94-year-old man loses $10,000 over a single phone call in this cruel scam
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In today's digital age, where convenience and connectivity are at our fingertips, a sinister underbelly of scammers and fraudsters preys on the unsuspecting.
It's a sad truth that the elderly are often targeted due to their perceived vulnerability and, sometimes, less familiarity with the digital world.
The story of a 94-year-old man from Mount Waverley in Melbourne's southeast is a reminder of the vigilance needed to protect ourselves from such threats.
The 94-year-old man fell victim to a cruel and calculated scam that cost him nearly $10,000—a substantial sum that no doubt represented a significant portion of his savings.
On 19 September, he received a phone call from an individual posing as a representative from a telecommunications company.
This scammer was convincing enough to obtain the elderly man's bank details over the phone and instructed him to leave his bank cards in a letterbox, promising they would be reissued later.
Armed with the man's bank cards, the fraudster went on a shopping spree that afternoon, purchasing four new iPhones at stores in Malvern East and Chadstone.
The thief didn't end with the $9,000 spent on phones; he attempted to buy an additional $4,500 worth of electronics, though this transaction was thankfully declined.
The scammer also tried withdrawing cash using the victim's cards at ATMs in Ashburton and Mount Waverley.
In response to this incident, police have released images of a man they believe may be connected to the scam and are calling on the public to assist with their inquiries.
But this wasn’t the first time scammers preyed on vulnerable Aussies.
In a previous story, a 91-year-old widow was scammed into attempting to purchase $2,000 worth of gift cards after a scammer impersonating a bank employee convinced her she was assisting in catching other scammers.
The scammers were branded as 'absolute mongrels', and the public was advised to hang up on such calls from scammers. You can read more about the story here.
If you or someone else has fallen into a scam, report it to Scamwatch here.
You can also head over to our Scam Watch forum to stay updated with the latest tricks scammers use to deceive people out of their money and sensitive details.
Have you or someone you know ever encountered a scam like this? What measures do you take to protect yourself? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
It's a sad truth that the elderly are often targeted due to their perceived vulnerability and, sometimes, less familiarity with the digital world.
The story of a 94-year-old man from Mount Waverley in Melbourne's southeast is a reminder of the vigilance needed to protect ourselves from such threats.
The 94-year-old man fell victim to a cruel and calculated scam that cost him nearly $10,000—a substantial sum that no doubt represented a significant portion of his savings.
On 19 September, he received a phone call from an individual posing as a representative from a telecommunications company.
A 94-year-old man lost $10,000 over a single phone call in this cruel scam. Credit: Freepik
This scammer was convincing enough to obtain the elderly man's bank details over the phone and instructed him to leave his bank cards in a letterbox, promising they would be reissued later.
Armed with the man's bank cards, the fraudster went on a shopping spree that afternoon, purchasing four new iPhones at stores in Malvern East and Chadstone.
The thief didn't end with the $9,000 spent on phones; he attempted to buy an additional $4,500 worth of electronics, though this transaction was thankfully declined.
The scammer also tried withdrawing cash using the victim's cards at ATMs in Ashburton and Mount Waverley.
In response to this incident, police have released images of a man they believe may be connected to the scam and are calling on the public to assist with their inquiries.
But this wasn’t the first time scammers preyed on vulnerable Aussies.
In a previous story, a 91-year-old widow was scammed into attempting to purchase $2,000 worth of gift cards after a scammer impersonating a bank employee convinced her she was assisting in catching other scammers.
The scammers were branded as 'absolute mongrels', and the public was advised to hang up on such calls from scammers. You can read more about the story here.
If you or someone else has fallen into a scam, report it to Scamwatch here.
You can also head over to our Scam Watch forum to stay updated with the latest tricks scammers use to deceive people out of their money and sensitive details.
