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Remote access scam – victim lost $520
I was contacted by phone. The perpetrator was able to convince me that he was working for Telstra and that my internet (IP Address) had been compromised. I was to help him by sending money overseas. This trap would catch the "hackers". He would deposit money into my savings account. I would then use that money to send overseas via "Moneygram" at the local 7 Eleven Store. It was important that I did no internet banking during this time for security reasons. I did this several times until I became suspicious and checked my bank balances. He had been getting cash advances on my credit card and depositing the money into my savings account. I immediately reported to the bank.
What were some signs that this was a scam?
- The victim was phoned out of the blue by a caller claiming to be from a large and trusted organisation.
- The caller claimed the victim’s computer was compromised.
- The caller asked for the victim’s account details and convinced him to send money from his account to overseas.
What are some things the victim could have done to have avoided the scam?
- The victim could have hung up on the caller.
- The victim could have refused the request for remote access.
- The victim could have refused to provide personal or bank account information to the caller.
- The victim could have refused to transfer money from his account to Moneygram.