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10 Apr 2025
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Smishing text message scams are rampant says Mayo detective
Reporter:
Anton McNulty
10 Apr 2025 4:30 PM
A MAYO detective has admitted that ‘smishing’ scams whereby scammers use text messages to fraudulently obtain bank account details to steal money are rampant.
Detective Garda William Grant made the observation at a sitting of Castlebar District Court which heard that a then 18-year-old Mayo man allowed his bank account to be used to hold €9,250 which was stolen from a bank account in Galway.
Dion Tropman (23) of 33 Hollow Grove, Castlebar appeared before the court after admitting to the charge of money laundering and allowing his Bank of Ireland account to be used to hold money stolen in a smishing text message scam.
The court heard that on June 25, 2021 a person in Galway replied to a text message which he believed to be from the Bank of Ireland and provided his bank account details. As a result, €9,250 was taken from his bank account.
READ: Planning granted for 32 house development in Mayo county town
Det Garda Grant explained that following an investigation by Bank of Ireland, Mr Tropman’s account in Castlebar was identified as the beneficiary account. The bank managed to recoup €750 but was at a loss of €8,500. The injured party was fully refunded by the bank.
Mr Thropman subsequently transferred the €8,500 into a Binance Cryptocurrency account which he had set up himself and this was subsequently transferred into a Bitcoin account.
Detective Garda Grant explained that the instigator of the fraud was the owner of the Bitcoin account but this person has yet to be identified by gardaí.
When questioned by gardaí, Mr Tropman told them that the person who instigated the fraud sent Snapchat messages asking people to allow their bank accounts to be used to hold money and he responded. He told gardaí that he was informed that if he provided his bank details he would be given €50.
Detective Garda Grant confirmed that Mr Tropman did not send the text message to the injured party and confirmed that he was a ‘money mule’ and not the main beneficiary of the fraud.
‘Needed a few pound’
He also confirmed that these types of scams are now rampant but the Bank of Ireland has an excellent fraud department and this fraud offence was triggered when the money from Mr Tropman’s account was transferred to a cryptocurrency account.
In his evidence Mr Tropman explained that he was 18 and homeless at the time and agreed to allow his bank account to be used as he ‘needed a few pound’. He claimed he believed that only €1,000 would be transferred into his account.
Mr Tropman told Judge Deirdre Gearty that he felt shame on his part for what he did and was willing to pay back the money if he was given the opportunity.
The court was told that Mr Tropman had a troubled adolescence and was in and out of care homes but has no previous convictions and has not come to the attention of the gardaí since.
His solicitor Mr Gary Mulchrone told Judge Gearty that his client had made a full and frank admission of guilt and understood what he did was his fault. He added he has a good employment history to allow him to pay the money back.
Probation Bond
Judge Gearty commented that these types of crimes were getting more common and while the injured party was refunded in full, the seriousness of what happened should not be minimised because the bank is at a loss.
She accepted that Mr Tropman was only 18 at the time and gave him credit for co-operating with the garda investigation and that he was willing to pay the loss to the bank.
Judge Gearty said she would impose a 12 month Probation Bond on the condition he remains of good behaviour and repays back €5,000 to the Bank of Ireland within 12 months.
Related topics:
Castlebar , Mayo District Court , An Garda Siochána
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