Man (35) arrested in Midleton in relation to fraudulent claiming of €187,000 worth of Pandemic Unemployment Payment 

The man was arrested earlier this morning by Gardaí attached to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. 

The man is currently being detained at Cobh Garda Station and can be held for up to seven days. 

Gardaí say 73 people have been identified as having their details fraudulently obtained in order to claim the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. 

The people received an email from an account claiming to be associated with the Courts Service. 

The email said the people would be asked to serve on a jury and asked them to supply information such as PPS Numbers, their mother's maiden name and their date of birth. 

The details were then used to apply for the P.U.P. of €350 per person, per week.

Investigating Gardaí believe around €187,000 was paid out in relation to the 73 people. 

This morning's arrest is the second arrest as part of the investigation. 

Gardaí previously arrested a man in his 40s in Cork at the start of December in relation to the investigation
 

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