Scam steals vet’s online chats with army mates

Despite doing “everything humanly possible” to stop a torrent of abuse from scammers, 76-year-old Bob Mossman has been left feeling vulnerable in his own home.

Three weeks ago Mr Mossman was barred from accessing his computer, which an IT specialist, who could not unlock the computer, suspected had been infected by malware most likely implanted through an email attachment.

The following day, Mr Mossman received a call from “an Aussie sounding bloke” who said he was from the “Telstra Technical Department” who had been made aware someone had tried hacking his computer.

He told Mr Mossman his job was to solve the problem, but he was required to switch on the computer and follow directions.

“It sounded plausible as ‘Telstra Logos’ appeared on my screen,” Mr Mossman said.

“It was only at the stage when he asked questions about what I bought online and ‘did I do internet banking’ and ‘what other devices did I have connected to my computer’ did I smell a rat.

“When I saw they had implanted a new app on my computer I hung up on them.”

A Vietnam veteran, ex-SAS, former Australian Defence Force parachute instructor and a Regimental Sergeant Major before his retirement, Mr Mossman said he had a sense something was wrong.

He believed the scammers wanted to steal his identity, gain access to his banking and hold him to ransom to re-open his computer for a fee.

He immediately un-installed the dodgy program, but began receiving unsolicited calls on his landline, day and night, with “some of the most vile language”.

“I received a filthy abuse of phone calls because I got under their skin because I was on to them,” he said.

Mr Mossman disconnected his mobile from the internet after the scammers used “an excessive amount of data”, severely reduced his credit limit and had to purchase a new computer. He also had Telstra block all international calls which had only been “partially successful”.

Mr Mossman said while they did not successfully take any money from him, they took away something more meaningful.

“Our situation here is very stressful, I have been a full time carer for my wife for eight years with only two respite periods a week,” he said.

“My only source of pleasure were the jokes I exchanged with my army guys over email and now they have taken that away from me.”

Mr Mossman said if anyone received a call from someone claiming to be from the Telstra Technical Department, Windows, Microsoft, the Australian Taxation Office, or claiming they had won a prize or holiday they should “immediately hang up”.

“These people are plausible and relentless in the pursuit of your details and money and have no shame,” he said.

“I hope by coming out with my experience over the past three week’s and going public I can assist our general population to protect themselves and their families from this scamming epidemic.”