A SCAM victim aged 91 is celebrating after a crowding-funding campaign replaced £15,000 life savings he lost.
Ex-cop John Thompson was fleeced by tricksters claiming to be from his bank’s security department.
A crowding-funding campaign has raised £15,000 for ex-cop John Thompson who was scammed out of his life savings[/caption]
They called using technology to match Nationwide’s emergency contact number and persuaded him to make three transfers, each of £4,900.
They knew details of his transactions and his mother’s maiden name.
John, who also worked as a firefighter and an electromechanical engineer, had saved for 50 years — hoping to help his two granddaughters buy houses.
Yesterday the great-grandad, from Doncaster, said he and 86-year-old wife Pat broke down in tears when a fund started by the Yorkshire Post newspaper raised the cash in little more than a day.
‘SO OVERWHELMED’
He added: “I am just so overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity.
“I am just totally amazed and cannot thank everyone enough.”
At the time of the scam he admitted: “I do feel rather foolish to think I did this — but they were so convincing.
“You wake at night and all you can think about is the fact you have been so gullible and have lost your money.”
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But he said his faith in humanity was restored after generous members of the public raised the cash for him.
The fund will remain open until tonight and John has pledged to give any surplus to other needy folk.
Police urged people to be alert to phone scams.
John, who worked as a police officer, was fleeced by tricksters claiming to be from his bank’s security department[/caption]
John had saved for 50 years — hoping to help his two granddaughters buy houses[/caption]
John had also worked as a firefighter in the 1950’s[/caption]
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