NBN Scam Warriewood: Man swindled out of $80,000 by a team of scammers

Authorities are warning residents to be wary of a thieving team of clever conman, pretending to work for the NBN.

A team of anonymous swindlers pretending to be from the NBN has tricked a Warriewood man into giving them access to his computer before they ripped $80,000 out of his bank accoiunt. File picture

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A team of clever conmen pretending to be from NBN has stolen $80,000 off a man on the northern beaches.

The victim, from Warriewood, was talked into downloading computer software — by three different people — which allowed the swindlers access to his bank accounts.

This latest scam comes just weeks after an 83-year-old man from Manly Vale lost $126,000 to a conman, who said he worked for the NBN (national Broadband Network).

They convinced the elderly victim to download a mobile phone app that linked to his two bank accounts.

Con artists pretending to be from NBN tricked their Warriewood victim by asking to do internet speed tests via his home computer. Picture: Stock (NBN) Co

Northern Beaches Police said the latest con started with a telephone at about noon on Thursday last week.

One of the con artists said: “I’m from the NBN.

“We’ve noticed your internet speeds are fluctuating and need to do some tests.”

The 48-year-old victim later told detectives that the call sounded plausible so he followed instructions for doing an internet speed test, but the test did not work.

Then the victim was urged to download “special software so we can do it from this end.”

The resident downloaded “Open View, which opened his computer and allowed access to everything in it to the criminal gang.

Authorities urge residents to never give remote access to their computers to unsolicited callers. Picture: File

Police were told the man spoke to three different people over a period of about two hours before getting up from his computer and allowing them to access to it for another two hours.

The victim later discovered that $80,000 was transferred from his savings account to his everyday account. The money was then taken from that account via B-pay.

Police said the scammers were professionals.

“They work hard to sound legitimate and if that doesn’t work they’ll do their best to intimidate vulnerable people into doing what they say,” a spokesman said.

SCAMMER ADVICE FROM NBN:

Source: NBN website

If someone claiming to work for NBN has contacted you and you’re in doubt, ask for their details, hang up and call your retail service provider to check if they’re legitimate.

Do not share your bank or personal details with an unsolicited caller or with those who door knock claiming to be from NBN

Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer via the installation of programs such as Team Viewer.

NBN does not call you with automated assistance to advise you will be disconnected – we suggest you hang up the phone.

NBN is a “wholesaler”. You will need to purchase an NNB powered plan through a phone or internet provider. We only accept direct payment from the public in certain circumstances, such as witching technologies at your premises.

Report scams to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) via SCAMWATCH or by calling 1300 795 995.