Castlerea man fined €200 after falling victim to WhatsApp insurance scam

A man paid €810 for fake insurance documents through a WhatsApp group, Castlerea District Court heard. Judge James Faughnan imposed a €200 fine.

Castlerea man duped by WhatsApp scam fined for no insurance

Roscommonherald.ie reports that a man who believed he was properly insured when stopped by gardaí had in fact been defrauded, Castlerea District Court heard.

Jefferson Souza Lago, with an address at 18 Sli na Struthan, Ballinlough, was stopped by Garda Enda Keane on 12 September last on Main Street, Castlerea.

Solicitor Mary Mullarkey told Judge James Faughnan that her client had paid €810 for insurance documentation through a WhatsApp group, unaware it was fraudulent. She said Souza Lago "did not have great English at the time" and had required assistance with the language.

Mullarkey noted that her client had no previous court appearances in ten years and is in full-time employment.

Judge Faughnan remarked that he supports an initiative in Galway where an honorary council is educating people about insurance requirements, describing it as "certainly working."

He imposed a fine of €200 for failing to hold valid insurance.

Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)