Scam on my old dad

ceewash

I'm afraid my 86yr old dad has fallen for the computer scam. A phone call telling him his computer has problems, he is told to log on, caller gets control of PC. Dad has sent £300 pounds to him via bank transfer. Realising after it's a scam Dad asks for refund. Caller says he can only refund to online banking. Dad goes to bank to set up this. Waiting for a pin number to arrive. Has no contact number for caller.

This is the point where I found out. I've told Dad to:
Contact bank and tell them what has happened.
Under no circumstances activate the on line bank account.
Do not let caller have access to PC again.
If my any chance he makes contact again then a sort code and account number is all he needs to return the money.
Can anyone offer any more advice please. I do not live nearby and so cannot see him in person until Thursday. Very worried bank account could be cleared out. Not sure what other information he gave the calller. Dad very good with his money, just not when it comes to computers.:mad:

agrinnall

ceewash wrote: »

Dad has sent £300 pounds to him via bank transfer. Realising after it's a scam Dad asks for refund. Caller says he can only refund to online banking. Dad goes to bank to set up this. Waiting for a pin number to arrive.

Can you clarify what's happened? Are you saying that he didn't have online banking but has now started to set it up? If so, was the £300 paid using telephone banking?

I would suggest as a first action that he calls the bank to check that his account still has the balance he expects (ie it hasn't already been emptied) and that he ask the bank if they can put a temporary block on transactions going out (this may be problematic if he has DDs/SOs/manual payments to make in the near future).

He might want to consider opening another account, moving his money there, and closing the existing one. It'll be a faff as he'll need to let anyone who pays into or takes out of that account the new details but it might give him peace of mind that the scammers won't know the new account details.

hollydays

Speak to his bank yourself?

ceewash

No the caller has told him to set up online banking to get his refund. The £300 was transferred in the actual branch of Barclays.

meer53

Your Dad is not going to get a refund from the caller. DO NOT tell your Dad to give anyone his sortcode and account number, tell him when he calls his bank to get them to cancel his debit card, it's unlikely they will refund him either.

Edit - if he didnt give them his debit card number then no need to cancel it.

seashore22

The scammer is not going to be returning any money to your dad, sadly. Anyone who does scams like this is not going to roll over and give the money back just like that.

Why did your dad transfer the £300? Was it a fee to supposedly sort out his computer or blackmail ie "I will restore your computer if you send me £300?"

Report to the bank immediately. They may well contact the police, but it might be worth your dad talking to them too.

ceewash

hollydays wrote: »

Speak to his bank yourself?

Will they speak to me about someone else's account? I can't actually go into the branch until Thursday.

ceewash

seashore22 wrote: »

The scammer is not going to be returning any money to your dad, sadly. Anyone who does scams like this is not going to roll over and give the money back just like that.

Yes I think we are on damage limitation now.

hollydays

ceewash wrote: »

Will they speak to me about someone else's account? I can't actually go into the branch until Thursday.

They won't give you info but it is a matter of abuse of an elderly person so it's important to flag it up.
You can get advice about financial abuse from this link
There's a helpline

https://elderabuse.org.uk

elsien

ceewash wrote: »

Will they speak to me about someone else's account? I can't actually go into the branch until Thursday.

Only if your dad gives permission. Either by being with you when you phone, or in writing.

seashore22

Also how did your dad do an immediate bank transfer if he doesn't have online banking?

Assuming it was immediate of course.