Gardaí have issued a warning over a recent increase in credit card-related fraud in north county Dublin.

They are appealing to retailers to make their staff aware of "potential fraudulent behaviour."

It says there have been five incidents reported to Gardaí of credit card fraud over the past number of days in the Balbriggan area alone.

"These incidents involve customers using cards with either just card details and no card present, or a card has been present but has passed its expiry date.

"In some cases these individuals have used these cards for cashback", the Gardaí say.

It warns that as the busy shopping period approaches, they advise retailers to be extra vigilant with regard to suspicious credit card use.

It says this should particularly be the case if a person attempts to use a number of failing cards or card details one after another for cashback.

Gardaí are currently examining CCTV in relation to these reported incidents and investigations are ongoing.