10 May 2024 , 13:59
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A pensioner has shared how scammers nearly stole £700 directly from his bank account after he fell for a scam phone call - but he had a trick up his sleeve to stop them.
Colin Vinapp, 76, from Bristol, recently fell victim to a scam call which saw the criminals pose as his broadband provider. The scammers told the pensioner there was a potential issue with his home's WiFi router. Colin, fully trusting the voice on the other end of the line, followed the scammer's instructions to visit a website for help. However, by doing this Colin unwittingly granted the scammers access to his computer.
Colin told The Mirror: "Everything seemed so genuine until I realised they had taken control of my PC and the screen was moving without my control." At that moment, Colin knew he needed to act fast. Realising the scammers would likely target his online banking, Colin drove to his local bank branch to get help.
The 76-year-old kept the scammers on the line to try and stall them while the bank intervened, blocking their attempt to withdraw £700 from his account. However, this was not the first time Colin was a scam target. On a separate occasion, Colin fell victim to a scam while renewing his wife’s driving licence on a fake website.
He said: “I lost £70 on this which was bad enough, but we also had to involve the police, get new passports, and change all our bank details. It was a horrible experience.” Colin said these experiences shook him and made him lose his confidence in his ability to use and understand technology which he believed had some understanding in. He added: "My wife and I only answered calls from a list we made of known numbers and I avoided online shopping altogether for fear of being scammed again."
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Sir Geoff Hurst and Colin Vinapp (Daily Mirror)It comes as new research from BT Group reveals a quarter of those over 65 receive multiple scam calls, emails or texts a week, with those aged 55-64 encountering more scams than any other age group. This is believed to be down to older Brits not being as knowledgeable about technology as younger generations. However, when it comes to learning newer tech a quarter of older Brits have felt worried about appearing stupid when they ask for help to learn. The same number reported having their confidence knocked by a person getting frustrated or impatient with them.
To help combat this, BT Group and charity AbilityNet are offering free digital skills sessions to people over 65 in locations across the UK, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and London. The scheme aims to teach older Brits a range of digital skills from the basics with a smartphone, to staying safe online and getting to grips with the internet.
The 1966 World Cup legend, Sir Geoff Hurst, has also joined the campaign to inspire older Brits to embrace the digital world. He said: "You can understand why a lot of people of my generation are fed-up with being talked down to about technology. We need to learn digital skills in a way that’s empowering, not belittling."
Colin’s senior football team (Daily Mirror)I still receive scam emails almost every day, which can be worrying, and I know many older people feel the same. I use tech on a daily basis - it makes life so much easier - but I don’t need to know about TikTok dances or the latest trends. Like a lot of people my age, I need it for the basics.”
The World Cup legend recently surprised Colin’s senior football team in Bristol with a session on how to stay safe online, followed by a friendly kickabout. Colin said the session taught him a few ways he can protect himself online but also opened his eyes to how many other people were feeling the same way as him around technology.
Victoria Johnson, Social Impact Director at BT Group, said: “Tech has become so entwined in our daily lives and how we communicate, work, and connect with the world around us. Older generations shouldn’t feel left behind, especially since having basic digital skills can offer so much independence. These sessions are part of BT Group’s purpose, We Connect for Good, which aims to tackle the UK's digital divide by empowering people with the knowledge, resources and confidence to live life in the digital world.”
People over 65 from anywhere in the UK can join AbilityNet’s free online webinar on Thursday 6 June here.