When Philip from Redfern received a call from someone claiming to be from the NBN, he thought he was speaking to a legitimate service provider. Instead, he became the victim of an impersonation scam that cost him $15,000.
The caller sounded genuine and claimed there was a problem with Philip’s NBN service that required urgent attention. Like many victims, Philip believed he was dealing with a trusted organisation. By the time Philip realised something was wrong, his life savings had been taken.
For Philip, a pensioner living on the Age Pension, the loss was devastating. The money represented his financial safety net — the savings he relied on for unexpected expenses and peace of mind. But the financial loss was only part of the ordeal.
Philip says the shame and embarrassment of being scammed were overwhelming. While he sought help to recover his money, he felt unable to tell his friends or family what had happened. The stigma associated with being scammed left him carrying the burden largely on his own.
The stress took a severe toll on his health and wellbeing. At a time when he most needed support from those around him, he found it difficult to open up about what he had experienced.
Looking back, Philip fears that same sense of shame may stop other scam victims from seeking help.
Philip pursued every available avenue to recover his money, including contacting the Federal Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, whose office helped guide him through processes to recover his money. The process was lengthy, but Philip was eventually successful.
But many are not, partly because the victims often feel ashamed and blame themselves.
Philip is sharing his story because he wants others to know that scams can happen to anyone. He also wants people to understand that the emotional impact can be just as devastating as the financial loss, and that there should be no shame in asking for help.
“I needed as much help as I could get and [Tanya Plibersek’s electorate office] provided that. Without [their] help I don’t know how I would have managed.”
Join Tanya Plibersek’s anti-scam and cost-of-living forum on 1 September at Redfern Town Hall, 1-3 pm to learn how to recognise common scam tactics, protect yourself and your loved ones, and find support if the worst happens.
Text supplied by the Office of the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
