The woman, 88, recently received a phone call from a person claiming to work for the Goulburn Murray Credit Union.
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded legitimate, but there were a few red flags she said she missed in hindsight.
“They were professionals — they talked very quickly,” she said.
“He wanted to make sure I was on my mobile.
“It should have been a wake-up call.”
During the lengthy phone call, when she tried to step away twice, the caller insisted she take the phone with her and stay on the line.
When the woman suggested driving to the local bank branch to resolve the issue in person, the caller’s “professional” tone vanished.
The person began yelling, demanding she pull the car over and stay on the line.
Overwhelmed and feeling faint, she told the caller she wanted to lie down — but was ordered to take the phone with her.
“It makes you feel sick,” she said.
During the call, she inadvertently shared her banking information, allowing the scammers to steal nearly $5000 from her account within hours.
Alarmingly, she knows of another elderly resident who recently fell victim to an identical scam — targeting the same bank with the same aggressive tactics.
They both join thousands of Australians who have fallen victim to phone scams, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reporting staggering losses of more than $173.8 million in just the first half of 2025.
A National Anti-Scam Centre spokesperson said scammers, much like the one who contacted the Kyabram woman, would create a sense of urgency and pressure people into acting quickly.
They advised people who suspected they were on the phone with a scammer to stop, check and protect.
“Always take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone,” the spokesperson said.
“Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real … Always verify who you’re really dealing with before taking any action.
“Act quickly if something feels wrong. The sooner you act, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers.”
Tips to stay safe from scams
Stop: say no, hang up or delete suspicious messages. Take time to think before responding to unexpected requests. Don’t let anyone pressure you into action. Trust your instincts if something feels wrong.
Check: be cautious if you are asked to make a payment in a new way or to a new account. Contact organisations using phone numbers you find on their official website. Get a second opinion from family, friends, or professionals.
Protect: contact your bank immediately if you think you have lost money or shared financial details. Change passwords and security details if you think they have been compromised. Monitor bank statements and credit reports for unusual activity. Report the scam to the impersonated organisation.
Fortunately, the 88-year-old woman was able to recover her stolen funds — with her bank stepping in after noticing the suspicious activity.
Knowing that many victims never recover their stolen money, she's sharing her story as an urgent cautionary tale: be careful if you suspect a scam.
If you think you have been scammed, contact IDCARE at idcare.org or call 1800 595 160 if you want support to recover or limit damage of scams, report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au to help protect others, and report to police at cyber.gov.au
Being scammed can feel overwhelming. Support is available at Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
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