The digital age has brought us many conveniences, but with those conveniences come new risks, particularly in personal finance.

The story of a Melbourne woman who lost her life savings of $44,000 to scammers in just 25 minutes is a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online.

Gay de Beer's experience is a cautionary tale for all of us, especially for those in the over-60s community who may be more vulnerable to such scams.

Gay was working on her laptop when a message claimed she had a major virus.

A phone number, purportedly from Microsoft, was provided to help resolve the issue.

A remote access scam stole $44,000 from a Melbourne woman's account in just 25 minutes. Credit: Shutterstock

In a moment of panic, Gay called the number and was convinced to give the scammers remote access to her computer.

They claimed to secure her PayPal and debit card details from unauthorised access.

Tragically, between 12:26 pm and 1:00 pm, the scammers transferred her entire life savings from her Bendigo Bank account.

The situation escalated when Gay, realising what was happening, rushed to her local bank branch.

The transfer continued despite being present at the bank while the final transaction was processed.

The transfers were made in nonsensical names, raising the question of why the bank's systems did not flag this unusual activity.

The emotional and financial impact on Gay has been devastating.

She has expressed feelings of hopelessness and has struggled with her mental health.

The loss of her funds meant to cover her living expenses, including rent and car payments, has left her in a precarious position.

She is now reliant on her pension, which barely covers her rent.

Gay's case is not isolated. Another Bendigo Bank customer, Sylvie Leber, lost her life savings of $20,000 to a similar scam.

These incidents highlight the need for increased vigilance and better support for fraud victims.

Bendigo Bank faced an outage that disrupted its e-banking and app, preventing customers from accessing online services.

The issue was acknowledged Thursday afternoon, and services were restored by 1:45 PM. You can read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• A Melbourne woman lost her life savings of $44,000 within 25 minutes due to a remote access scam, where scammers gained control of her computer and bank account.
• Despite being at a Bendigo Bank branch while the final transaction occurred, she could not prevent the loss, and the bank's systems failed to identify the fraudulent activity.
• The victim, Gay de Beer, is facing significant financial and mental health difficulties following the scam, and she has criticised the bank for not showing empathy and not reimbursing her losses fully, except for a $2000 goodwill payment, which she rejected.
• Bendigo Bank asserts the importance of cyber security and customer self-protection, mentioning ongoing efforts to combat scams and fraud, but highlights that recovery of funds from scammers is tough.

How can you protect yourself from online scams and prevent remote device access? Should banks do more to flag suspicious transactions and protect customers from fraud? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.

 

[BlackWolf]

How can everyone know I every scam out there, there are new ones happening all the time. Even still, you shouldn't be nasty about it.

 

[MariaG]

At 5.30 am, I received on email from Aris Team<[email protected]>. Here is the body of the message.

Your device is infected with a virus, and we have access to your
private information and personal data.

It previously was installed on your web page browser after which
you've selected the video clip and checking your online banking
on your browser, your device was infected by the virus and
gathered all your contacts. Then, your camera started to record
you, we have your videos and your account data.

I also have full access to your account. I've been watching you
for a few months. The truth is that malware is infected through
an adult site you visit. If you are not familiar with this, I
will explain. Trojan Virus gives me full access and control over
a computer or other device. This is where I can see everything on
your screen, turn on the camera and microphone, but you don't
know it

Well, If you ever wish us to wipe out all your details that we
have got, "We require a minimum of 0.010 or a maximum of 1.00."
in Bitcoin to the below address, It depends on how much
capability you can offer within the ranges we have requested, We
will gladly take everything down as soon as we confirm it

Bitcoin Address: (bc1qhtg7hxmlmdzc6xswxvrdhqnfp4jxu3ung8zndz)

(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)

Now you have 24hrs to make a payment. The moment we receive the
transaction I'm going to wipe out these movies and other
data—everything completely and you will never hear from me
anymore. Or else, please be sure that the evidence will be sent
out to all of your contacts including relatives, coworkers,
Facebook and so forth and we can resell your data on black
markets.

Would you fall for such bullshit? If you do, more fool you!

The origin is Tuvalu, a small Pacific island nation.

They'd be pushing poo uphill to get anything out of me. By choice, I don't have a camera, or microphone.
Messages like this are aimed at the vulnerable and/or unprotected, poorly educated, lonesome individuals.
Point is, if you cannot ID scammers, don't be in full control of your finances. Have someone you trust work with you every step of the way.
That's what I did for my mum and she was able to live her last few years without having to concern herself with learning how to access that internet thing. She did all her major banking over the counter with my sister or I in attendance, and, 2nd signatures were necessary for her to carry out transfers and bill payments, or the like. The only difficulty I encountered was the odd bank teller refusing to deal with my mother and I at the same time. The words Dementia and Power of Attorney sorted that out quick smart.
One thing I never offered mum was the power of an App. Could be dangerous in the hands of someone who is behind the 8 ball when it comes to communications.

 

[Veggiepatch]

that's not nice.

Neither are you!

 

[RobbyNotTheRobot]

At 5.30 am, I received on email from Aris Team<[email protected]>. Here is the body of the message.

Your device is infected with a virus, and we have access to your
private information and personal data.

It previously was installed on your web page browser after which
you've selected the video clip and checking your online banking
on your browser, your device was infected by the virus and
gathered all your contacts. Then, your camera started to record
you, we have your videos and your account data.

I also have full access to your account. I've been watching you
for a few months. The truth is that malware is infected through
an adult site you visit. If you are not familiar with this, I
will explain. Trojan Virus gives me full access and control over
a computer or other device. This is where I can see everything on
your screen, turn on the camera and microphone, but you don't
know it

Well, If you ever wish us to wipe out all your details that we
have got, "We require a minimum of 0.010 or a maximum of 1.00."
in Bitcoin to the below address, It depends on how much
capability you can offer within the ranges we have requested, We
will gladly take everything down as soon as we confirm it

Bitcoin Address: (bc1qhtg7hxmlmdzc6xswxvrdhqnfp4jxu3ung8zndz)

(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)

Now you have 24hrs to make a payment. The moment we receive the
transaction I'm going to wipe out these movies and other
data—everything completely and you will never hear from me
anymore. Or else, please be sure that the evidence will be sent
out to all of your contacts including relatives, coworkers,
Facebook and so forth and we can resell your data on black
markets.

Would you fall for such bullshit? If you do, more fool you!

The origin is Tuvalu, a small Pacific island nation.

I got something similar and the jokes on them. For one thing I disabled my laptops camera in the BIOS and put tape over the lens just to be sure for sure.
I have been scammed once of $70 and that was after knowing of lots of scams. I once got an email from a bank and click on link to fix a nasty virus and I was not even a customer of that bank. That is just phishing playing a numbers game to get a bite. That just instilled more vigilance and giving no trust at any email or a so called buyer on Facebooks Marketplace until proven otherwise.

 

[Natalka]

There is one simple rule… do not provide any personal details or access information. Contact the bank, the way you would normally. And even if the scammers do manage to lock your computer, contact the bank then get advice on how to proceed.

 

[marni]

"No-one " on planet earth, has " any right " to vilify, criticise or arrogantly condemn " any victim " of any scam whose purposeful intent for the scammer is to obtain obscene, callous financial gain so that they can maintain/increase their " lavish lifestyle "; without having earned a day's pay, by doing an " honest hard day's work ". You: Veggiepatch in your scornful quip, are just as " callous " as the scammer who deliberately fleeced Gay de Beer . . . . no doubt amongst many other innocent victims.

Agree

 

[BruceC]

that's not nice.

Why is it o nice?
no sympathy whatsoever

 

[Zemo]

Subjective "truths" are based on a person's perspective, experiences, or preferences, and is dependent on their opinion. Sorry, I did cut and paste that!

It is akin to asking someone what the best band is or their best movie. Ask a thousand people and get a thousand different answers.

Now there is an objective statement on a subject. It is confirmed independently of one's thought and based on fact.

Ask someone the capital city of Australia. The huge majority will answer Canberra because it is based on fact, not because of an opinion.

Rather, I think there'd be a lot of people who'd reply "Boganville" if asked what the capital city is ...

 

[Ebby]

Thank you!

When I first joined SDC about 18 months ago, I forewarned the Administration that I call a spade a spade, don't pussyfoot around or sugarcoat my replies just to appease to the ignorant masses. I am here to create conversation, controversy and, at times, division amongst members. I am not any different face to face.

I do not have opinions, beliefs or faith. I rely on views, evidence and observation, generally with reference to verifiable sources and don't rely on thoughts or feelings to make a point.

Because I am straight to the point, I have attracted the ire of numerous discussion website administrators, even to the extent of receiving a lifetime ban. Anything from sporting forums to consumer groups to television discussion blogs.

The truth hurts people with thin skins or without knowledge.

You can only be yourself and l'm sure everyone looks forward to your comments like l do .

 

[Ebby]

Has anyone else noticed how we are getting the same stories over and over again ! .We really need more interesting topics to talk about
Anyone seen any good movies lately ? How does everyone spend their day? Open up tell us abut yourself l don't know perhaps others have some ideas

 

[Rosi Gordon]

The warnings are out there constantly about scams over the phone and on the computer so people need to start listening and not thinking it won't happen to them but it will.

 

[Zemo]

Has anyone else noticed how we are getting the same stories over and over again ! .We really need more interesting topics to talk about
Anyone seen any good movies lately ? How does everyone spend their day? Open up tell us abut yourself l don't know perhaps others have some ideas

How about "favourite movies"? There must be a zillion films that are better than the "epic" (a vastly over-rated word these days. along with "hero") offerings on the screens. My fave is Summer of '42.

 

[deni67]

I love action movies, anything with Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Jet Li, older Bruce Willis movies before he became ill with dementia etc.

 

[BruceC]

About a year ago I had a call, supposedly from NBN, asking me to turn on my computer as there was a problem with our NBN. I was actually sitting at my computer - it was also on at the time - so I just told the fool that I do not turn on my computer for anyone & told him to have another chat with HIS employer at NBN!!! I feel sorry for those who get scammed out of $000s. However it is their own foolishness that results in their loss, it is not the bank’s negligence.

I know how this feels have been scammed too. I contacted Australian Financial Complaints Authority AFCA. They assisted me to recover my funds. Although my sum was lower. It could be worth it for Gay to contact them and complete complaint forms. My financial institution was no help at all.

I guess you handed over your details all by yourself!
Noone forced you to do it. You and only you are to blame for falling for any scam ans sadly you got your money back.
Why should any financial institution be held responsible for your stupidity?

 

[BruceC]

I think Bendigo Bank needs to get their act together and refund the total amount considering she was in the bank and the bank allowed the transactions to go through. The bank needs to take responsibility for their ineffective security procedures. If you ever get a message on your computer telling you that you have a virus and you need to call this number for assistance. Use Ctrl, Alt and Delete keys all at the same time. This will bring up a menu to allow you to shut down your computer. Select restart or shut down from the menu. Then once your computer has shut down then restart your computer and continue your work. Never click any links or ring any numbers provided by these scammers.

Why should the bank be held responsible for this persons stupidity?
Did someone from the bank actually tell this fool to hand over all her personal details to someone they didn’t know?

 

[Ebby]

I love action movies, anything with Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Jet Li, older Bruce Willis movies before he became ill with dementia etc.

l love Bruce Willis movies especially ''Death Becomes Her'' with Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep .l like dystopian movies and series like ''Housemaids Tales''has anyone else seen it?.