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.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Gay de Beer is an idiot on two counts.

Firstly, falling for such an obvious scam.

Secondly, banking with Bendigo....the next worst big bank!

 

[CragD1761]

Gay de Beer is an idiot on two counts.

Firstly, falling for such an obvious scam.

Secondly, banking with Bendigo....the next worst big bank!

"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.

 

[Larcol]

Gay de Beer is an idiot on two counts.

Firstly, falling for such an obvious scam.

Secondly, banking with Bendigo....the next worst big bank!

You might get caught out one day, how will you feel if someone replied the same to you..

 

[Veggiepatch]

You might get caught out one day, how will you feel if someone replied the same to you..

I have been scammed ONCE over 15 years ago for approximately US$95. My bank rectified the problem and retrieved the funds within a week.

Hasn't happened again because of my vigilance, not by good luck.

 

[UNIT1000]

dont give any info to eneyone arsk hoo you are no anser hang up

 

[Giannidifirenze]

Note to self: Don’t bank with Bendigo Bank.
Thanks for sharing Gay.

 

[UNIT1000]

I have been scammed ONCE over 15 years ago for approximately US$95. My bank rectified the problem and retrieved the funds within a week.

Hasn't happened again because of my vigilance, not by good luck.

right

 

[Suzanne rose]

I get at least 5 emails or messages like this a day and never reply.

I thought we were becoming more aware of these scams.

The one thing I agree with is the bank should have recognised this and stopped it.

 

[Suzanne rose]

You might get caught out one day, how will you feel if someone replied the same to you..

I think to trick Veg it would have to be a very elaborate scam !

Sorry but this scam has been around for ages . Who in their right mind would give permission to anyone to access their computer not even a bank will ask to do that.

 

[Veggiepatch]

"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.

Yeah OK smarty pants. Scammers rely on preying on people such as yourself to make their money.

There are numerous warning signs alluding to a potential scam and many strategies you can employ to alleviate such activity.

Do you have the intelligence to work it out for yourself? Or are you gullible enough to be the next victim?

Wake up!

 

[Veggiepatch]

You might get caught out one day, how will you feel if someone replied the same to you..

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.

 

[Babbie]

Yeah OK smarty pants. Scammers rely on preying on people such as yourself to make their money.

There are numerous warning signs alluding to a potential scam and many strategies you can employ to alleviate such activity.

Do you have the intelligence to work it out for yourself? Or are you gullible enough to be the next victim?

Wake up!

I wouldn't get too upset Veg. I feel for this lady, but as you point out, we are constantly warned about scams and how not to click on links etc. We didn't grow up with computers and appear to be easy targets. Unfortunately scams will continue because there seems to be an endless supply of victims.

 

[Jest]

sadfor her BUT here is another panicker. turn the computer off do not reply.

 

[Jest]

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.

a big fat NO

 

[Glenys R]

If anyone tells you there is something wrong with your computer and not to turn it off - what do you do? Turn if off as fast as you can - never push any buttons etc. just turn everything off for at least 15 mins. Then turn back on and you will find there is nothing wrong with your computer!!! If it's off what can they do to it!I I was given this info. ages ago and it works for me every time!!

 

[Ebby]

Gay de Beer is an idiot on two counts.

Firstly, falling for such an obvious scam.

Secondly, banking with Bendigo....the next worst big bank!

I get at least 5 emails or messages like this a day and never reply.

I thought we were becoming more aware of these scams.

The one thing I agree with is the bank should have recognised this and stopped it.

Hi Suzanne How is your little grandson doing ? l hope he is improving the little darling.l'm sure lots of us would like to know how he is.
l agree the bank needs to reimburse Gay lt must be devastating for her to loose all that money

 

[Ebby]

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.

That is so obviously a scam and l would completely ignore it

 

[gamiry]

any wonder I don't own a mobile phone and anything that's suss in emails gets immediately deleted.

 

[BruceC]

How many times to people have to be told?
I have absolutely NO sympathy whatsoever for a fool!
An idiot and their money are easily parted!