Scam warning: Vulnerable pensioner targeted for £10,000 in cruel phone scam | Personal Finance | Finance
The man, who remains anonymous, was contacted out of the blue by someone claiming to be from a telecommunications company. As the man’s computer had been “running slow” for a while, he was easily hooked in by the scammer’s claim that there had been a fault which needed to be fixed.
The elderly gentleman was then told he had been hacked, and was persuaded to hand over remote access to his computer.
He was further reeled in by a claim that the supposed hacker was watching his bank account, and that his help would be needed.
Explaining the matter to The Isle of Thanet News, a friend of the victim said: “The scammer said that they would put a large amount of money into his current account and then send it to an address which they would email him.”
The man thought he was helping in a fight against crime, and that his funds were simply being used as “bait” to catch a scammer.
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Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at UK Finance, said: “Authorised fraud losses rose again this year as criminals targeted people through a variety of sophisticated scams, with much of the criminal activity taking place outside the banking sector, often involving online and technology platforms.
“This is why we continue to call for other sectors to play a greater role in helping protect customers from the scourge of fraud.”
Britons have been urged to Stop, Challenge and Protect as part of a nationwide campaign by Take Five.
Firstly, individuals should take a moment to stop and think before parting with money or information.
Next, they should challenge as it is okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests, as legitimate organisations will understand reticence and caution.
Finally, to protect oneself, individuals should contact their bank immediately if they believe they have fallen victim to a scam. They can also report the matter to Action Fraud.
