Recognising the deception, 89-year-old lady told scammer they will go ‘straight to hell’
Phone scammers are once more targeting the most vulnerable amongst us – but a local lady recently got the better of them.
89-year-old Sheila Porter received a call in the mid-afternoon, “when most people ‘over 21’ are resting, and all the family are out at work.”
“They pick their time very well,” she said.
Ms Porter said a “nice sounding female with a very strong accent” asked if she had made large card purchases from Amazon for $1,700, $800 and $500.
“I started to panic, as one would, and I said no”, Ms Porter said.
“She said, ‘when did you last use your card?’… I said, ‘last week’.”
The lady on the phone asked if the transactions could have been performed on a computer or a cell phone, to which Ms Porter responded “no, not at all”.
At this point, Ms Porter started to suspect it was a scam…
“I said, ‘are you asking me about my credit card or my debit card?’… she said, ‘your debit card, and please would you give me the last four digits of your debit card?’.”
“I said, ‘well, I no longer have a computer, I no longer have a cell phone, and I certainly do not have a debit card. And you are a cruel human being, and when you die you’re going to go straight to hell’.”
“And she said, ‘have a good day’. And that was basically it.”
Ms Porter immediately called her bank and the police to report the fraud, and says she has been scared to answer the phone since the call.
“It’s frightening to think that somebody can come into your home, even on the telephone… it’s horrible, it’s wicked.”
“There are a lot of people who are not well, and would pick up the phone and just, you know, go ahead and give them all the details of their finances.”
Ms Porter advises other people in Bermuda who are ‘over 21’ to be “very, very careful.”
She suggests screening calls and listening to the message first “to see if you recognise the voice before you pick the phone up.”
If already on the call, she suggests saying that you will call back once a relative is home. “Just don’t go on with the conversation”, she says.
Past Victims
Last September, Police reported that three seniors had collectively been defrauded of more than half-a-million dollars in online and phone scams.
Police told us today that scams are always evolving and fraudsters continue to target Bermuda residents, using various tactics.
Police strongly recommend the public “hang up on callers who ask for personal or bank information. Instead, call the specific business to confirm if there is a problem, or call the police on 211, for advice.“
“The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) renews previous advisories to stay vigilant and urges members of our community to remain suspicious of any unexpected calls received by landline and mobile phone, as well as any unsolicited communication through e-mails, text messages or social media.“
“In addition, immediately report any suspected fraud to the relevant bank or appropriate company, using their official contact information. Suspected fraud should also be reported to the BPS by phoning 211, or through the online community reporting portal, https://portal.police.bm.”
As for Ms Porter, although she is shaken by the recent experience, she’s managed to fend off previous scams.
A deceptive caller once asked for access to her computer…
“I said, ‘well, hold on, my computer is upstairs’… I didn’t have a computer. I just put the phone down and kept them waiting for 15 minutes.”
“I thought, well, I’ll spend your money on this with your long distance call instead.”
