Journalist Moira Stuart recently shared her harrowing experience with a scam that almost caught her off guard. Despite her extensive career in journalism, spanning back to the 1970s, Moira had managed to evade various attempts at extracting money from her accounts until one particular incident. Teaming up with BT Group and AbilityNet, Moira led a training session aimed at educating older individuals on identifying scams and staying safe online.
During the session, Moira discussed common scams ranging from delivery and e-card scams to financial and impersonation scams. Drawing from her personal encounters with bank and email scams, Moira emphasised the importance of vigilance and caution in the digital realm. Recounting a close call she experienced about three years ago, Moira narrated the events when a scammer posed as a bank representative and informed her of unauthorized withdrawals from her account, alleging internal collusion at her local branch.
Despite initially falling for the ruse, Moira found a saviour in a vigilant bank teller who sensed something amiss and intervened in the nick of time. Grateful for the intervention of the “gorgeous young man,” Moira reported the incident to the bank’s anti-fraud team, realising the gravity of the situation and the potential loss she narrowly avoided. Reflecting on the emotional toll of being targeted by scammers, Moira expressed her determination to raise awareness and empower others to protect themselves from falling victim to similar schemes.
Acknowledging the stigma and shame associated with being scammed, Moira underscored the need for open conversations to dismantle misconceptions and ensure individuals are adequately informed. She highlighted the insidious nature of scams and the devastating impact they can have on unsuspecting victims, urging everyone to stay informed and vigilant in the face of evolving online threats. By sharing her own vulnerability and lessons learned, Moira aims to equip others with the knowledge and resilience to combat fraudsters and safeguard their financial well-being.