With advancement of information technology, fraudsters are becoming sophisticated, targeting venerable elderly people, especially those who live on their own. One may be surprised how clever, polite, dedicated and pernicious they are, being heartless crooks who would robe their victims of every penny, many losing their life savings, pension pots, even their health with worries and guilt. Some £150 million were stolen in the first six months.
As we receive such calls every week, mainly from “Call Center” in India, we can imagine how people fell into their trap. Our golden rule is never to act, even listen to such calls, if calls are unsolicited. Our gospel is to deal with banks, building societies and other financial institutions directly, face to face by visiting their high street branches, establishing personal relations with staffs who are on most part friendly, eager and willing to help. I know that this could be difficult, especially for those who are gainfully employed or housebound but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Recently I read about such sophisticated case, an elderly gentleman who was robbed of £7000. He received a call from his supposedly telephone company who supplied him with phone, TV and broadband, on the pretext that he is due refund of £200 for poor broadband service in his area. After a polite, enduring conversation with sweet charming but heartless, crual lady, he gave his bank details which first showed a transfer of £200 and then it turned to £7200.
She, a “Dame in Distress” pleaded with him that she has mistakenly transferred £7000 too much. She will be sacked unless he refunds overpayment, giving him account details, persuading him to go to his bank and transfer overpayment. He duly obliged. The bank asked him few questions as to legality of transaction; that he has talked to the person. As his replies were all positive, bank transferred the sum. By the time he realized that he was tricked, it was too late.
Normally banks refund when we become innocent victims of such frauds. But in this case, as he personally authorised the transection, even when bank raised doubt, bank refused to reimburse. I feel bank should have been more diligent, careful, talked to him, pointing out that such frauds are common before transferring the amount. The golden rule is that we should wait at least 48 hours before acting and consult our family members. But these meretricious fraudsters are so clever, pretentious, sweet and sophisticated that it is easy to fall victims, especially when they are dealing with kind and caring elderly persons who look at the world with rose-tinted glasses.
Kumudini Valambia
By email
