Grandmother ‘humiliated’ after being swindled out of thousands from a high-tech scam
- Replies 10
In an age where technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, it's not just the young and tech-savvy who are reaping the benefits.
Unfortunately, it's also not just these groups who are at risk of the darker side of this digital progression: scams.
A grandmother learned this the hard way when she was conned out of thousands by a high-tech scam, leaving her feeling 'humiliated' and out of pocket.
The scam unfolded just before Christmas, when Sally Marchant received a message on Facebook from someone she believed to be a friend.
The message was convincing, and why wouldn't it be? It came from her friend's account, after all.
However, behind the familiar profile picture was a scammer using artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate Sally into sending them money.
The scam promised a return on investment that was too good to be true: send $10,000 and receive $200,000 back.
According to Sally, the scammers using her friend's hacked account were persistent and encouraging.
‘They were really encouraging, saying, “Yeah, do it, do it.”’ Sally recalled.
Sally, convinced she was helping a friend, withdrew the money from her mortgage and with a single click, the money was gone.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch warned that scammers are increasingly using sophisticated software to carry out their deceptions.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a powerful tool, and in the wrong hands, it can be used to create highly convincing scams that are difficult for the average person to detect.
‘With the emergence of new technologies, Scamwatch continues to see growing sophistication in scam approaches, and is alert to the risks AI presents,’ a spokesperson stated.
‘This makes scams harder for the community to identify. The community should continue to approach any requests for personal information or money with caution, and exercise caution when clicking on hyperlinks.’
Almost immediately after the transfer, Sally felt that something was amiss.
It was only after she made the transaction that she called her friend to confirm the legitimacy of the request.
The truth hit hard; her friend had no knowledge of the message or the supposed financial opportunity.
‘So, I phoned him and physically spoke to him, and he just went, “No, no.” He knew nothing about it,’ she said.
‘You could have spent that on so many other wonderful things. So, I was cross with myself, I was quite humiliated.’
It's important to note that this type of scam is not limited to messages.
Some scammers have the capability to mimic a person's voice, making fraudulent phone calls or voice notes even more convincing.
‘They can be created with as little as three seconds of audio taken from a social media post, voicemail, or video on a website,’ Laura Hartley, Advisory Awareness Manager of National Australia Bank, explained.
‘We know they are happening in the UK and US, in particular, and anticipate it’s just a matter of time before these scams head Down Under.’
If you find yourself in a similar situation like Sally, here's what to do next:
The devastating impact of scams on seniors is painfully evident.
In a more heartbreaking incident, a grandfather met a tragic end after being swindled out of his life savings in another scam.
These distressing stories underscore the urgent need for greater awareness and vigilance among the elderly community.
As scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit unsuspecting victims, it's imperative for seniors to stay informed and safeguard themselves against such deceitful schemes.
Have you or someone you know been targeted by a similar scam? How did you deal with it? Share your stories in the comments below.
Unfortunately, it's also not just these groups who are at risk of the darker side of this digital progression: scams.
A grandmother learned this the hard way when she was conned out of thousands by a high-tech scam, leaving her feeling 'humiliated' and out of pocket.
The scam unfolded just before Christmas, when Sally Marchant received a message on Facebook from someone she believed to be a friend.
The message was convincing, and why wouldn't it be? It came from her friend's account, after all.
However, behind the familiar profile picture was a scammer using artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate Sally into sending them money.
Sally Marchant lost $10,000 to a scammer in a high-tech Facebook scam that uses AI. Credits: Facebook / 9 News Perth
The scam promised a return on investment that was too good to be true: send $10,000 and receive $200,000 back.
According to Sally, the scammers using her friend's hacked account were persistent and encouraging.
‘They were really encouraging, saying, “Yeah, do it, do it.”’ Sally recalled.
Sally, convinced she was helping a friend, withdrew the money from her mortgage and with a single click, the money was gone.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch warned that scammers are increasingly using sophisticated software to carry out their deceptions.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a powerful tool, and in the wrong hands, it can be used to create highly convincing scams that are difficult for the average person to detect.
‘With the emergence of new technologies, Scamwatch continues to see growing sophistication in scam approaches, and is alert to the risks AI presents,’ a spokesperson stated.
‘This makes scams harder for the community to identify. The community should continue to approach any requests for personal information or money with caution, and exercise caution when clicking on hyperlinks.’
Almost immediately after the transfer, Sally felt that something was amiss.
It was only after she made the transaction that she called her friend to confirm the legitimacy of the request.
The truth hit hard; her friend had no knowledge of the message or the supposed financial opportunity.
‘So, I phoned him and physically spoke to him, and he just went, “No, no.” He knew nothing about it,’ she said.
‘You could have spent that on so many other wonderful things. So, I was cross with myself, I was quite humiliated.’
It's important to note that this type of scam is not limited to messages.
Some scammers have the capability to mimic a person's voice, making fraudulent phone calls or voice notes even more convincing.
‘They can be created with as little as three seconds of audio taken from a social media post, voicemail, or video on a website,’ Laura Hartley, Advisory Awareness Manager of National Australia Bank, explained.
‘We know they are happening in the UK and US, in particular, and anticipate it’s just a matter of time before these scams head Down Under.’
If you find yourself in a similar situation like Sally, here's what to do next:
In a more heartbreaking incident, a grandfather met a tragic end after being swindled out of his life savings in another scam.
These distressing stories underscore the urgent need for greater awareness and vigilance among the elderly community.
As scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit unsuspecting victims, it's imperative for seniors to stay informed and safeguard themselves against such deceitful schemes.
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