Garda hunt for woman after Laois bank account fraud
One of the CCTV images of the woman who is being sought by gardaí, in connection with fraud involving Laois bank accounts. Image: Crimecall
CCTV images have been released of a woman suspected of connection with fraud involving Laois bank accounts.
An Abbeyleix couple lost €5,000 in fraudulent transactions, while substantial funds were also withdrawn from a Portlaoise man’s account.
The local residents contacted gardaí, after noticing unauthorised withdrawals. It emerged that their bank account details were used without their knowledge in a total of 47 transactions.
A garda hunt is now underway for a young woman who was captured on CCTV, allegedly using the victims’ bank details in four different service stations across four counties.
After a lengthy garda investigation, an appeal was issued on the latest edition of ‘Crimecall’ on RTÉ One television last week. The appeal showed CCTV images from separate service stations of the woman allegedly using the Laois bank account details.
The suspect (pictured) is described as aged in her 20s and of medium build, with long dark brown or black hair. She is wearing glasses in the footage and is between 5’5” and 5’6” tall.
Detective Garda John McGuinness said the Abbeyleix and Portlaoise victims separately reported transactions on their accounts that had occurred without their permission. After viewing their statements, gardaí identified a number of premises where the transactions were carried out.
After viewing CCTV footage from service stations, it emerged that the same woman approached the till on four of these occasions and bought prepaid debit cards, which she paid for using a phone.
It was later established that she had the victims’ bank account details on her phone and used them to pay for the transactions. There were 47 unauthorised withdrawals in total on the two Laois accounts, 27 on the Abbeyleix account and about 20 on the Portlaoise account.
Detective Garda McGuinness said the investigation began in October last year, when an Abbeyleix couple noticed a series of account transactions that they knew nothing about.
When they reported the issue to Abbeyleix gardaí, it was the starting point for an investigation that led to the discovery of other fraudulent withdrawals. Another victim also reported similar transactions on his account to Portlaoise gardaí.
After following the trail of transactions, it was found that the Laois bank details were used by the same woman at service stations in Carlow, Kilcullen, Gorey and Athlone between 27 September and 4 October 2025.
The woman used the Laois account numbers at stations in Deerpark, Co. Carlow; the M9 Kilcullen Service Station in Co Kildare; the M11 Gorey Service Station in Co Wexford and the M6 Athlone Service Station in Co Westmeath.
Gardai are appealing to anyone who recognises the woman in the CCTV images to contact Portlaoise Garda Station at 057 8674100, Abbeyleix Garda Station at 057 8730580, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
Gardaí said on Crimecall that they are still “not entirely sure” how the victims’ bank accounts were compromised but warned people to be extremely careful online when using their credit cards and giving their account details.
