Protect your savings: Discover how this scary scam robbed an Aussie family of $36k overnight!
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In today's digital age, where convenience and connectivity are at our fingertips, there lurks a sinister underbelly of cybercriminals preying on unsuspecting individuals.
The Seniors Discount Club is here to shed light on a chilling scam that has recently targeted Australians, particularly the older generation, who may not be as tech-savvy.
This scam not only drains bank accounts but also involves threats and abuse, leaving victims feeling vulnerable and violated.
Imagine receiving a phone call from what seems to be a legitimate service provider, such as the NBN, claiming they are upgrading services in your area.
This scenario is precisely what happened to an Australian woman, who, after being kept on the phone for six hours, was duped into stepping away from her computer.
Her stepdaughter, Felicity*, has been left to pick up the pieces, with the National Australia Bank (NAB) only able to recover a meagre $48 of the stolen funds.
‘They asked her to remain by her computer to monitor any disruptions. Over the next six hours, they asked numerous questions, provided her with several numbers to write down, commented on the specific length of her longstanding relationship with her internet provider, Westnet, and even verified the last four digits of her credit card. Luckily, she did not give the rest of the digits,’ Felicity* narrated.
‘They claimed she was eligible for a rebate due to slow internet speeds, specifying an exact amount of $2470 she could receive. Finally, they instructed her to step away from her computer, citing potential radiation emissions, and, once the procedure was complete, to leave it off for an hour.’
It was only after her stepmother reviewed her emails later and realised that her daily transaction limit had been raised that she began to worry something was amiss. The 75-year-old then found out that $8,400 was missing from her bank account.
Unfortunately, this incident is not isolated. From January to September, Australians have lost a whopping $5.8 million to remote access scams, with 5352 cases reported to Scamwatch.
The NBN scam is particularly prevalent, with 863 reports in just seven months. Victims have shared harrowing stories of abuse and threats from scammers who seem to have detailed knowledge of their targets' personal information.
This follows a report about Sylvie Leber, who lost $10,000 in March due to a remote NBN access scam, which left her daughter enraged as her mother was accused of ‘extreme carelessness’ instead of being regarded as a fraud victim.
For Felicity*'s family, the timing was almost catastrophic, as a significant house settlement was due to be deposited into the account just two weeks after the scam.
She expressed frustration with NAB's handling of the case, which she believes they resolved hastily—only a month after it was opened—and returned very few of the stolen funds, expressing frustration over the lack of transparency in their investigation.
The bank's response was that ‘NAB Fraud analyst had performed a liability assessment and deemed that your parents are liable for the losses’ and the assessment is only available internally.
‘My parents are extremely shaken, and they are now too frightened to do anything on the computer, and I get as it also rattles me as to how easily it seems to have happened,’ Felicity* shared.
‘We expect everyone to internet bank but don’t give tools or knowledge on how to do it safely.’
Felicity* mentioned that her stepmother was unaware of how to enable features like two-factor authentication.
‘I am deeply frustrated on behalf of my parents and concerned for others who, despite having technological access for their daily activities, lack the scepticism or most current knowledge to identify and avoid scams,’ she added.
NAB's Executive of Group Investigations and Fraud, Chris Sheehan, stated that while he cannot discuss specific cases due to privacy concerns, the bank has observed a considerable rise in scams in recent years and is actively working to combat these criminals.
‘The results of scams can be devastating on the people they impact, both emotionally and financially,’ he acknowledged.
‘These criminals are continuously evolving the way they target Australians, and that’s why it’s important to stop the crime before it happens.’
‘It’s important all Australians pause and be alert to scam red flags before clicking a suspicious link or providing anyone with remote access to your computer or other devices. Remote access scams occur when victims are contacted via phone, text or email by a scammer falsely claiming to be from a familiar company, such as a telco or IT company,’ Mr Sheehan explained.
Felicity* said that her parents are concerned because they received a text from the NBN before the scam indicating that a group would be working in the area, and they believe ‘the scammers piggybacked on that’. This concern has been echoed by other victims.
Alarmingly, another mum was ‘abused’ by scammers posing as NBN representatives a few years ago, who claimed to know her address and ‘threatened’ her.
The scammers also remotely accessed her computer and stole the pensioner's life savings of $8,000.
The 85-year-old wasn’t alarmed by the call, as she had contacted them the day before regarding internet issues.
‘She was kept on the phone for three hours, and when she tried to end the call because she was expecting a doctor’s tele appointment, she was abused and called back,’ the victim’s daughter, Robyn, recalled.
‘During those three hours, her Suncorp account was drained even though she did not give out any account number or passcodes. I am sure they also searched every aspect of her computer.’
In an unexpected turn of events, Robyn's mum was fortunate enough to have her money recovered through an investigation by the AFP and Suncorp, though she still felt ‘s*****’ and ‘humiliated’.
Just this week, 90-year-old Dan, another victim, received a call from NBN scammers.
He successfully resisted their efforts to gain access to his computer and requested that they send him an email instead. The male scammer became rude and aggressive.
Although Dan didn’t share any personal information, he still felt vulnerable and decided to cancel his account as a precautionary measure.
‘Easy to fall prey because my NBN was listed to be done and installed last Thursday. How do they get access to such info?’ he wondered.
NBN Chief Security Officer Darren Kane stated that the organisation retains ‘very limited’ identifiable information about its customers.
However, it does provide information about its upgrade programs throughout Australia, including the suburbs involved.
He also noted that both employees and third-party contractors must undergo criminal background checks.
‘Social engineering is certainly on the rise with the ability of these criminals to gather small pieces of identity that builds a picture of [the] victim, and that does and come from all sources available from the web and dark web,’ Mr Kane explained.
‘I very much believe they may target 100 to 150 different victims with details of those victims and ultimately one, two, three or four fall victim to the scams.’
David O’Donnell had to rush through his family’s door when NBN scammers had his father ‘twisted’, with one on the mobile phone and another on the landline, two years ago.
They convinced his father, who is in his early 80s, to install a program called Anydesk on his computer. However, Mr O’Donnell recognised it as a scam and ‘walked up to NBN box and ripped the cord out of the wall’.
At the same time, he was on the phone with Commonwealth Bank’s fraud department, which informed him that a transfer of $36,000 had already been processed.
‘The funds were transferred to a Westpac bank account in Strathfield in Sydney…and it was coded as a transaction for the sale of Ford Falcon sedan,’ he narrated.
‘The next day, to their credit, the CBA reversed the transaction and refunded mum and dad’s money.’
Mr O’Donnell believes there would not have been a refund if he hadn't caught the scammers in the act. He noted that his father was ‘livid’ and ‘pretty shocked’ by the entire experience.
‘I can’t understand why the government authorities can’t do anything, and at [the] end of [the] day, they should know where these bastards are. But they don’t have the political willpower to do anything about it and go after the scammers?’ he added.
NAB expert Mr Sheehan emphasised that individuals should never feel pressured to share personal information and should verify any suspicious text messages or emails before disclosing account details.
‘If you’re in any doubt, delete the message and contact your bank,’ he advised.
‘We will always do whatever we can to try and prevent scams and recover stolen money. However, in a lot of instances, this can be extremely difficult, with funds often quickly sent overseas or moved to cryptocurrency platforms which are largely unregulated. If NAB is at fault, we will always reimburse a customer.’
Mr Kane added that the NBN will never request remote access to a customer's computer or inform them that they have been hacked or disconnected.
He also noted that the NBN does not require payment for appointments, and there are no associated postage or hardware fees.
Westnet, owned by iiNet, has been contacted for a comment but did not receive a response.
Felicity* was informed that no reported data breaches affected the internet provider's systems.
A spokesperson for the National Anti-Scam Centre stated that remote access scams happen when fraudsters pose as representatives from reputable banks, internet providers, phone companies, software firms, or web security businesses, falsely alleging issues with your account, phone, or computer.
‘They tell you to download screen sharing software like Zoho, AnyDesk or TeamViewer or an app which will let them remotely control your computer or mobile phone,’ they warned.
‘When you download the software or app they say they need to “fix the problem”, the scammer can now fully control your device. They don’t fix any problem, because there’s no problem to fix. They ask you to tell them your banking passwords or one-time security codes.’
By sharing this information, you enable the scammer to access your bank accounts, personal details, and ultimately steal your money, they noted.
‘You might not realise they have stolen your money and emptied your bank accounts until the next time you log in,’ the spokesperson added.
According to the annual review by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, over 10,000 scams were reported in Australia during 2023/24, representing an 81 per cent increase from the previous year.
As financial institutions grapple with the rising tide of scams and the challenges in recovering lost funds, many Australians are falling victim to increasingly sophisticated schemes.
The recent case of a bank's struggle to recover just a fraction of stolen funds highlights the vulnerabilities in our financial systems.
Another alarming trend compounds this issue: scammers are exploiting trusted connections, such as internet service providers, to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
With these deceptive tactics on the rise, it’s crucial for consumers, especially seniors, to remain vigilant and informed about the methods used by fraudsters to protect themselves from potential scams.
Have you or someone you know been affected by a scam? How did your bank handle it? Share your experiences and tips for staying safe in the comments below. Let's help each other stay one step ahead of the scammers.
*Name changed for privacy purposes
The Seniors Discount Club is here to shed light on a chilling scam that has recently targeted Australians, particularly the older generation, who may not be as tech-savvy.
This scam not only drains bank accounts but also involves threats and abuse, leaving victims feeling vulnerable and violated.
Imagine receiving a phone call from what seems to be a legitimate service provider, such as the NBN, claiming they are upgrading services in your area.
This scenario is precisely what happened to an Australian woman, who, after being kept on the phone for six hours, was duped into stepping away from her computer.
Her stepdaughter, Felicity*, has been left to pick up the pieces, with the National Australia Bank (NAB) only able to recover a meagre $48 of the stolen funds.
Criminals are carrying out remote access scams in Australia, leading to victims losing a total of $5.8 million from January to September this year. Credit: Shutterstock
‘They asked her to remain by her computer to monitor any disruptions. Over the next six hours, they asked numerous questions, provided her with several numbers to write down, commented on the specific length of her longstanding relationship with her internet provider, Westnet, and even verified the last four digits of her credit card. Luckily, she did not give the rest of the digits,’ Felicity* narrated.
‘They claimed she was eligible for a rebate due to slow internet speeds, specifying an exact amount of $2470 she could receive. Finally, they instructed her to step away from her computer, citing potential radiation emissions, and, once the procedure was complete, to leave it off for an hour.’
It was only after her stepmother reviewed her emails later and realised that her daily transaction limit had been raised that she began to worry something was amiss. The 75-year-old then found out that $8,400 was missing from her bank account.
Unfortunately, this incident is not isolated. From January to September, Australians have lost a whopping $5.8 million to remote access scams, with 5352 cases reported to Scamwatch.
The NBN scam is particularly prevalent, with 863 reports in just seven months. Victims have shared harrowing stories of abuse and threats from scammers who seem to have detailed knowledge of their targets' personal information.
This follows a report about Sylvie Leber, who lost $10,000 in March due to a remote NBN access scam, which left her daughter enraged as her mother was accused of ‘extreme carelessness’ instead of being regarded as a fraud victim.
For Felicity*'s family, the timing was almost catastrophic, as a significant house settlement was due to be deposited into the account just two weeks after the scam.
She expressed frustration with NAB's handling of the case, which she believes they resolved hastily—only a month after it was opened—and returned very few of the stolen funds, expressing frustration over the lack of transparency in their investigation.
The bank's response was that ‘NAB Fraud analyst had performed a liability assessment and deemed that your parents are liable for the losses’ and the assessment is only available internally.
‘My parents are extremely shaken, and they are now too frightened to do anything on the computer, and I get as it also rattles me as to how easily it seems to have happened,’ Felicity* shared.
‘We expect everyone to internet bank but don’t give tools or knowledge on how to do it safely.’
Felicity* mentioned that her stepmother was unaware of how to enable features like two-factor authentication.
‘I am deeply frustrated on behalf of my parents and concerned for others who, despite having technological access for their daily activities, lack the scepticism or most current knowledge to identify and avoid scams,’ she added.
NAB's Executive of Group Investigations and Fraud, Chris Sheehan, stated that while he cannot discuss specific cases due to privacy concerns, the bank has observed a considerable rise in scams in recent years and is actively working to combat these criminals.
‘The results of scams can be devastating on the people they impact, both emotionally and financially,’ he acknowledged.
‘These criminals are continuously evolving the way they target Australians, and that’s why it’s important to stop the crime before it happens.’
‘It’s important all Australians pause and be alert to scam red flags before clicking a suspicious link or providing anyone with remote access to your computer or other devices. Remote access scams occur when victims are contacted via phone, text or email by a scammer falsely claiming to be from a familiar company, such as a telco or IT company,’ Mr Sheehan explained.
Felicity* said that her parents are concerned because they received a text from the NBN before the scam indicating that a group would be working in the area, and they believe ‘the scammers piggybacked on that’. This concern has been echoed by other victims.
Alarmingly, another mum was ‘abused’ by scammers posing as NBN representatives a few years ago, who claimed to know her address and ‘threatened’ her.
The scammers also remotely accessed her computer and stole the pensioner's life savings of $8,000.
The 85-year-old wasn’t alarmed by the call, as she had contacted them the day before regarding internet issues.
‘She was kept on the phone for three hours, and when she tried to end the call because she was expecting a doctor’s tele appointment, she was abused and called back,’ the victim’s daughter, Robyn, recalled.
‘During those three hours, her Suncorp account was drained even though she did not give out any account number or passcodes. I am sure they also searched every aspect of her computer.’
In an unexpected turn of events, Robyn's mum was fortunate enough to have her money recovered through an investigation by the AFP and Suncorp, though she still felt ‘s*****’ and ‘humiliated’.
Just this week, 90-year-old Dan, another victim, received a call from NBN scammers.
He successfully resisted their efforts to gain access to his computer and requested that they send him an email instead. The male scammer became rude and aggressive.
Although Dan didn’t share any personal information, he still felt vulnerable and decided to cancel his account as a precautionary measure.
‘Easy to fall prey because my NBN was listed to be done and installed last Thursday. How do they get access to such info?’ he wondered.
NBN Chief Security Officer Darren Kane stated that the organisation retains ‘very limited’ identifiable information about its customers.
However, it does provide information about its upgrade programs throughout Australia, including the suburbs involved.
He also noted that both employees and third-party contractors must undergo criminal background checks.
‘Social engineering is certainly on the rise with the ability of these criminals to gather small pieces of identity that builds a picture of [the] victim, and that does and come from all sources available from the web and dark web,’ Mr Kane explained.
‘I very much believe they may target 100 to 150 different victims with details of those victims and ultimately one, two, three or four fall victim to the scams.’
David O’Donnell had to rush through his family’s door when NBN scammers had his father ‘twisted’, with one on the mobile phone and another on the landline, two years ago.
They convinced his father, who is in his early 80s, to install a program called Anydesk on his computer. However, Mr O’Donnell recognised it as a scam and ‘walked up to NBN box and ripped the cord out of the wall’.
At the same time, he was on the phone with Commonwealth Bank’s fraud department, which informed him that a transfer of $36,000 had already been processed.
‘The funds were transferred to a Westpac bank account in Strathfield in Sydney…and it was coded as a transaction for the sale of Ford Falcon sedan,’ he narrated.
‘The next day, to their credit, the CBA reversed the transaction and refunded mum and dad’s money.’
Mr O’Donnell believes there would not have been a refund if he hadn't caught the scammers in the act. He noted that his father was ‘livid’ and ‘pretty shocked’ by the entire experience.
‘I can’t understand why the government authorities can’t do anything, and at [the] end of [the] day, they should know where these bastards are. But they don’t have the political willpower to do anything about it and go after the scammers?’ he added.
NAB expert Mr Sheehan emphasised that individuals should never feel pressured to share personal information and should verify any suspicious text messages or emails before disclosing account details.
‘If you’re in any doubt, delete the message and contact your bank,’ he advised.
‘We will always do whatever we can to try and prevent scams and recover stolen money. However, in a lot of instances, this can be extremely difficult, with funds often quickly sent overseas or moved to cryptocurrency platforms which are largely unregulated. If NAB is at fault, we will always reimburse a customer.’
Mr Kane added that the NBN will never request remote access to a customer's computer or inform them that they have been hacked or disconnected.
He also noted that the NBN does not require payment for appointments, and there are no associated postage or hardware fees.
Westnet, owned by iiNet, has been contacted for a comment but did not receive a response.
Felicity* was informed that no reported data breaches affected the internet provider's systems.
A spokesperson for the National Anti-Scam Centre stated that remote access scams happen when fraudsters pose as representatives from reputable banks, internet providers, phone companies, software firms, or web security businesses, falsely alleging issues with your account, phone, or computer.
‘They tell you to download screen sharing software like Zoho, AnyDesk or TeamViewer or an app which will let them remotely control your computer or mobile phone,’ they warned.
‘When you download the software or app they say they need to “fix the problem”, the scammer can now fully control your device. They don’t fix any problem, because there’s no problem to fix. They ask you to tell them your banking passwords or one-time security codes.’
By sharing this information, you enable the scammer to access your bank accounts, personal details, and ultimately steal your money, they noted.
‘You might not realise they have stolen your money and emptied your bank accounts until the next time you log in,’ the spokesperson added.
According to the annual review by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, over 10,000 scams were reported in Australia during 2023/24, representing an 81 per cent increase from the previous year.
As financial institutions grapple with the rising tide of scams and the challenges in recovering lost funds, many Australians are falling victim to increasingly sophisticated schemes.
The recent case of a bank's struggle to recover just a fraction of stolen funds highlights the vulnerabilities in our financial systems.
Another alarming trend compounds this issue: scammers are exploiting trusted connections, such as internet service providers, to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
With these deceptive tactics on the rise, it’s crucial for consumers, especially seniors, to remain vigilant and informed about the methods used by fraudsters to protect themselves from potential scams.
*Name changed for privacy purposes
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