AIB Customers Targeted by Sophisticated Irish-Language Phishing Scam

A sophisticated phishing email claiming to be from AIB Bank is circulating across Cork, designed to trick customers into compromising their account security through fake "urgent updates."

The fraudulent email, written entirely in Irish, attempts to appear official but contains several telltale signs of a scam. Recipients are told they must complete a security update within 48 hours or risk losing access to their accounts.

Sophisticated Irish-Language Scam

The message states: "Gan an nuashonrú seo, cuirfear do rochtain faoi theorainn tar éis 48 n-uaire agus d'fhéadfadh íocaíochtaí nó aistrithe a bheith diúltaithe." This translates to: "Without this update, your access will be limited after 48 hours and payments or transfers may be declined."

A prominent red button labelled "Nuashonrú Anois" ("Update Now") attempts to lure recipients into clicking through to what would likely be a fake AIB website designed to steal login credentials.

Clear Warning Signs

Several elements immediately identify this as a scam. The sender is listed as s.servicee@sensomedia.hu, which bears no relation to AIB's official domains. Even more suspiciously, replying to the email would send responses to noreply@buywin.ae, a foreign address with no connection to Irish banking.

The email also uses generic addressing, greeting recipients as "A chara -local-" rather than using their actual name, which AIB would have on file.

AIB's Clear Policy

AIB has repeatedly confirmed that it will never ask customers to click links in emails or text messages to update their accounts. The bank's legitimate communications follow strict protocols that differ significantly from this scam attempt.

What Cork Customers Should Do

Anyone receiving this or similar messages should take immediate action:

Do not click on any links or attachments within the email. Do not reply to the message, as this confirms your email address is active to the scammers.

Instead, report the phishing attempt by forwarding the entire email to alert@aib.ie, then delete it immediately from your inbox and deleted items folder.

If You've Already Responded

Customers who may have already clicked through or shared personal details should contact AIB directly on 0818 724 724 or visit www.aib.ie to secure their accounts immediately.

Staying One Step Ahead

Phishing scams continue to evolve, with criminals using increasingly convincing designs and local language to fool recipients. The use of Irish in this particular scam shows how fraudsters adapt their tactics to target specific communities.

You should remain vigilant against such attempts, particularly during times when genuine institutions are updating their security systems. When in doubt, contact your bank directly using official phone numbers or websites rather than responding to unsolicited emails.