Carlow TD calls for Ireland to implement SMS scam filter

Fianna Fail TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, has said he believes its time for Ireland to implement an SMS Scam filter in line with other member states across the European Union.

Deputy Cleere highlights that typically through text messages, fraudsters target consumers and businesses to try and expose these people financially.

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Speaking on the matter Deputy Cleere said: “We need to clamp down big time on fraudsters in Ireland. Typically, these fraudsters try to target consumers or pretend to be big businesses in the hope of exploiting their large customer base.

An SMS filter would operate like the spam filters that are applied to email inboxes by detecting and blocking harmful links or content, something Deputy Cleere feels must be implemented here.

“I believe we must implement a SMS scam filter here in Ireland. It is a no-brainer. The research shows that we are lacking behind other English-speaking countries, such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia,” he said.

“Even at a European level, an SMS filter is already in place in some Member States. I know the introduction of a SMS scam filter in Ireland would require new legislation by the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications which in my view should be prioritised.

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