An off-duty police officer’s timely intervention at a crypto ATM in Adelaide prevented an 84-year-old woman from losing thousands of dollars to scammers. The elderly victim, who prefers anonymity, was deceived into transferring funds on 20 June 2024 after a distressing scam unfolded earlier that day.
It started with an alarming notification on her computer claiming she had been hacked, which led her to contact a fraudulent support line. The scam culminated with her attempting to deposit $5,000 into a crypto ATM within Adelaide’s CBD, under the false belief it would recover $17,000 supposedly stolen from her.
Sergeant David Mitchell, who has several years of experience with the South Australia Police (SAPOL) Financial and Cybercrime Investigation Branch, was walking past the business when he noticed the woman in distress. He quickly intervened, stopping her from making further transactions. A total of $1,100 had already been deposited into the machine.
“The immediate red flags were her distress and the fact that she was simultaneously feeding money and speaking on the phone,” Sgt Mitchell said. He confronted the scammer over the phone, ultimately ending the call after the scammer and another fraudulent caller denied his identity and cut communication.
The responding officers discovered remote access software on the victim’s phone, which they removed promptly to prevent further data breaches. The victim was then escorted to Hindley Street police station to file a report, further assisting the police in their ongoing investigations into cybercrime.
Reflecting on the incident, the victim acknowledged several lapses in her judgment: failing to verify the contact number, using an untrusted communication line, and not consulting with her bank or loved ones. Scammers had also instructed her to mislead bank staff by claiming she needed the withdrawn funds for her daughter, a tactic designed to avoid suspicion.
“I should have been more cautious and less reactive,” the victim admitted. “The situation left me feeling exposed and foolish, which was hard to accept given I consider myself quite rational and composed under normal circumstances.”
Weeks after the ordeal, Sgt Mitchell continued to check on the well-being of the woman, who expressed her gratitude by writing a letter of thanks to the Commissioner of SAPOL. She praised the entire police team for their support and professionalism during the incident which had significantly shaken her confidence.
Cybercrime remains a pervasive threat, with older individuals often targeted by scammers. SAPOL actively works on educating the public about such scams and has resources available for those seeking information on how to protect themselves or report incidents.
Anyone suspect of a cyber scam should consult directly with their financial institution and report the incident to authorities through the recommended channels like the ReportCyber website.
To report a cybercrime, visit the ReportCyber website www.cyber.gov.au/report or for more information on tech support scams visit: SAPOL – Scams Week.
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