Scammer swindles $18,000 from war veteran: 'It was extremely convincing'
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In an age where technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, so are the methods employed by scammers to exploit unsuspecting victims.
A recent case involving a 71-year-old war veteran who lost $18,000 to an elaborate Netflix scam serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in our digital world.
Shane Arnold, a hardworking grandfather who dedicated over 50 years of his life earning his savings, was left devastated when he fell prey to a scam that was allegedly orchestrated by a 19-year-old, Kahlid Mahamud, from the Melbourne suburb of Braybrook.
The scam began with a seemingly innocuous email, purportedly from Netflix, informing Arnold that he was entitled to a refund.
Trusting the email's authenticity, Arnold entered his personal banking details, unknowingly setting the stage for the scam to unfold.
The following day, Arnold received a call from a man claiming to be a security officer from Commonwealth Bank.
The caller was allegedly Mahamud, who used AI technology to disguise his voice.
'(It was) extremely convincing,' Arnold said.
'He spoke in a posh English accent.'
Arnold was told his account had been compromised and was instructed to put his bank cards in a bag for collection by a driver.
In the hours that followed, the alleged scammer withdrew thousands of dollars from ATMs in North Melbourne, Braybrook, and West Footscray.
He also purchased dozens of gift cards from Kmart, filled up at Ampol, bought a strawberry milk drink and Magnum ice cream, and even purchased a new iPhone.
While Mahamud has been charged over the incident, Arnold is left grappling with the loss of his hard-earned savings.
'I've worked for 50-odd years to get that money,' he said, adding he felt like his 'heart had been ripped out'.
Arnold believes that the Commonwealth Bank is partly to blame for his loss and has lodged a report with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
He claimed the bank has only offered to reimburse him $1,000—a mere fraction of his loss—adding that all those who have been scammed deserved to get their money back.
'None of them deserved to be scammed, and none of them did anything wrong,' Arnold reiterated.
The Commonwealth Bank has stated that Arnold's case is being managed by AFCA.
Have you or someone you know been targeted by a scam? Share your experiences and tips for staying safe in the comments below.
A recent case involving a 71-year-old war veteran who lost $18,000 to an elaborate Netflix scam serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in our digital world.
Shane Arnold, a hardworking grandfather who dedicated over 50 years of his life earning his savings, was left devastated when he fell prey to a scam that was allegedly orchestrated by a 19-year-old, Kahlid Mahamud, from the Melbourne suburb of Braybrook.
The scam began with a seemingly innocuous email, purportedly from Netflix, informing Arnold that he was entitled to a refund.
War veteran Shane Arnold fell victim to a scam and lost $18,000 dollars. Image source: Freepik.
Trusting the email's authenticity, Arnold entered his personal banking details, unknowingly setting the stage for the scam to unfold.
The following day, Arnold received a call from a man claiming to be a security officer from Commonwealth Bank.
The caller was allegedly Mahamud, who used AI technology to disguise his voice.
'(It was) extremely convincing,' Arnold said.
'He spoke in a posh English accent.'
Arnold was told his account had been compromised and was instructed to put his bank cards in a bag for collection by a driver.
In the hours that followed, the alleged scammer withdrew thousands of dollars from ATMs in North Melbourne, Braybrook, and West Footscray.
He also purchased dozens of gift cards from Kmart, filled up at Ampol, bought a strawberry milk drink and Magnum ice cream, and even purchased a new iPhone.
While Mahamud has been charged over the incident, Arnold is left grappling with the loss of his hard-earned savings.
'I've worked for 50-odd years to get that money,' he said, adding he felt like his 'heart had been ripped out'.
Arnold believes that the Commonwealth Bank is partly to blame for his loss and has lodged a report with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
He claimed the bank has only offered to reimburse him $1,000—a mere fraction of his loss—adding that all those who have been scammed deserved to get their money back.
'None of them deserved to be scammed, and none of them did anything wrong,' Arnold reiterated.
The Commonwealth Bank has stated that Arnold's case is being managed by AFCA.
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