31-12-19, 07:49 PM
My folks had a close call.
Both were suffering with dementia at this point. My father being ahead of my mother, and my mother going downhill fast trying to care for him, whilst refusing all help.
I’d been looking out for them and trying to get them help for several years at this point. My mother had just started to let me help them and accept a little outside help when she showed me a letter from the bank.
This was exactly 5 years ago today. The letter was on about their new internet banking account – but they didn’t even have broadband.
I went down to the bank. They had a quick look at the account, and saw a couple of questionable transactions – but they were for like 500 and 800 quid in the run up the Christmas. But what they didn’t spot straight away were the two trial transactions 6 weeks before that, for like 19 quid and 47 quid. I didn’t have POA at that point so they told me to get my mother down to the bank with me first thing in the new year.
The weird thing was as well, they used family initials for the transaction code. Funnily enough my deranged sister and her kids initials. Which is really foccin weird.
Anyway, cutting to the chase, by the time the bank opened in the New Year 10K had gone. Lots more could have gone. After they froze the account – the scammer was straight on the phone trying to get the account back up and running. They were about to take everything they could get.
The bank refunded the money straight away which surprised me. I was also stunned when my mother produced one of those code generators from her handbag when we went to the bank. She didn’t know what it was or why she had it (dementia) but I guess somebody had her generate a code with that thing. The thing is despite the dementia I knew back then she always puts the phone down on scammers – she still spotted them – so whoever set this up was inside the bank and/or very slick, and/or somebody she knew and trusted.
I spoke to the bank. I logged a report with action fraud. But it’s all a waste of time. They do nothing and will tell you nothing.
Ok got the cash back – but I wanted to know where the money went. I still pisses me off – I got a few folks in mind who might have tried to do my folks. The way the bank handed the money back literally in minutes does suggest that they may have something indicating inside work – but I just don’t know.
Anyway, good luck BBROWN. Hope you Maw and father-in-law are well.
Both were suffering with dementia at this point. My father being ahead of my mother, and my mother going downhill fast trying to care for him, whilst refusing all help.
I’d been looking out for them and trying to get them help for several years at this point. My mother had just started to let me help them and accept a little outside help when she showed me a letter from the bank.
This was exactly 5 years ago today. The letter was on about their new internet banking account – but they didn’t even have broadband.
I went down to the bank. They had a quick look at the account, and saw a couple of questionable transactions – but they were for like 500 and 800 quid in the run up the Christmas. But what they didn’t spot straight away were the two trial transactions 6 weeks before that, for like 19 quid and 47 quid. I didn’t have POA at that point so they told me to get my mother down to the bank with me first thing in the new year.
The weird thing was as well, they used family initials for the transaction code. Funnily enough my deranged sister and her kids initials. Which is really foccin weird.
Anyway, cutting to the chase, by the time the bank opened in the New Year 10K had gone. Lots more could have gone. After they froze the account – the scammer was straight on the phone trying to get the account back up and running. They were about to take everything they could get.
The bank refunded the money straight away which surprised me. I was also stunned when my mother produced one of those code generators from her handbag when we went to the bank. She didn’t know what it was or why she had it (dementia) but I guess somebody had her generate a code with that thing. The thing is despite the dementia I knew back then she always puts the phone down on scammers – she still spotted them – so whoever set this up was inside the bank and/or very slick, and/or somebody she knew and trusted.
I spoke to the bank. I logged a report with action fraud. But it’s all a waste of time. They do nothing and will tell you nothing.
Ok got the cash back – but I wanted to know where the money went. I still pisses me off – I got a few folks in mind who might have tried to do my folks. The way the bank handed the money back literally in minutes does suggest that they may have something indicating inside work – but I just don’t know.
Anyway, good luck BBROWN. Hope you Maw and father-in-law are well.