A Gold Coast couple unknowingly fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam, losing $250,000 of their home deposit. The couple had taken all the necessary precautions, including using a reputable conveyancer and buyers agent.
A Gold Coast couple lost $250,000 in a highly-personalised scam that took them weeks to realise. One expert says the couple likely fell victim to a 'spear phishing' attack — a scam that criminals use to target high-value transactions and are difficult for victims to spot.Queensland Police has transferred the investigation to Victoria Police after it was discovered the scam account holder was a university student in Melbourne.
They spent years saving for a house deposit, had a reputable conveyancer, and even hired a buyers agent to help them with negotiations after losing out on multiple properties they had fallen in love with.They went into an ANZ bank branch to make two transfers of their home deposit, totalling more than $300,000.They had unknowingly transferred almost all of their deposit into a scam account.The Robinsons had no idea how it could have happened, with almost no red flags or signs something was amiss. 'We went into the bank and we thought we have nothing to worry about going into the branch, other than it's all good and safe,' Mr Robinson said.'From the moment it happened, I fell apart. I did break down. I've lost parents, and was much the same because you just don't expect it, and it changes your life so quickly.' The day before settlement Mr Robinson called his wife to say their conveyancer could not see the full deposit in the trust account.'I was just gobsmacked,' Ms Robinson said.'I told Laine, 'I've been corresponding with the conveyancer for two weeks about the transfer. I followed their email and then they replied, we've received funds. I've got it all there I'll show you.'''He told me, 'Sarah, it's all a scam. It's not real.'' The account details of where to send the money had come from emails appearing to be from their conveyancer.What they had missed was the email address — it was missing the '.au' at the en
SCAM PHISHING BANK FRAUD INVESTIGATION REAL ESTATE
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