Local Bank Staff Thwart Scam, Saving Elderly Woman's Life Savings

East Maitland, NSW, Australia – In a heartwarming display of vigilance and quick thinking, a National Australia Bank (NAB) branch manager and her team prevented an elderly woman from becoming a victim of a sophisticated remote access scam. The 84-year-old widow, who wishes to remain anonymous, was targeted by scammers who, over several days, pressured her to increase her online banking limit to over $50,000. "They'd actually remotely accessed her account and convinced her that they had given her $50,000, and that she owed them the money," explained Vanessa Kruger, NAB East Maitland Branch Manager. Kruger and her staff noticed several red flags, including the woman's distressed demeanor and the unusual nature of the transaction. They quickly identified the phone number as being linked to a known scam. The woman's life savings were saved. Catriona Lowe, ACCC Deputy Chair, warned of the increasing prevalence of remote access scams, urging people to be cautious of unsolicited contact from individuals claiming there are problems with their accounts. The incident serves as a powerful reminder to remain vigilant against these increasingly common scams.