Cybercrime can affect anyone at any time.
My client Helen called me at 19:30 during the Christmas break, distraught and didn’t know which way to turn. Her grandson (Joe) whom she was looking after whilst her daughter (Chloe) was overseas, had received a message on the social media platform Discord claiming that her 12-year-old grandson had done some illegal activities online and would be reported to the police if they did not pay £300 in the next 20 minutes and that they had the personal and bank details of Chloe and were going to take a payment.
As Joe was a minor and did not have access to £300 or a bank account, he panicked and told his grandmother to just pay the money. Thankfully Helen called me and after calming Helen down, speaking with Joe and carefully assessing the situation, we concluded that it was a scam and not to pay the scammers as Joe had done nothing illegal.
The fraudster brought up the payment history of a previous transaction Joe had done online and was going to start taking payments. They had shown Joe a copy of the transaction and had then proceeded to take money from Chloe’s account which is when Chloe called from her holiday saying her bank blocked a suspicious transaction from leaving her account.
Thankfully Chloe and her family averted becoming the victim of cybercrime by blocking her bank accounts and cards.
The crime was reported to both Action Fraud UK and CIFAS and Joe shut down his Discord account and watched several videos with his granny on being cyber smart and aware.
Helen’s frantic phone call during the Christmas break was a chilling reminder of how cybercrime can infiltrate our lives, even during moments of joy and family.
Her grandson, Joe, became the target of a sophisticated scam on Discord, a platform seemingly meant for harmless gaming and chat. This isn’t just Helen’s story, it’s a cautionary tale for all families navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape.
The Bait and Switch:Helen’s story is a testament to the importance of vigilance, open communication, and knowledge in the face of cybercrime.
By sharing this experience and equipping ourselves with the tools to combat these threats, we can create a safer digital world for ourselves, our families, and our loved ones.
Remember, even the most tech-savvy among us can fall prey to scams.
The key lies in awareness, education, and a healthy dose of scepticism.
Let’s stay vigilant, spread awareness, safeguard our loved ones, and make the online world a safer space for all!
Additional Resources:
Action Fraud UK: https://actionfraud.police.uk/
CIFAS: https://www.cifas.org.uk/
National Cyber Security Centre (UK): https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (US): https://www.cisa.gov/
*The names have been changed to protect the identity of our clients.
DMT Solutions works with brands and organisations of all sizes, from global corporations to SMEs.
Headquartered in London, England, DMT Solutions' values focus on delivering exceptional growth…
Post articles and opinions on Professionals UK
to attract new clients and referrals. Feature in newsletters.
Join for free today and upload your articles for new contacts to read and enquire further.