Helen's remote access scam

In 2022, Helen, who owns a small business in rural Queensland, got scammed out of $150,000. She couldn't get the money back and had to close her business for a week to deal with the mess. Now, she's always worried about her personal information getting used against her.

It all started with a call from someone claiming to be from her bank's fraud team, warning her about suspicious withdrawals. Helen thought they were trying to help her, but it was a scammer. They tricked her into downloading an app to check her phone for hacking, but they got access to everything on her phone - her bank details, emails and passwords. The scammer also convinced her to set up a cryptocurrency account to get her money back supposedly, but she was actually transferring her own money to the scammer.

Since Helen made the transfers herself, it wasn't clear if it was a crime. She had to deal with banks and government agencies, and it felt like she was getting bounced around with no real help being provided.

Luckily, Helen found IDCARE, a group that helps with identity theft and cyber issues. They guided her through dealing with the banks and government, and helped her protect herself from further problems. They were supportive and helped her understand what happened and how to stay safe in the future.

Dealing with cybercrime isn't easy, and it's not always clear where to get help. Many people think the police can fix everything immediately, but that's not true. Organisations like IDCARE are crucial for supporting victims and teaching them how to stay safe online. Without them, Helen's situation could've been much worse. Now, she's more aware of cyberthreats and knows how to handle them.