With a fake cell phone, 11,000 euros were stolen from Vienna – Austria News
Hafiza S. from Vienna thought she would help her kind out of a financial emergency. “But it was a scam,” says daughter Jasmin.
Shortly before her birthday, Jasmin S. and her family experienced a nasty surprise. “My parents were victims of scammers,” says the 33-year-old in an interview “Today”. The strangers cleared their parents’ account, 11,000 euros are now gone. “We immediately filed a complaint,” said the woman from Vienna.
The devastating incident happened on April 28th. Hafiza got a message from her daughter Jasmine – at least that’s what she thought. The text reads, “Hi Mom, my phone has suffered water damage. This is my temporary number now.” According to daughter Jasmine, the style of writing doesn’t differ much from her own. “I might not have made one or the other smiley.”
Wrong daughter wanted 3,609.99 euros
A day later Hafiza was asked for money by her “daughter”. “The message said: I have to make a very important transfer and I can’t do it because the bank still has to confirm my account. My mom asks how much. The person wrote 3,609.99 euros,” reports Jasmin.
“She sent my father’s account credentials and told me to take the money. I used to help them with online banking a lot, so it wasn’t uncommon for them to send me access.”
Jasmine’s mother was at work at the time of the news. “Because she was stressed, she sent my father’s account credentials and told me to take the money. I used to help them with online banking a lot, so it wasn’t uncommon for them to send me access,” says the 33- Years.
“It said inside that the login would not work, so my mother sent the access data from her account. Then came a message with: It worked.”
But only a short time later, her mother received another text message. “It said inside that the login would not work, so my mother sent the access data from her account. Then came a message with: It worked.” As a result, Jasmin’s mom was blocked by the wrong daughter.
“My parents are completely exhausted”
A day after asking for money, the real Jasmine met her mom. “We had planned a night out with friends for a long time, so I didn’t text her on Wednesday and Thursday. I knew we’d see each other on Friday anyway. They asked me if my phone would work again. I didn’t understand what she means.”
“I read the news and couldn’t believe it. We drove straight to the police station and spent three hours there. My parents are completely exhausted. My mum is just crying. They had 11,000 euros stolen from them.”
But soon the 33-year-olds would die and their families would realize what had happened to them. “I read the news and I couldn’t believe it. We drove straight to the police station and spent three hours there. My parents are completely frustrated. My mum is just crying. They had 11,000 euros stolen. All their savings is gone now.”
The parents of the woman from Vienna immediately filed a complaint. “We also changed our passwords from online banking.” According to the bank, the transfers went to Spain, Belgium and Germany. “My parents fled to Austria from Afghanistan in 1982 and always wrote hard to give us a good life. It breaks my heart that they fell victim to fraudsters, even though they just wanted to help their daughter,” Jasmin said.
Prices hit families particularly hard
The Viennese has now collected all her savings to help her parents out of financial distress. “My father has been retired for a year, my mother is 59 and still working. Right now, when everything is getting more expensive, the timing couldn’t be worse. Of course, I help where I can so that they can at least pay the bills that come up. “
“Many would probably consider my mother to be naïve and reckless. To me she is a heroine. She simply tried, without hesitation, to help her daughter out of a perceived dilemma.”
Jasmin now has one with a friend she knows Gofundme campaign started. “Many would probably see my mother as naïve and reckless. To me she is a heroine. Without hesitation, she simply tried to help her daughter out of the supposed jam. I don’t want to lose my faith in the good in people .”
“It can happen to anyone, and unfortunately too often the most good-natured and selfless souls among us.”
So far, donations of almost 1,000 euros have been collected. “I am eternally grateful for any support, no matter how big or small. It can happen to anyone, and unfortunately too often the kindest and most selfless souls among us.”