An increasing number of scam texts purporting to be from the HSE are being received by people. The HSE said that there has been an increase in reported scam texts relating to HSE services, specifically texts seeking payment for medical cards renewal.

The messages are specifically seeking payments for the renewal of medical cards.

The majority of consumers (78 per cent) are now being targeted with scam texts, emails, or calls at least once a month.

Sergeant O’Halloran advised people to “block” and “report suspicious numbers” to An Garda Síochána.

Gardaí said they have received a number of reports of a text scam from ‘Gov-ie’