A Redfern pensioner who lost $15,000 after receiving a call from someone claiming to represent NBN has spoken about the financial and emotional toll of the NBN scam, while urging other victims to seek help rather than remain silent.
The man said the money represented his life savings and financial safety net. His account was provided through the office of Ms Tanya Plibersek MP, whose staff later assisted him as he sought to recover the money.
An urgent call from someone claiming to be NBN
The pensioner said the scam began when a caller claimed there was an urgent problem with his NBN service. Believing he was dealing with a legitimate organisation, he continued the interaction before eventually realising something was wrong.
By then, $15,000 had been taken. The account provided by Plibersek’s office does not specify the technical method used to obtain the money.
NBN has repeatedly warned consumers about impersonation scams in which callers pose as company representatives and create a sense of urgency to gain trust. Almost 1,800 NBN impersonation scams were reported between January and September 2023, with losses exceeding $1.24 million, according to figures published by NBN.
People aged 65 and over accounted for 81 per cent of those reported losses. NSW residents recorded almost half of the national losses over the same period.
NBN also warns that some impersonation scams involve requests for remote access to computers or other devices after a caller claims to have detected a problem with an internet connection.
Shame followed the financial loss
The pensioner said losing his savings was only part of the ordeal. He described feeling ashamed and embarrassed and said he found it difficult to tell friends or family what had happened.
He also said the stress affected his health and wellbeing. Scamwatch says shame and self-blame can discourage victims from seeking support, despite scammers using sophisticated techniques involving authority, urgency, emotional pressure and stolen personal information.
Scamwatch advises that being deceived by a scam does not indicate personal weakness or gullibility. Victims are encouraged to act quickly to prevent further losses, including contacting their bank or card provider and securing affected accounts.
Navigating the recovery
According to the account provided by Plibersek’s office, the pensioner pursued several avenues in an effort to recover his savings. Electorate staff helped him navigate the recovery process, which was lengthy but ultimately successful.
He said he needed as much help as possible and credited Tanya Plibersek’s electorate office with helping him navigate the process, adding that he did not know how he would have managed without its assistance.
Australian Institute of Criminology research underscores how difficult financial recovery can be. Its 2024 cybercrime survey found 38.4 per cent of fraud and scam victims who lost money recovered at least some of it, while 2.8 per cent reported losing more than $10,000.
Redfern forum turns focus to scam prevention
The pensioner’s experience is being shared ahead of an anti-scam and cost-of-living forum organised by Plibersek’s office at Redfern Town Hall on September 1, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The forum will cover common NBN scam tactics, ways to protect family members and avenues for support after a scam. The Redfern pensioner said he hoped speaking about his experience would encourage other victims to seek assistance instead of allowing embarrassment to keep them isolated.
Published 25-Aug-2026
