Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 13560Fraud (change scam) · Co. Donegal

Gardaí warn businesses after Ballybofey change scam

A Ballybofey business in County Donegal fell victim to a change scam, according to a DonegalLive report published on 3 June 2025, though the incident date is not stated. In the scam, a person handed over a few large banknotes and asked for smaller notes in return, then handed over some smaller notes and asked for them to be broken into smaller denominations. The quick repeated requests caused confusion and left the till float short, and gardaí said such scams are often not noticed until the float is counted later. No arrest, charge or court outcome has been reported, and the latest development is a Garda warning to businesses that scammers may target young and inexperienced employees.

  1. Reported3 Jun
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
Where
The incident took place in Ballybofey, County Donegal.
When
The incident date is not stated, and the report was published on 3 June 2025.
What happened
  • A Ballybofey business fell victim to a change scam.
  • A few large banknotes were handed over and smaller notes were requested in return.
  • Some smaller notes were then handed over and a further request was made to break them into smaller denominations.
Cause
Confusion from the quick transaction requests left the till float short.
Other details
  • Gardaí said change scams are often not noticed by the cashier until the float is counted later.
  • Gardaí said scammers may target young and inexperienced employees.
  • No arrest, charge, court hearing or sentence is reported in the articles.
Investigation
Gardaí warned businesses to be careful of scammers after the Ballybofey incident.
6 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA few large banknotes were handed over and smaller notes were requested in return. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatSome smaller notes were handed over and a further request was made to break them into smaller denominations. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereA Ballybofey business fell victim to a change scam. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherConfusion from the quick transaction requests left the till float short. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGardaí said change scams are often not noticed by the cashier until the float is counted later. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGardaí said scammers may target young and inexperienced employees. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jun2025
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Gardaí warn businesses of scammers after Ballybofey ‘change scam’ incident

    Gives details of the Ballybofey change scam and the Garda warning and advice. No date or exact location for the incident is stated.