These scams can feel highly personal and convincing, but any such request is a red flag.

• Be especially cautious with unexpected communication, whether digital or by post,  especially if it includes urgency, QR codes, or new payment instructions.
• Never enter login data after clicking a link in an email or SMS. Go to the official website directly.
• Don’t scan QR codes from unknown letters or packages.
• Raisin will never offer exclusive deals that require offline action or third-party transfers.
• When in doubt: stop and verify. Use only official Raisin channels to check any unusual messages.

Trust your gut: If something feels off, take a step back. Fraudsters often try to create pressure or urgency. We’re here to help, so please contact us if you are unsure.