A 77-year-old grandfather, described as “frugal” and unfamiliar with internet banking, fell victim to a devastating scam, losing over $1 million of his life savings shortly before his death.
Adrian Heartsch, a retired truck driver, was tragically conned out of his savings after engaging with a woman named ‘Vida’ online. Despite his family’s belief that he was unlikely to be deceived, Heartsch was persuaded to purchase Apple gift cards by ‘Vida’, who referred to him affectionately as “handsome” and “my love”. Lonely and seeking companionship, Heartsch was vulnerable to the scam.
The scammer convinced Heartsch that in exchange for the gift cards, he would receive gold bars worth over $20 million and that she would come to Australia to be with him. The deception continued for three years, during which Heartsch spent thousands of dollars on Apple gift cards.
Heartbreakingly, it wasn’t until Heartsch fell ill and was hospitalized that his son discovered the truth. Despite being mortified, Heartsch chose not to involve the police, and the scam ultimately cost him almost everything, including his savings, truck, and caravan.
Tragically, Heartsch’s health deteriorated rapidly after learning of the scam, and he passed away a month later. His son, Simon, urged others to be vigilant against such scams, emphasizing the devastating impact they can have on vulnerable individuals and their families. A cyber security expert traced the scammer’s location to Ghana, West Africa, highlighting the global reach of such fraudulent schemes.
