Two scammers caught on video swindling 81-year-old’s ‘large sum of money’
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 7
In an alarming development that underscores the vulnerability of seniors, police have released CCTV footage of two men linked to a scam that stripped an 81-year-old man of a 'large sum of money’.
This distressing incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of financial scams, and it's a call to action for all of us to help protect our loved ones from such ruthless exploitation.
The investigation, which began in January, revealed that the elderly victim was defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars.
The scammers, posing as representatives of a computer company, contacted the man multiple times between 25 January and 31 January, both online and in person, as ambassadors for a computer company.
It was during an in-person meet-up when the bank cards were obtained.
The fraudulent transactions occurred across Sydney, with the man's money being siphoned from his account at various ATMs and stores in Bankstown, Wetherill Park, Moorebank, Wentworthville, and Merrylands.
According to the New South Wales Police’s report, ‘The men depicted are described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, aged in their 30s, with short black hair and brown eyes.’
One was clad in a grey tracksuit, while the other wore a black T-shirt and shorts, both donning face masks.
This incident is part of a worrying trend.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported a 'sizeable' increase in credit, debit, and EFTPOS card fraud, with an estimated $2.2 billion stolen from personal accounts in 2023.
In 2022-2023, ABS reported 1.8 million people fell victim to card fraud, marking an 8.1 per cent increase from the previous year.
William Milne, Head of Crime and Justice Statistics at the ABS, noted that the victims of such frauds are often older individuals, particularly those aged 35 to 64, married, and in higher income brackets.
‘Personally, I think it's going to be the number of cards you're holding that increases your likelihood of card fraud,’ he said.
Anyone with information about the incident or the individuals in the CCTV footage is urged to contact Kings Cross Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can watch the CCTV Footage below:
Credit: NSW Police Force / Facebook
Have you or someone you know been targeted by a similar scam? Share your experiences and any advice you may have in the comments below.
This distressing incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of financial scams, and it's a call to action for all of us to help protect our loved ones from such ruthless exploitation.
The investigation, which began in January, revealed that the elderly victim was defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars.
The scammers, posing as representatives of a computer company, contacted the man multiple times between 25 January and 31 January, both online and in person, as ambassadors for a computer company.
It was during an in-person meet-up when the bank cards were obtained.
The fraudulent transactions occurred across Sydney, with the man's money being siphoned from his account at various ATMs and stores in Bankstown, Wetherill Park, Moorebank, Wentworthville, and Merrylands.
According to the New South Wales Police’s report, ‘The men depicted are described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, aged in their 30s, with short black hair and brown eyes.’
One was clad in a grey tracksuit, while the other wore a black T-shirt and shorts, both donning face masks.
This incident is part of a worrying trend.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported a 'sizeable' increase in credit, debit, and EFTPOS card fraud, with an estimated $2.2 billion stolen from personal accounts in 2023.
In 2022-2023, ABS reported 1.8 million people fell victim to card fraud, marking an 8.1 per cent increase from the previous year.
William Milne, Head of Crime and Justice Statistics at the ABS, noted that the victims of such frauds are often older individuals, particularly those aged 35 to 64, married, and in higher income brackets.
‘Personally, I think it's going to be the number of cards you're holding that increases your likelihood of card fraud,’ he said.
Anyone with information about the incident or the individuals in the CCTV footage is urged to contact Kings Cross Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can watch the CCTV Footage below:
Credit: NSW Police Force / Facebook
Key Takeaways
- Police are hunting two men captured on CCTV in connection with a scam that cost an elderly man a significant sum of money.
- The 81-year-old victim was defrauded by individuals posing as computer company representatives, who used his bank cards to withdraw money from various locations in Sydney.
- Detectives have released CCTV footage of the suspects, hoping the public can assist with the investigation.
- The Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported a substantial increase in card fraud, with older individuals and those in higher income brackets being more frequently targeted.