‘Absolutely devastated’: 95-year-old woman falls victim to sinister fraud scheme, loses $16,000
- Replies 5
*Names with an asterisk (*) were changed for privacy reasons.
A recent troubling case has raised concerns about the growing vulnerability of elderly individuals to scams.
An elderly woman was targeted in a sinister manner, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by fraudsters.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for the public to be vigilant, particularly older Australians, against scams that exploit trust and prey on their goodwill.
With scams becoming more prevalent, it's essential for individuals to stay informed and cautious to protect themselves from such deceptive practices.
A 95-year-old woman from Gerringong, New South Wales, fell victim to a frightening scam in which a fraudster visited her home to steal her bank card.
The scam began with a phone call from someone with an Australian accent, claiming there were issues with her bank.
The manipulative tactic led her to believe the thief was legitimate, resulting in the loss of her card.
Her niece, Amy*, expressed her outrage over how the elderly woman was manipulated and targeted by the scammer.
‘She got a phone call from a local number as she doesn’t answer 03 or 08 numbers. They said the bank had just been robbed, and they needed to issue her a new card in a few hours,’ she narrated.
‘They talked to her for an hour and a half. She wanted to go into detail about who robbed the bank and how did it happen.’
‘They told her she needed to put her card in her mailbox, and they would pick it up and bring back a new card that night,’ Amy* continued.
At dusk, a car pulled into the 95-year-old's driveway and took her bank card from the mailbox, though she couldn't see the person involved.
The fraudster then withdrew $16,000 from her account, spending money at stores like JB Hi-Fi and using ATMs.
Amy* expressed her anger not only at the scammer but also at Bendigo Bank’s handling of the situation, as the fraudster had managed to steal her aunt's money.
‘She felt so bad she cried for three weeks—she was absolutely devastated,’ the niece shared.
‘They have a picture of the guy at the ATM at a bank in Shoalhaven. But $16,000 in three hours is very unusual spending—you’d think the bank would have some sort of alert.’
Amy* noted that her aunt typically spends no more than $100 at the local IGA, making the large transactions a clear warning sign.
While she acknowledged her aunt's mistake in sharing her PIN with the fraudster, she emphasised that, as an elderly person, her aunt genuinely believed she was speaking with a representative from Bendigo Bank's fraud department, Australian Security.
‘She gave them everything, she told them how much money was in it, what the account was as she believed it was the bank and was talking to the manager,’ Amy* explained.
‘It’s terrible, it’s like these scammers have guns to people’s heads. They have really got their game down pat.’
By the time her aunt’s card was cancelled, only $133 remained in the account.
Amy* said that the family had to lend her money until her war veteran pension was deposited.
The scammers' audacity didn't end with the theft. They continued to target the elderly woman, attempting to gain access to another bank account, which, luckily, a neighbour intercepted.
‘She is more scared of the phone. She doesn’t know who will be ringing. She picked up a call recently and this guy called, and I took the phone and said, “Don’t scam this place anymore, the police have surveillance,”’ Amy* shared.
‘It’s a terrible thing we are going through in this wealthy country. It was local, it wasn’t even overseas. It was a local person that could just drive to the house. She even told them to park on the driveway as cars go around the corner really fast.’
She also mentioned that the scammer went on a spree, making numerous purchases.
‘They spent at Nowra and online, and they had gone to an actual AT,M but the camera is hidden and so they thought [they] weren’t getting photographed,’ Amy* added.
In a letter to the elderly woman, Bendigo Bank explained that it would not reimburse the stolen $16,000, claiming she had shared her card and personal details with an unknown third party.
The bank noted that the transactions were authorised with her card and PIN, and no incorrect attempts were made.
Amy*, however, criticised the bank's response, calling it ‘pathetic’.
‘They could have just listened and said sorry rather than rebutting,’ she remarked.
‘I just think the banks should refund the money as they make so many billions a year.’
She also expressed concern that other elderly women might fall prey to this disturbing scam.
‘They are just after money. At first, my aunt said don’t tell anyone,’ Amy* continued.
‘If other women are in her situation, we are all looking after her but what about people who don’t have anyone?’
NSW police have declined to release the CCTV footage of the scammer despite it being requested.
‘On Wednesday, 4 September 2024, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District commenced inquiries after receiving a report of a fraud offence in Gerringong,’ a spokesperson stated.
‘Officers were told a 95-year-old woman had been scammed of $15,000 earlier in the month.’
‘Following extensive inquiries, police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact Lake Illawarra Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,’ they added.
Meanwhile, a Bendigo Bank spokesperson stated that while they don't comment on individual customers, the bank managed to prevent $34.4 million in fraudulent transactions during the previous financial year.
‘Bendigo Bank attempts to recover funds lost to scams wherever possible, and it goes without saying when the bank is at fault, we will reimburse customers for the loss of funds, but it is important customers take steps to protect themselves,’ the spokesperson reminded.
‘Bendigo Bank will never ask a customer to leave a card out to be collected, request customer details; including PINs; or request customers transfer money, download software or login via a link sent through email or SMS.’
The spokesperson also reported that losses from scams and fraud had decreased by 34 per cent year-on-year, and over 400 phone and fax numbers were added to a telco list to block scammers impersonating the bank's staff.
The bank has also rolled out a new security feature, NameCheck, which screens all customer payments when a new payee’s BSB and account number are entered, providing an additional layer of protection against fraud.
What are your thoughts on this case? Have you or someone you know fell victim to a similar scam? Share your insights and stories in the comments below.
A recent troubling case has raised concerns about the growing vulnerability of elderly individuals to scams.
An elderly woman was targeted in a sinister manner, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by fraudsters.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for the public to be vigilant, particularly older Australians, against scams that exploit trust and prey on their goodwill.
With scams becoming more prevalent, it's essential for individuals to stay informed and cautious to protect themselves from such deceptive practices.
A 95-year-old woman from Gerringong, New South Wales, fell victim to a frightening scam in which a fraudster visited her home to steal her bank card.
The scam began with a phone call from someone with an Australian accent, claiming there were issues with her bank.
The manipulative tactic led her to believe the thief was legitimate, resulting in the loss of her card.
A 95-year-old woman from Gerringong, NSW, was scammed out of $16,000. Credit: Shutterstock
Her niece, Amy*, expressed her outrage over how the elderly woman was manipulated and targeted by the scammer.
‘She got a phone call from a local number as she doesn’t answer 03 or 08 numbers. They said the bank had just been robbed, and they needed to issue her a new card in a few hours,’ she narrated.
‘They talked to her for an hour and a half. She wanted to go into detail about who robbed the bank and how did it happen.’
‘They told her she needed to put her card in her mailbox, and they would pick it up and bring back a new card that night,’ Amy* continued.
At dusk, a car pulled into the 95-year-old's driveway and took her bank card from the mailbox, though she couldn't see the person involved.
The fraudster then withdrew $16,000 from her account, spending money at stores like JB Hi-Fi and using ATMs.
Amy* expressed her anger not only at the scammer but also at Bendigo Bank’s handling of the situation, as the fraudster had managed to steal her aunt's money.
‘She felt so bad she cried for three weeks—she was absolutely devastated,’ the niece shared.
‘They have a picture of the guy at the ATM at a bank in Shoalhaven. But $16,000 in three hours is very unusual spending—you’d think the bank would have some sort of alert.’
Amy* noted that her aunt typically spends no more than $100 at the local IGA, making the large transactions a clear warning sign.
While she acknowledged her aunt's mistake in sharing her PIN with the fraudster, she emphasised that, as an elderly person, her aunt genuinely believed she was speaking with a representative from Bendigo Bank's fraud department, Australian Security.
‘She gave them everything, she told them how much money was in it, what the account was as she believed it was the bank and was talking to the manager,’ Amy* explained.
‘It’s terrible, it’s like these scammers have guns to people’s heads. They have really got their game down pat.’
By the time her aunt’s card was cancelled, only $133 remained in the account.
Amy* said that the family had to lend her money until her war veteran pension was deposited.
The scammers' audacity didn't end with the theft. They continued to target the elderly woman, attempting to gain access to another bank account, which, luckily, a neighbour intercepted.
‘She is more scared of the phone. She doesn’t know who will be ringing. She picked up a call recently and this guy called, and I took the phone and said, “Don’t scam this place anymore, the police have surveillance,”’ Amy* shared.
‘It’s a terrible thing we are going through in this wealthy country. It was local, it wasn’t even overseas. It was a local person that could just drive to the house. She even told them to park on the driveway as cars go around the corner really fast.’
She also mentioned that the scammer went on a spree, making numerous purchases.
‘They spent at Nowra and online, and they had gone to an actual AT,M but the camera is hidden and so they thought [they] weren’t getting photographed,’ Amy* added.
In a letter to the elderly woman, Bendigo Bank explained that it would not reimburse the stolen $16,000, claiming she had shared her card and personal details with an unknown third party.
The bank noted that the transactions were authorised with her card and PIN, and no incorrect attempts were made.
Amy*, however, criticised the bank's response, calling it ‘pathetic’.
‘They could have just listened and said sorry rather than rebutting,’ she remarked.
‘I just think the banks should refund the money as they make so many billions a year.’
She also expressed concern that other elderly women might fall prey to this disturbing scam.
‘They are just after money. At first, my aunt said don’t tell anyone,’ Amy* continued.
‘If other women are in her situation, we are all looking after her but what about people who don’t have anyone?’
NSW police have declined to release the CCTV footage of the scammer despite it being requested.
‘On Wednesday, 4 September 2024, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District commenced inquiries after receiving a report of a fraud offence in Gerringong,’ a spokesperson stated.
‘Officers were told a 95-year-old woman had been scammed of $15,000 earlier in the month.’
‘Following extensive inquiries, police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact Lake Illawarra Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,’ they added.
Meanwhile, a Bendigo Bank spokesperson stated that while they don't comment on individual customers, the bank managed to prevent $34.4 million in fraudulent transactions during the previous financial year.
‘Bendigo Bank attempts to recover funds lost to scams wherever possible, and it goes without saying when the bank is at fault, we will reimburse customers for the loss of funds, but it is important customers take steps to protect themselves,’ the spokesperson reminded.
‘Bendigo Bank will never ask a customer to leave a card out to be collected, request customer details; including PINs; or request customers transfer money, download software or login via a link sent through email or SMS.’
The spokesperson also reported that losses from scams and fraud had decreased by 34 per cent year-on-year, and over 400 phone and fax numbers were added to a telco list to block scammers impersonating the bank's staff.
The bank has also rolled out a new security feature, NameCheck, which screens all customer payments when a new payee’s BSB and account number are entered, providing an additional layer of protection against fraud.
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