A mum who worked in a hospital during the pandemic has been scammed out of her life savings.
Gemma Buist, 28, who is a health care assistant was called by who she believed to be her bank two weeks ago, according to the Mirror.
She was asked about some recent transactions and a few days later, her account had been completely emptied, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Gemma said: “"All they said was direct debits had been set up and could I authorise them.
"I told them no as that was nothing to do with me and that was the end of the conversation."
The 28-year-old is mum to Zack, eight, and Lily, two, and works at the spinal unit at Southport Hospital.
While on a 12 hour shift there a few days later, Gemma received another call.
She said: "I got a call to say look, it's happened again, someone's targeting you. I was stressed and I said it needs sorting quick as I'm in work.
"They were talking me through some questions and I asked is this genuine, and they said check the back of your debit card to see if it's the same number. I said fair enough."
Gemma said the details the person on the phone gave seemed to match with her account and on both occasions the call she received seemed to be from her own bank's telephone number.
She said: "They said we'll set up a new account for you to move your money over.
"So I sent two transfers to this new account and they said in two or three hours your money will show up in the new account, we'll get it all done and it'll all be set with your account details when you go into your online banking.
"After about five or ten minutes after the call I kept checking and then later on I called the bank I said what's happening, it's not changed over yet and they said that wasn't us."
Scammers had cloned Gemma's bank's phone number and managed to steal all her savings in minutes.
The fraudsters took £2,420 of her own money and also cleared out Gemma's untouched overdraft of £2,000.
She said: "All the money was to cover bills and it's been a nightmare. My bank has had to lock my online banking so I've had no access to see if things have been going in or out.
"I've not had money for food shops or everyday costs like getting a taxi into work or lunch.
"I'm now trying to make some money back, so a planned trip to take the kids to Edinburgh in the school holidays that's now been cancelled. I'm doing everything to try and get a bit of money.
"I cancelled my hair appointment and told the hairdresser I couldn't come because I'd been scammed and she said don't be daft, I'll do if for nothing but I said no, I can't do that.
"People have been really good but I don't like having to owe anyone."
A fundraising page has been set up by Gemma's sister, Stephanie, to try and recover some of the money she lost which can be viewed here.
Gemma added: "I'm not after asking for money, I think that's why my sister set the fundraising page up. I don't accept help from anyone, I'm always the one trying to help other people out.
"I work 12 hour shifts at the hospital and pick up shifts when I need - which obviously at the minute with any annual leave I had taken I've picked up the shifts to make some money back."
Despite the fraud, Gemma's bank has said she is liable for all the money that has been lost, including the overdraft which she will also have to pay the interest on.
She hopes her story will prevent somebody else falling victim to the same scam and losing even more.
