Scam on my old dad

SpammyTheSpammer

how people prey on the elderly like as in this case.

ceewash

I know, I am so angry. Dad now says he wants to wait for the man to ring back and believes he will get his money back. He says he "trusts" him.
I am only hoping he doesn't ring back and so the money he has lost will be the end of it. He hasn't been to the bank to tell them. I can check his PC when I go on thursday.

lincroft1710

SpammyTheSpammer wrote: »

how people prey on the elderly like as in this case.

This scam has been around in various forms for about a decade and targets people of all ages. It isn't only the elderly who have fallen prey, the perpetrators can be quite convincing.

bsod

you can check the pc remotely

called id?

story doesn't make sense

scammer calls up, persuades him to cough up 300
he visits to the bank to initiate a bank transfer? or he gave his card details on the phone?
he requests internet banking pin
he goes home, so how did he request a refund if he has no contact no

he'll get cleared out with no comeback if that pin arrives and he still trusts them. Surely you have more sway over his view than a scammer

ceewash

Not sure. I think he rang him back. Could have been email. I need to sort this out when I'm there. He did transfer the money at the bank. I have told him not to switch the pc on again if he calls back and is talking to him. Unfortunately my dad thinks he his a bit more savvy than he actually is. I have also told him not to use the on line banking. Very difficult- he is not a stupid person and I am surprised at all this. I think when people are conned they are embarrassed by what they have done and so don't really want to talk about it.

ceewash

"he'll get cleared out with no comeback if that pin arrives and he still trusts them. Surely you have more sway over his view than a scammer"

This is what I have been telling him but he is confident he will get his money back.

bsod

They could be on the phone now, talking him out of his debit card details, can it really wait until thursday. If the pin arrives and he gives it away, it's a free for all.

there's a similar ongoing thread here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5587636

if he's a bt customer, you might want to sign him up to the new free call blocking service, (call protect)

DCFC79

Can switch the PC on again but unplug it from the router/modem. I would look at either 1 of 2 things reinstall the operating system or run the anti virus and other programs, a reinstall might be the best option. Maybe post on the techie board regarding this.

It's sad it's happened but be thankful it wasn't a larger amount.

teddysmum

As has been mentioned. They do not target old people (I'm one and love playing them up, if I have a spare 15 minutes), but anyone who does not know about how they work. (They had my well educated younger sister convinced for a while but she had the sense to become suspicious and refused computer access).


The best advice you can give your father is to not respond to any email of phone call asking for personal details and to check any communication (even via snail mail) by ringing the bank on a familiar number.

ThumbRemote

It appears he doesn't even realise he's been scammed. I can't see this ending well.

Go to his house and surreptitiously break his phone. In the interim while he tries to work out what's gone wrong, get his number changed. At least that will stop the same person phoning back.