Phone scammer sought pensioners bank details

A SCAM to get people to hand over their bank details has been highlighted by a Mayo pensioner.

The elderly gentleman, who did not wish to be identified, was recently subjected to a number of phone calls from an unknown man looking for his bank account number so he could transfer money over to him.

He told The Connaught Telegraph how the man called his home on three occasions. The first two times he advised the caller that he wasn’t available but he persisted with a third call in a five-day period.

The man implored him to give him his bank details as he wanted to transfer €98.34 into his account, mumbling something about addressing a problem he had with a computer. When asked to send on a cheque, the caller said he wasn’t allowed to do so.

The pensioner explained: “I told the man this is a scam, I have two members of the gardaí beside me and I’m handing over your number to them. Delivering a string of abuse, he told me I was an ignorant b*****d” before hanging up.

“The caller had my name, making it personal. I’m sure  I wasn’t the only one to get one of these calls.

“People, especially older people or those who are vulnerable, should be aware of this scam.”