Man loses $5000 after falling for a scammer's one simple request
- Replies 27
Scams are becoming more sophisticated, and even the most experienced can fall victim to a seemingly harmless interaction.
What started as a simple phone call soon turned into a financial nightmare for one man, leaving him grappling with a devastating loss.
As the story unfolds, it reveals just how easily a quick request can lead to serious consequences.
Peter Cook, a retiree with 28 years of banking experience, has expressed regret after falling victim to a scam that drained $5000 from his savings.
The 79-year-old, from Adelaide, was left with little money after the fraud, having to rely on his wife’s separate account to pay bills.
Earlier this year, in March, Mr Cook noticed his internet was unusually slow, prompting him to contact his telco provider, Optus.
Shortly after, he received a call from a woman claiming to be from the same company, and he accepted the call, unaware that it was a scam.
The scammer asked him a simple but sneaky question about his phone, a request that would ultimately cost him thousands of dollars.
The fraudster told him they were transferring him to a technician, who Mr Cook described as having an Asian accent.
The technician convinced him to download an app called AnyDesk, under the guise that it would solve his internet issues.
However, the app gave the scammers remote access to his phone, allowing them to access his bank account without him noticing.
‘What struck me at the time, he asked me to ‘make sure your phone is facing down’,’ Mr Cook recalled.
This seemingly innocent request was what allowed the scammer to raid his account, leaving Mr Cook oblivious to the theft until later when he checked his balance.
‘I looked at my account and I’ve got no money left in it,’ he said.
It’s not the first time such a scam has occurred. Other victims have lost significant sums, some even tens of thousands of dollars, after scammers pretended to fix slow NBN connections.
Another victim shared that they were instructed to turn off their phone, a similar tactic that led to a loss of funds.
In a related story, we highlighted how a single click on a deceptive email put a man’s Centrelink payments at serious risk. To learn more about this shocking breach and how to protect yourself, read the full article here.
Have you or someone you know experienced a scam like this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Stay updated and safeguard yourself from the latest scams with the SDC's Cybersecurity for Aussies Over 60 modules. Learn more here.
What started as a simple phone call soon turned into a financial nightmare for one man, leaving him grappling with a devastating loss.
As the story unfolds, it reveals just how easily a quick request can lead to serious consequences.
Peter Cook, a retiree with 28 years of banking experience, has expressed regret after falling victim to a scam that drained $5000 from his savings.
The 79-year-old, from Adelaide, was left with little money after the fraud, having to rely on his wife’s separate account to pay bills.
Earlier this year, in March, Mr Cook noticed his internet was unusually slow, prompting him to contact his telco provider, Optus.
Shortly after, he received a call from a woman claiming to be from the same company, and he accepted the call, unaware that it was a scam.
The scammer asked him a simple but sneaky question about his phone, a request that would ultimately cost him thousands of dollars.
The fraudster told him they were transferring him to a technician, who Mr Cook described as having an Asian accent.
The technician convinced him to download an app called AnyDesk, under the guise that it would solve his internet issues.
However, the app gave the scammers remote access to his phone, allowing them to access his bank account without him noticing.
‘What struck me at the time, he asked me to ‘make sure your phone is facing down’,’ Mr Cook recalled.
This seemingly innocent request was what allowed the scammer to raid his account, leaving Mr Cook oblivious to the theft until later when he checked his balance.
‘I looked at my account and I’ve got no money left in it,’ he said.
It’s not the first time such a scam has occurred. Other victims have lost significant sums, some even tens of thousands of dollars, after scammers pretended to fix slow NBN connections.
Another victim shared that they were instructed to turn off their phone, a similar tactic that led to a loss of funds.
In a related story, we highlighted how a single click on a deceptive email put a man’s Centrelink payments at serious risk. To learn more about this shocking breach and how to protect yourself, read the full article here.
Have you or someone you know experienced a scam like this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Stay updated and safeguard yourself from the latest scams with the SDC's Cybersecurity for Aussies Over 60 modules. Learn more here.
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