<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was a regular afternoon at an NAB branch in NSW when an 84-year-old grandmother made a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/scam" rel="" target="_blank" title="not-so-regular request"><span>not-so-regular request</span></a><span> about her internet banking limit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The woman, from the Hunter Valley, asked staff at the branch to raise her withdrawal limit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Hers was set at $5000, and she was asking to increase it to over $50,000 to get the transfer done," NAB customer adviser Tiffany Bailey said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/lauren-tomasi-shot-in-los-angeles-protests-anthony-albanese-responds/428fdfbe-4358-4ba0-8414-40cc4e0254dd"><strong><span>PM condemns 'horrific' attack on Aussie reporter, calls shooting 'targeted'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bank's staff told 9News this initially raised their alarms.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Well, instantly, red flags were going off," relief branch manager Vanessa Kruger said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Adding to their suspicions, staff noticed the long-time customer was clutching her mobile phone.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bank-staff-catch-bizarre-red-flag-that-nearly-cost-woman-her-life-savings/0f5bc0e6-0002-4f5c-a1fa-973f5fba6519" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Someone was listening in.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They quickly googled the phone number on the screen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It immediately came up with a result and said it was a likely scam," Bailey said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The scammer had been pressuring the recently widowed woman for days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She was scared and she broke down crying because she was being threatened," Bailey said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They had actually remotely accessed her account and therefore convinced her they had given her $50,000 and she owed them the money," Kruger said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The criminal had coached her on what to say to the bank staff.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I said to her, 'can you please explain what that notebook is?' and then she broke down," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They were cues the criminal asked her to write down to convince us."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Still too shaken by the experience to speak on camera, the target of this scam told 9News it was very upsetting and confusing, adding that she had no idea she was scammed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are the biggest low lifes on the planet," Kruger said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They prey on people who are vulnerable, try to trick them, it actually makes my blood boil."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The consumer watchdog has warned Australians to be aware of the underhanded schemes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A remote access scam will begin with a contact out of the blue from someone who sounds pretty professional, telling you that there's something wrong with one of your accounts," ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are going to ask you to download software that will enable them to take control of your computer."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The target of the scam returned a week later, with her bank balance intact.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She had this massive smile on her face when she saw me, gave me a big hug," Bailey said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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