ALERT: Public warned not to hand over money to fake dog warden

A county council had to get gardaí call to the home of a man who was pretending to be a dog warden and handing out €20 fines to members of the public at a local park.

Pretending to be an official from South Dublin County Council, the rogue dog warden was scamming owners who were letting their dogs off the leash in a public park.

Members of the public were warned not to hand over money and have been reminded that there are no such on-the-spot fines.

Emails from the council reveal how the fraudster was eventually spotted by a member of staff while attempting his scam in Tymon Park near Tallaght on the M50 in Dublin.

A later message said the council had been able to track down the full plate for the car and that an investigation was underway.

It is understood gardaí from Terenure visited the man’s address and “warned him to stay away from the park or he could be up for impersonating a public official,” a subsequent email said.

“As the gardaí didn’t receive an official complaint about money changing hands, they could not pursue on those grounds,” it added.

South Dublin County Council also issued a public advisory saying their staff would always carry official identification and would be most likely travelling in an official vehicle.

They warned: “Do not hand over any money to this man, and if you are approached by him, do seek help from other park users and report the incident to the garda”.