An ordinary afternoon at an NAB bank branch in New South Wales took a concerning turn when an 84-year-old grandmother from the Hunter Valley requested a significant increase in her internet banking withdrawal limit. Initially set at $5,000, she sought to raise it to over $50,000 for a transfer. Staff member Tiffany Bailey recounted how this unusual request instantly raised alarms among the bank employees.
Relief branch manager Vanessa Kruger noted that the situation became increasingly suspicious when the elderly customer was seen clutching her mobile phone, suggesting that someone might be eavesdropping. Acting promptly, the staff searched the phone number displayed on her screen, which returned a result indicating a probable scam. The woman had recently lost her husband and was reportedly under substantial pressure from the scammer for several days, leaving her frightened and in tears.
Bailey shared that the scammer had manipulated her into believing that they had remotely accessed her account, claiming she owed them $50,000. They had even coached her on what to say at the bank. When Kruger asked the woman about notes she had taken, the grandmother broke down emotionally; these were prompts provided by the scammer to make her story seem credible to the bank staff.
Despite the traumatic experience, the grandmother later returned to the branch, relieved and with a smile, having avoided financial loss. Kruger expressed her outrage over such scams, condemning them for taking advantage of vulnerable individuals and highlighting the emotional toll these criminals inflict.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued warnings regarding such scams, particularly remote access scams where victims are unexpectedly contacted by someone claiming there’s an issue with their accounts. The scammers often instruct their victims to download software that allows them to gain control of the victim’s devices.
Ultimately, the elderly woman left with her finances secure, embodying the compassion and vigilance of the NAB staff who intervened just in time to prevent her from falling victim to a serious scam.