The scammers first contacted her by phone, claiming they had detected fraudulent transactions on her account.
Later that same day, one of the fraudsters visited her home to collect her bank card, reassuring her it was for security purposes.
With the stolen card in hand, they went on a reckless spending spree, making over 130 transactions, mostly on gift cards, before the bank finally cancelled it.
Details about the scam remain scarce, but fraudsters often follow well-known tactics to deceive their victims.
Let’s explore how the scammers may have executed their scheme using common techniques.
The woman likely received a call from someone posing as a bank representative, claiming that fraudulent transactions had been detected on her account.
To create a sense of urgency, the scammers may have pressured her to act immediately, warning that she could lose all her money if she didn’t comply.
They might have also inquired about her access to a computer, attempting to gain remote control to further exploit her finances online.
In this scenario, let’s assume the woman told the scammer she didn’t own a computer.
Realising this, the fraudster quickly switched tactics, convincing her that her bank card needed to be physically secured to prevent further fraudulent transactions.
However, this logic doesn’t add up — if the caller was truly from the bank, they could have simply cancelled the card remotely, rather than needing to collect it in person.
The scammers may not have even known her address initially, but a simple trick — asking her to “confirm” her details, such as her home address, phone number and date of birth — could have provided them with crucial personal information.
What’s most brazen is that one of them actually showed up at her house to retrieve the card. Given the sheer number of purchases made afterwards, it’s likely they also managed to obtain her PIN, allowing them to maximise their fraudulent spending spree.
Let’s make this the year of vigilance.
Trust no one and verify everything.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be your bank, ask for a reference number, hang up, and call your bank directly using the official contact details.
If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank immediately to stop any further transactions.
As always, I hope you found this information helpful.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by scammers, don’t hesitate to speak up.
Educating ourselves, our families and our friends is the best defence.
Awareness grows when we talk about it.
If you have any questions or experiences to share, feel free to contact me at askatech@mmg.com.au
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