Almost half of victims are over the age of 55.
There's been a 67% increase in reports of investment fraud over the last year.
Gardaí received 140 reports in 2020 - rising to 234 last year, amounting to €12.4 million.
Almost half of victims are over the age of 55 and there's been a rise in cases involving cryptocurrency.
Laois/Offaly Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Graham Kavanagh says the culprits are often outside of Irish jurisdiction: