‘CommBank’ con tricks Allambie Heights man, 75, out of $38,000
The callers, who said they worked for the Commonwealth Bank, sounded genuine, but answering the phone led to a trusting northern beaches’ man being duped out of $38,000.
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An elderly man has been swindled out of $38,000 by con-artists pretending to be from the Commonwealth Bank.
The man, 75, from Allambie Heights was duped in a so-called “remote access scam” by criminals who managed to gain control of his home computer.
This con comes just days after a woman at Terrey Hills lost $30,000 to a fraudster who started a relationship with her on social media.
Both crimes have prompted warnings from police and the bank for people to be on the lookout for cyberspace swindlers.
Northern Beaches Police were contacted by the man from Allambie Heights to report the theft after he received a telephone call, on October 21, from a person who told him they were from the Commonwealth Bank.
The fake employee asked the victim if a $900 overseas transfer should go ahead.
“The victim had no idea what it was about and had not conducted any transfers,” a police spokesman said.
“He has told the (con-artist) that it should not go ahead and that he knew nothing
about it.”
Soon after the man was contacted by a person claiming they were from the bank’s internal “fraud squad”.
The man was then convinced into allowing the swindler to take control of his computer, which gave the criminal access to the man’s bank account.
He later discovered that $38,000 had been stolen from his accounts.
The Commonwealth Bank is now investigating the theft.
It warned that customers they should never give an unsolicited caller access to their computer, no matter how credible their story is.
The woman, 50, at Terrey Hills lost $30,000 after beginning an online relationship with a man who contacted her on Instagram in June. He told her he was a British sailor looking to move to Australia permanently.
She began an online relationship with the man, who requested she transfer money to assist him in paying for some legal fees.
Police said the victim was “emotionally manipulated” by the man who said he needed the money badly due to the death of his parents.
Northern Beaches Police crime manager Michael Boutouridis warned others not to give money to people they have only met online, without seeking advice from a lawyer, accountant or police.
Crime Manager Det Chief Insp Michael Boutouridis warned others not to give money to people who they have only met online. Picture: Supplied.
“In general, these are lonely people who may have suffered from broken relationships and they find someone who knows how to connect with them and say all the right things,” he said.
“Unfortunately they say the right things over the internet.
“I would recommend people meet in person, somewhere public, with witnesses and there’s a good chance they will be captured on CCTV.”
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF: (Source: CommBank)
– Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer
– Never share your login details with anyone
– Never provide personal details over the phone, by text message or email to an unsolicited caller
– If you receive an unexpected phone call, text or email about your computer and remote access is requested, hang up or delete immediately – even if they mention a well-known company or entity
– Make sure your computer is protected with regularly updated antivirus software that you’ve bought and installed yourself
– Consider encrypting any files containing sensitive information on your device or protecting them with additional passwords
.