Message that cost NAB customer $10,000: ‘Incredibly convincing’

An Aussie retiree has shared how he was fleeced out of $10,000 after falling for a seemingly innocent message. The NAB customer is warning others about the “sophisticated scam”, which has already cost Aussies millions this year.

Phillip Waller received a message that appeared to be sent by “Microsoft” claiming they needed to do work on his computer system. The 68-year-old was given log in details that he entered into his computer, which allowed the criminals to access his computer.

Waller said the scammers called him on the phone and told him they were having issues with bank scams. They claimed they needed his help to “catch someone at NAB” who was conducting the scams.

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“They were incredibly convincing and sounded so professional,” Waller said. “They asked me about my transaction limit, which was $10,000, and made a payment for that amount because they had access to my computer.”

The transfer triggered NAB’s fraud systems and led NAB fraud analyst Shivani Shukla to contact Waller about the transaction.

Shukla said she could hear Waller talking to someone in the background on the call and quickly realised he was getting caught up in a scam: “I asked him to disconnect straight away.”

When he realised he was being targeted by scammers, Waller said he thought he was “so stupid” and should have realised something was wrong.

Shukla said she blocked Waller’s account and was able to get his $10,000 back after contacting the recipient bank.

“They tried to get me a second time with another pop-up message and I knew it was a scam,” Waller said.

“I am grateful NAB was able to recover the money. I would have felt a debt to my family if it was gone.”

Have you fallen for a bank scam? Contact tamika.seeto@yahooinc.com to share your story

$134 million lost to scams

Aussies have lost more than $134 million to scams this year, according to Scamwatch data, with more than $4.7 million lost to remote access scams.

Scammers will often use sophisticated emails, web-based pop-up messages and phone calls to impersonate well-known companies like Microsoft to trick people into thinking there is a problem with their account, computer or phone that needs to be fixed.

NAB group investigations executive Chris Sheehan said common red flags of remote access scams included unexpected contact and an urgency to perform tasks.

“Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on banking, email and online accounts is a quick and easy way to protect yourself,” Sheehan said.

“It adds extra steps like your password plus a one-time code to confirm your identity when you log in.”

Aussies told to ‘remain vigilant’

The Australian Banking Association (ABA) is urging bank customers to “remain vigilant” to tell-tale signs of scammers.

“Whilst financial losses from scams fell by 13 per cent last year and actions by government and industry, including banks, are making a difference, Australians are still losing way too much at the hands of scammers,” ABA CEO Anna Bligh said.

Waller is urging other Aussies to be vigilant for unsolicited messages over the phone, email or computer and to “switch the computer straight off”.

“Restart the computer and contact the organisation directly on details you’ve found yourself,” he warned.

Your bank will never:

• contact you to ask for any account or personal details in an unsolicited text or email

• call and ask people to transfer funds to another account over the phone

• ask for online banking passcodes or passwords over email, text or phone

• ask for remote access to your devices

• threaten you to take immediate action on an issue.

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