Beware: Man almost falls victim to insane $20k scam from his 'lover'
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Mr Dolton is the most recent person to fall prey to a cruel romance scam that came dangerously close to costing him up to $20,000.
The 80-year-old man from Queensland had been reportedly in a long-distance relationship with a woman named Freda, who claimed to live in the UK, for several years now.
Things were going well and Freda even mentioned that she wanted to travel to Australia to tie the knot. So clearly things were looking up for the couple.
However, the situation took a dark turn when the woman informed Mr Dolton that she had been involved in a 'car accident' and urgently needed $20,000 to cover the medical bills.
Alarm bells should have been ringing, but Mr Dolton, like many others in his situation, wanted to believe in the love he thought he had found.
The already tense situation for Mr Dolton took a dramatic turn for the worse when he received calls from someone claiming to be Freda's doctor. The alleged doctor added further pressure to the situation, claiming that the operation couldn't proceed without the transfer of $20,000.
In a cruel twist, the scammers even went as far as to send photoshopped images of Freda in a hospital bed, along with what appeared to be copies of her passport.
Unfortunately for the scammers, the images were poorly manipulated, with obvious signs of tampering, such as a fake bandage and a black eye.
But despite these glaring red flags, many people, especially seniors like Mr Dolton, can still fall victim to these types of scams.
This highlights the importance of being vigilant and sceptical when it comes to online relationships and unsolicited requests for money - a reminder that scammers will stop at nothing to con unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned cash!
Just in the nick of time, the Bank of Queensland's Fraud and Scam Operation team intervened and prevented Mr Dolton from losing $20,000 in a devastating romance scam.
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, these types of scams are becoming all too common, according to Bank of Queensland's Customer Advocate, Ben Griffin.
'Romance scammers are present on every dating site, social media platform, and even gaming portals’, warns Griffin, then explains that these scammers often use stolen photos of people to create fake online identities and trick their victims.
In Mr Dolton's case, the scammers went to great lengths to make their story seem convincing, but there were red flags that should have raised suspicion. Griffin advises being wary of individuals who profess their love and affection too quickly and who make excuses for not meeting in person. The urgent request for money is another sign that something is amiss.
It's important to stay alert and informed about the tactics scammers use, in order to protect yourself and your hard-earned money.
Bank of Queensland Group, which includes ME Bank and Virgin Money, detected more than $16 million in attempted scam losses in 2021.
The ACCC's Scamwatch feedback even stated that Australians lost more than $40 million to romance scams in 2021, and $568.6 million to scams overall.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a significant shift in the way we live our daily lives, with many activities now taking place online. Sadly, this has opened up a whole new field of opportunity for scammers to prey on people, especially the elderly or less tech-savvy.
With the rapid increase in internet usage, older adults are becoming more vulnerable to scams, such as phishing, malware, and other types of cybercrime. Many seniors also admitted they are not used to conducting business or managing their personal lives online, making them easy targets.
In addition, the isolation and loneliness that many seniors have experienced during the pandemic has left them more susceptible to scams that target their emotions, such as romance scams or lottery scams.
These scams often involve criminals posing as someone they're not, building a false sense of trust, and then asking for money or sensitive information.
As the online world continues to grow and evolve, it's up to us to ensure that our loved ones are prepared and protected. Don't wait for a scam to hit too close to home.
Here are some helpful tips for spotting and avoiding common scams:
Never send money or give personal or financial information to someone you've only met online.
It's important to remember that online interactions can be deceiving and that individuals you meet online may not be who they claim to be. As such, it's crucial to exercise caution when it comes to personal and financial information.
Never send money to someone you've only met online, no matter how convincing their story may be. Whether it's a romantic interest, a supposed lottery win, or an emergency situation, there is a high likelihood that these requests for money are part of a scam.
Additionally, it's important to never give out personal or financial information to someone you've only met online.
This includes your full name, date of birth, social security number, bank account information, or credit card numbers. Scammers can use this information to steal your identity, empty your bank accounts, or run up large amounts of debt in your name.
If a situation seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The old saying, 'if a situation seems too good to be true, it probably is' holds true when it comes to online scams. Scammers often prey on people's emotions and desires, promising them large sums of money, romantic relationships, or other things that seem too good to be true.
For example, if you receive an unexpected email or message from someone claiming to be a wealthy individual looking to share their wealth with you, or a romantic interest who quickly professes their love and affection, it's likely that these are scams.
Similarly, if you're promised a large sum of money for very little effort, such as filling out a short survey or forwarding an email, it's probably a scam.
By being aware of these red flags, you can protect yourself from falling prey to online scams. Always be cautious, do your research, and never give out personal or financial information without verifying the legitimacy of the request.
Do a thorough background internet search with the name or photo of the person you're talking to.
Before engaging in any online relationship, it's important to take a step back and perform a thorough background internet search. This will help you verify the identity of the person you are talking to and determine if there are any red flags or warning signs that suggest they may not be who they claim to be.
You can start by using popular search engines like Google or Bing to search for their name or profile photo. Check for any news articles or blog posts that mention them, or if they have any social media profiles or online presences that you can investigate.
You can also use search engines to look for information about their background, employment history, and criminal records if there are any.
By doing a thorough background search, you'll be able to get a better understanding of who you're dealing with and whether or not they are trustworthy. If you come across any information that raises red flags or causes concern, it's best to err on the side of caution and stop any further communication.
Remember, taking the time to do a background search can be the difference between falling victim to a scam and protecting yourself from potential danger.
We understand how important it is to keep yourself informed and protected against scams and fraud schemes in the digital world. That's why we are committed to providing our valued readers with the most up-to-date information and resources.
We highly encourage you to visit the Scam Watch forum on the SDC website, where we regularly post articles and updates to keep you informed and aware of the latest scams and frauds circulating on the internet.
Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to stay safe and secure in today's digital landscape.
With that said, we hope you found this article helpful and informative! What did you think of this story? If you have more to add to the topic, please feel free to leave a comment below.
The 80-year-old man from Queensland had been reportedly in a long-distance relationship with a woman named Freda, who claimed to live in the UK, for several years now.
Things were going well and Freda even mentioned that she wanted to travel to Australia to tie the knot. So clearly things were looking up for the couple.
However, the situation took a dark turn when the woman informed Mr Dolton that she had been involved in a 'car accident' and urgently needed $20,000 to cover the medical bills.
Alarm bells should have been ringing, but Mr Dolton, like many others in his situation, wanted to believe in the love he thought he had found.
A Queensland senior was nearly duped out of his life savings by a woman he met over the internet. Credit: Pexels/Rodrigo Souza.
The already tense situation for Mr Dolton took a dramatic turn for the worse when he received calls from someone claiming to be Freda's doctor. The alleged doctor added further pressure to the situation, claiming that the operation couldn't proceed without the transfer of $20,000.
In a cruel twist, the scammers even went as far as to send photoshopped images of Freda in a hospital bed, along with what appeared to be copies of her passport.
Unfortunately for the scammers, the images were poorly manipulated, with obvious signs of tampering, such as a fake bandage and a black eye.
But despite these glaring red flags, many people, especially seniors like Mr Dolton, can still fall victim to these types of scams.
This highlights the importance of being vigilant and sceptical when it comes to online relationships and unsolicited requests for money - a reminder that scammers will stop at nothing to con unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned cash!
When Freda told Mr Dolton that she would fly all the way to Australia just to tie the knot with him, he took her at her word. Credit: Pexels/Jasmine Carter.
Just in the nick of time, the Bank of Queensland's Fraud and Scam Operation team intervened and prevented Mr Dolton from losing $20,000 in a devastating romance scam.
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, these types of scams are becoming all too common, according to Bank of Queensland's Customer Advocate, Ben Griffin.
'Romance scammers are present on every dating site, social media platform, and even gaming portals’, warns Griffin, then explains that these scammers often use stolen photos of people to create fake online identities and trick their victims.
In Mr Dolton's case, the scammers went to great lengths to make their story seem convincing, but there were red flags that should have raised suspicion. Griffin advises being wary of individuals who profess their love and affection too quickly and who make excuses for not meeting in person. The urgent request for money is another sign that something is amiss.
It's important to stay alert and informed about the tactics scammers use, in order to protect yourself and your hard-earned money.
Bank of Queensland Group, which includes ME Bank and Virgin Money, detected more than $16 million in attempted scam losses in 2021.
The ACCC's Scamwatch feedback even stated that Australians lost more than $40 million to romance scams in 2021, and $568.6 million to scams overall.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a significant shift in the way we live our daily lives, with many activities now taking place online. Sadly, this has opened up a whole new field of opportunity for scammers to prey on people, especially the elderly or less tech-savvy.
With the rapid increase in internet usage, older adults are becoming more vulnerable to scams, such as phishing, malware, and other types of cybercrime. Many seniors also admitted they are not used to conducting business or managing their personal lives online, making them easy targets.
Scammers are playing on the victims' sympathy by creating fabricated stories of tragedy or tension. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.
In addition, the isolation and loneliness that many seniors have experienced during the pandemic has left them more susceptible to scams that target their emotions, such as romance scams or lottery scams.
These scams often involve criminals posing as someone they're not, building a false sense of trust, and then asking for money or sensitive information.
As the online world continues to grow and evolve, it's up to us to ensure that our loved ones are prepared and protected. Don't wait for a scam to hit too close to home.
Here are some helpful tips for spotting and avoiding common scams:
Never send money or give personal or financial information to someone you've only met online.
It's important to remember that online interactions can be deceiving and that individuals you meet online may not be who they claim to be. As such, it's crucial to exercise caution when it comes to personal and financial information.
Never send money to someone you've only met online, no matter how convincing their story may be. Whether it's a romantic interest, a supposed lottery win, or an emergency situation, there is a high likelihood that these requests for money are part of a scam.
Additionally, it's important to never give out personal or financial information to someone you've only met online.
This includes your full name, date of birth, social security number, bank account information, or credit card numbers. Scammers can use this information to steal your identity, empty your bank accounts, or run up large amounts of debt in your name.
Keep in mind that you should never trust someone you've only met online with your personal or financial information. Credit: Pexels/Anete Lusina.
If a situation seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The old saying, 'if a situation seems too good to be true, it probably is' holds true when it comes to online scams. Scammers often prey on people's emotions and desires, promising them large sums of money, romantic relationships, or other things that seem too good to be true.
For example, if you receive an unexpected email or message from someone claiming to be a wealthy individual looking to share their wealth with you, or a romantic interest who quickly professes their love and affection, it's likely that these are scams.
Similarly, if you're promised a large sum of money for very little effort, such as filling out a short survey or forwarding an email, it's probably a scam.
By being aware of these red flags, you can protect yourself from falling prey to online scams. Always be cautious, do your research, and never give out personal or financial information without verifying the legitimacy of the request.
It's important to do some research on a person's social media and search engine profiles before engaging in any kind of business with them online. Credit: Pexels/Tracy Le Blanc.
Do a thorough background internet search with the name or photo of the person you're talking to.
Before engaging in any online relationship, it's important to take a step back and perform a thorough background internet search. This will help you verify the identity of the person you are talking to and determine if there are any red flags or warning signs that suggest they may not be who they claim to be.
You can start by using popular search engines like Google or Bing to search for their name or profile photo. Check for any news articles or blog posts that mention them, or if they have any social media profiles or online presences that you can investigate.
You can also use search engines to look for information about their background, employment history, and criminal records if there are any.
By doing a thorough background search, you'll be able to get a better understanding of who you're dealing with and whether or not they are trustworthy. If you come across any information that raises red flags or causes concern, it's best to err on the side of caution and stop any further communication.
Remember, taking the time to do a background search can be the difference between falling victim to a scam and protecting yourself from potential danger.
Scams are becoming more common online, so it's important to be aware, informed, and prepared. Credit: Pexels/picjumbo.com.
We understand how important it is to keep yourself informed and protected against scams and fraud schemes in the digital world. That's why we are committed to providing our valued readers with the most up-to-date information and resources.
We highly encourage you to visit the Scam Watch forum on the SDC website, where we regularly post articles and updates to keep you informed and aware of the latest scams and frauds circulating on the internet.
Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to stay safe and secure in today's digital landscape.
With that said, we hope you found this article helpful and informative! What did you think of this story? If you have more to add to the topic, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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