Priest Targeted in Sophisticated Online Fraud

A parish priest recently lost almost €50,000 after falling victim to a broadband phishing scam. The incident, detailed in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, highlights the growing threat of online fraud and raises concerns about the security measures in place at financial institutions.

The Scam Unfolds

The priest received a call claiming to be from a broadband company, informing him of an upcoming line upgrade and requesting a €5 payment for a connection fee. He was instructed to pay this fee online, and told that the screen would briefly head blank during processing. The priest attempted the payment over 40 times across four days, resulting in a total loss of nearly €50,000.

“The priest told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he believes the bank failed him as a customer.”

Dublin People

Criminal Involvement and Suspended Sentence

Kelvin Kleinovas (24) allowed €10,000 of the stolen funds to be lodged into his account. Kleinovas pleaded guilty to having the proceeds of crime and received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

“Kelvin Kleinovas of Mayeston Green, St Margaret’s Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the proceeds of crime in his bank account in August 2019.”

Dublin People

Bank Security Questioned

The priest expressed his belief that his bank should have had systems in place to prevent such a significant loss. He stated he expected online banking security to safeguard his account from unauthorized transactions.

Investigation and Arrest

The theft was reported to gardaí after Bank of Ireland flagged suspicious activity and froze the priest’s account. Kleinovas was arrested in September 2021 and claimed he was approached to provide his bank details for payment, but was never compensated.

FAQ

• What happened to the priest’s money? Nearly €50,000 was stolen from the priest’s account through a phishing scam.
• Was anyone arrested in connection with the scam? Yes, Kelvin Kleinovas was arrested and pleaded guilty to having the proceeds of the crime.
• What was the sentence for Kelvin Kleinovas? He received a suspended sentence.
• Did the priest receive a refund from the bank? The article does not state whether the priest was reimbursed.