November 15th 2024.
In a heartbreaking incident in Melbourne, a 95-year-old man has been conned out of almost $10,000 by cruel scammers. According to the police, the elderly man received a call on September 19 from a person claiming to be from Telstra. The scammer, with their cunning tactics, managed to convince the man to share his banking information and instructed him to leave his credit and debit cards in a letterbox, assuring him that they would be replaced at a later date.
"The most alarming part of this whole situation is that the scammer actually visited the man's house and took his cards from the letterbox," said Detective Leading Senior Constable Aaron Gillies from Victoria Police. "It's absolutely heartless and despicable." The police further revealed that the scammer used the stolen cards to purchase four brand new iPhones, valued at $9,000. The phones were bought from stores in Malvern East and Chadstone.
The victim's son, Murray, expressed his shock and frustration at the scam. "They didn't even bother checking the name on the card or the signature on the back with a verified photo ID," he told 9News. The thief also attempted to make a purchase of $4,500 worth of electronics from another store in Chadstone, but the payment was declined. Detectives also discovered that the scammer tried to withdraw cash from the elderly man's cards at ATMs in Ashburton and Mount Waverley, but the transactions were declined.
Murray, who is devastated by the whole ordeal, shared how the scam has affected his father. "He has always been an independent person, and this has completely shattered him," he said. "It's not just about his privacy being violated, but it has completely disrupted his sense of normalcy." The police have released images of a man they believe may have information about the scam.
In order to raise awareness about such scams, the police have urged people to download the 9News app. This way, they can stay updated on the latest news, sports, politics, and weather, and receive immediate notifications on their smartphones. The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Let's all be vigilant and stay safe from these heartless scammers.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
