It's the latest in a series of scams in recent months.
Fraudsters are still on the prowl over Christmas, seeking to dupe unsuspecting members of the public, according to gardaí.
Officers are warning of a scheme called the Grandparent Scam, where criminals text a person claiming to be their relative.
However, it's actually someone taking a chance on extracting cash from the victim.
Sergeant at Athlone Garda Station, Andrew Haran explains what you should look out for:
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