‘Like science fiction’: Mike Sheahan reveals $40,000 online scam ordeal

Football commentator Mike Sheahan has opened up about being targeted by a sophisticated online scam, that has cost him tens of thousands of dollars — and it could happen to anyone.

Legendary football commentator Mike Sheahan remains $40,000 out of pocket after he fell victim to a sophisticated scam nearly 10 months ago.

The 72-year-old grandfather made an online transfer of $147,000 to his daughter Kate, 37, in July only to get a call three days later that left him shell shocked.

He was alerted by his bank, Westpac, there was suspicious activity relating to the large transaction he had made.

He believed he was transferring funds to Kate to repay her money she had loaned him.

But it is understood through an elaborate scam someone had managed to intercept an email conversation Mr Sheahan was having with his eldest daughter, Lizzie, 40 explaining where the money needed to be moved to.

‘Shell shocked’. Mike Sheahan remains $40,000 out of pocket after he fell victim to a sophisticated fraud operation 10 months ago. Picture: Tony Gough

“The cyber stuff is foreign to people who are my age,” Mr Sheahan said.

“Cyber crime to me is like science fiction, I’m too old to understand how all this happens.

“I had hoped the system would have protected me better and it hasn’t.”

Consequently he had transferred the funds into the hands of a scammer holding a Commonwealth Bank account.

The fraudulent activity was only detected after Mr Sheahan’s bank, Westpac, noticed $100,000 of the original amount had been electronically transferred back into another account at Westpac.

This raised alarm bells and $100,000 was immediately frozen which Mr Sheahan has since received back.

Mike Sheahan is warning others after falling victim to internet fraud. Picture: Tony Gough

Mr Sheahan said he was “stunned” no charges has been laid nearly one year on, despite the CBA knowing the customer involved and police undergoing investigations.

“It was clear that the money was proceeds that the recipient wasn’t entitled to,” he said.

“To think she is free to commit similar scams is incredible.”

The woman allegedly withdrew $40,000 from CBA’s Leongatha branch in regional Victoria before the banks cottoned on to the fraudulent transactions.

And despite Mr Sheahan transferring the funds into an account using the name Kate Sheahan, information customers enter into the account name field are not monitored when transactions are made.

MORE: Mike Sheahan: ‘How I was scammed’

Banks are only required to make sure BSB and account numbers are correct when a transaction is submitted.

Mr Sheahan said it felt like the scam was a severe “invasion of my privacy”.

A CBA spokeswoman said they have co-operated with police in 2018 during the investigation.

Westpac’s head of digital security Josh Nast warned customers, “before making a payment to any third party, don’t rely information supplied by email”.

“Make a personal phone call to the business or person and verify the correct payment details and legitimacy of the person or business.”

Victoria Police confirmed the Bass Coast Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the matter.

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