Eastbourne woman, 86, left traumatised after online scam

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was browsing the internet on Friday (August 14) when her computer screen was hit by a pop-up.

There was no close button for her to click the pop-up away and her computer’s audio then started to ‘scream’ warning messages at her, according to a family friend Neil Starling.

Neil, who lives in Langney Point, said, “That’s the first thing that frightens you. You can’t get rid of the pop up. The audio then screams at you saying ‘you will be closed down by your internet service provider’.

“The scammers - who called themselves Geek Service - sometimes know which service provider you’re with or what laptop you have, which makes you think they must be real.”

Neil, 62, said a number then comes up on the screen which offered the woman help.

“You ring this number for help. They convince you, they say you have no other choice but to get them to help,” Neil said.

During the 90-minute scam, the woman accepted the help, the hackers then took control of her computer remotely and pressured her into entering in her bank details into a from to pay for a cyber-securtiy package they were promising.

Neil said, “Once the payment goes through they will be out of there as sharp as they can.”

The lady was charged £249 on her credit card and the ordeal has left her traumatised, according to Neil.

He said, “She’s said ‘how can I be so stupid?’ But it is not a question of intelligence, they are experts at social engineering.

“Five days after the incident she is still, I would say, suffering with the effects of trauma and maybe dwelling on what could have happened, they could have cleaned her out at the age of 86.”

The woman’s daughter has been chasing the bank in the hope of being refunded and Neil has offered some advice for those who could fall into the same trap.

He said, “Hopefully the bank will realise it is a classic tech support scam.

“If you’re ever in doubt ask somebody else for their opinion. If you’re elderly, get one of the kids round or someone who is tech savvy.”

AN Action Fraud spokesperson said, “Action Fraud can confirm that it received this report on August 16 and it is currently being assessed by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).

“Typically it takes at least 28 days for the NFIB to provide an update, but in some cases this can take up to six weeks.”

For more information on spotting and tech support scam and reporting it, visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-tech-support-scams

Police have been contacted for more information.

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