Man (21) admits laundering money from eFlow text scam targeting elderly woman
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow man has admitted to money laundering after an elderly woman was conned by a fake eFlow text and later called by a man posing as her bank
Cáel Coughlan (21), of Berryfield Court, Enniskerry, appeared before a sitting of Bray District Court. He pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering.
The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions directed the case could be dealt with at District Court level on a guilty plea only, meaning it would remain before a judge alone rather than being sent forward to a higher court.
Judge David Kennedy asked the prosecution to outline the facts before deciding whether to accept jurisdiction.
Sergeant Mick Canavan told the court that an elderly woman made a complaint to gardaí after receiving a text message claiming to be from eFlow, the toll payment system used on the M50.
The message appeared legitimate and included a link, which she clicked, entering her bank card details in what she believed was a routine payment request.
Shortly afterwards, she received a phone call from a man pretending to be from her bank, PTSB, who told her there had been fraudulent activity on her account.
The court heard that the caller convinced her to provide her PIN number under the pretence of securing her account.
Funds totalling €780 were then transferred from the woman’s account into a Revolut account registered to Mr Coughlan.
Revolut later provided gardaí with documentation confirming the account belonged to the accused, and that the money was subsequently transferred on to a third account.
Judge Kennedy accepted jurisdiction.
The court heard that Mr Coughlan has 12 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.
Counsel for the accused, Eamonn O’Moore, said his client was a young man at the time of the offences and asked the court to adjourn the matter for the preparation of a probation report.
Judge Kennedy adjourned the case until May 2026 and directed that a victim impact statement be taken from the complainant.