A Sydney dad thought he was starting a new job working from home, but he was about to be manipulated out of his family’s life savings – more than $80,000 – in just two days.
He was introduced to a fake employer and added to a WhatsApp group filled with fake colleagues, all working together on an elaborate scam – one that the ACCC says is all too common.
The Marsden Park family were so embarrassed by their loss that they asked to remain anonymous – their real names have been omitted from this article to respect their privacy.
Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>
Petrol franchisee owner John, 48, was looking for some extra cash to pay the bills while attempting to sell his business which, due to pandemic-related impacts and a new motorway diverting trucks and traffic away, is no longer profitable.
His children Nick, 19, and Kathleen, 21, both study full time, and his wife Carol does not work, which means John is the sole earner for his family.
“We didn’t have any income, we needed some way for money to come in, so we were sort of desperate,” Nick told 7NEWS.com.au.
When John saw a job opportunity pop up on Facebook on August 24 with the option to work after hours and online, he didn’t think twice before clicking.
The ad prompted him to get in touch with Venus, a fake employer from a Melbourne e-marketing company, who added John to a WhatsApp group chat filled with fake employees.
The ACCC told 7NEWS.com.au it has received more than 300 reports…
