Solicitor defrauded by simple con

robatwork

I only listen to Money Box on podcast so a bit late to the party on this one:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06f4vqf

What I found shocking was the BBC's sympathetic attitude to the lady in question. How in heck can a solicitor - who presumably can't become a solicitor without a bit of worldly nous as well as some basic intelligence, fall for this very simple vishing scam?

I am surprised that what she did wasn't breaking the law and that she isn't in jail.

nidO

You want being a victim of fraud to be made a criminal offence and have people thrown in jail for it? Aren't you nice.

This woman's had her entire livelyhood go up in smoke (permanently) as a result of her negligence in being a victim and she's the only person who's suffered as a result of her mistake, what exactly do you want her banged up for?

grumbler

The nonsensical way our landlines keep operating in the 21 century has been always surprising me: Credit Card Scam Victim.

It would be strange if scammers didn't take advantage of this.
The worst is that nobody cares in this country. It's much easier to keep blaming victims than take simple steps, where possible, to protect them from fraudsters.

robatwork

nidO wrote: »

her negligence in being a victim

Nice phrase, must remember that one next time I own up to something.

grumbler wrote: »

The nonsensical way our landlines keep operating in the 21 century has been always surprising me: Credit Card Scam Victim.

I agree with this - when you hang up the line should be disconnected, from either end. The way our phones work is like something out of the 1920s when the line would be manually connected by an operator.

I am not suggesting this solicitor was in any way in on this scam, but to knowingly transfer money supposedly ring-fenced in a client account to an all but random account makes a mockery of client accounts and of her suitability to be in charge of such funds.