The Central Bank has warned consumers that firms offering financial services in Ireland over the Internet are subject to the same rules and obligations as all other regulated firms here.

Companies engaged in the provision and sale of financial services in Ireland, or those specifically targeting Irish clients, must be authorised by the Central Bank, which is responsible for supervising most financial firms.

Consumers should make sure that any firm offering financial services over the Internet is authorised by the Central Bank before doing business with them.

A lo-call number has been set up to handle requests for such information. Any firm in doubt as to whether it requires authorisation in Ireland to offer particular financial-related services via the Internet, should also contact the Central Bank. The Central Bank says it has not issued the warning due to any specific incident, but is aware of growth in financial services offered over the Internet generally.

"There's a real increase in people being offered services via e-mail. If a firm anywhere in the world offers a financial product or service here they have to be authorised with the Central Bank," a spokesman said.

There had been a marked increase in unauthorised investment firms offering services in Ireland largely over the telephone or direct mail, he said. The fear was that they would begin offering them over the Internet or by email.

The Central Bank hopes the warning may encourage people to bring unauthorised firms to its attention.

"If somebody gets an e-mail offering them a financial service, they should hold on to it and any other documentary evidence," the spokesman said.

This evidence is useful for the Central Bank when it pursues unauthorised firms.

The Central Bank's lo-call number is 1890-200-469.