One call, five days, 130 transactions: How a 91-year-old was scammed
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Financial scams are an ever-present threat, with fraudsters constantly finding new ways to deceive their victims.
What seemed like a routine banking matter for one elderly Victorian woman soon turned into a devastating ordeal, leaving her thousands of dollars out of pocket.
What unfolded next has prompted a police investigation and a search for the suspect behind the elaborate scheme.
A 91-year-old woman from Foster, in Victoria’s South Gippsland, was allegedly scammed out of $130,000 after a fraudster posed as her bank.
The ordeal began on 19 September when she received a call from someone claiming to be from her financial institution.
According to Victoria Police: ‘The scam caller advised the woman that fraudulent charges had been made on her account.’
Later that day, a man arrived at her home, allegedly to collect her bank card.
Over the following five days, her card was used 130 times before it was finally cancelled.
The scammer is believed to have spent the money on gift cards from various stores across Melbourne.
Police said transactions were made in multiple locations, including:
Authorities have released images of a man they believe may have information about the case.
Anyone who recognises him has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
In another story, gift card scams have become a common tactic for fraudsters targeting vulnerable individuals, with devastating consequences.
Watch the video below to see how another 91-year-old woman fell victim to this scheme and what you can do to protect yourself.
In a previous story, we covered another alarming scam that put streaming accounts and payment details at risk.
Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to steal personal information, often using tactics that seem legitimate at first glance.
Read more to see how this scam works and how to protect yourself.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, making it harder to spot their tricks. Have you or someone you know ever encountered a similar scam?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
What seemed like a routine banking matter for one elderly Victorian woman soon turned into a devastating ordeal, leaving her thousands of dollars out of pocket.
What unfolded next has prompted a police investigation and a search for the suspect behind the elaborate scheme.
A 91-year-old woman from Foster, in Victoria’s South Gippsland, was allegedly scammed out of $130,000 after a fraudster posed as her bank.
The ordeal began on 19 September when she received a call from someone claiming to be from her financial institution.
According to Victoria Police: ‘The scam caller advised the woman that fraudulent charges had been made on her account.’
Later that day, a man arrived at her home, allegedly to collect her bank card.
Over the following five days, her card was used 130 times before it was finally cancelled.
The scammer is believed to have spent the money on gift cards from various stores across Melbourne.
Police said transactions were made in multiple locations, including:
- Airport West
- Altona
- Bacchus Marsh
- Balaclava
- Caulfield
- Chadstone
- Corio
- Deer Park
- Elsternwick
- Essendon
- Footscray
- Geelong
- Maribyrnong
- Hoppers Crossing
- Malvern
- Moonee Ponds
- Point Cook
- Port Melbourne
- Spotswood
- Sunshine
- Werribee
- Williamstown
- Yarraville
Authorities have released images of a man they believe may have information about the case.
Anyone who recognises him has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
In another story, gift card scams have become a common tactic for fraudsters targeting vulnerable individuals, with devastating consequences.
Watch the video below to see how another 91-year-old woman fell victim to this scheme and what you can do to protect yourself.
In a previous story, we covered another alarming scam that put streaming accounts and payment details at risk.
Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to steal personal information, often using tactics that seem legitimate at first glance.
Read more to see how this scam works and how to protect yourself.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, making it harder to spot their tricks. Have you or someone you know ever encountered a similar scam?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
