Conned Out of Savings
A grandfather was tricked into transferring £17,000 to scammers who posed as his bank. John Fillingham, 80, received a call while packing to move from Essex to North Yorkshire. The caller claimed to be from John's bank, saying someone was trying to access his account and instructing him to move his money to a safe account. Despite initial skepticism, John transferred the cash after the scammers convinced him with a series of security questions.
Regret and Suspicion
After ending the call, John had second thoughts and tried to redial the number. He grew suspicious when he couldn't reach them. When he visited his local branch the next day, he was told there was nothing they could do to help him. John blamed himself for using his own computer to transfer the money, saying he wasn't covered for the loss.
Recovery and Relief
Fortunately, three years later, John's bank managed to recover the full £17,000, along with interest. This serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant and verifying the legitimacy of phone calls or requests for personal information.
Similar Scams
This incident is not an isolated case. Another customer, Paul Henderson, recently had £100,000 of his life savings vanish from his Co-op account. He believes he was also scammed. In a separate incident, Lucy Fletcher paid £3,600 for a purpose-built shipping container office that was never delivered.
As of my last knowledge in September 2021, phone scams continue to be a prevalent issue. It is important for individuals, especially the elderly, to be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited calls asking for personal and financial information. If in doubt, it is crucial to contact the bank directly using a trusted phone number to verify the authenticity of the call.
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