Canberra woman scammed out of $1.6 million inheritance adding firepower to federal scam protections campaign

When Harriet Spring lost a 1-point-6-million-dollar inheritance to scammers, she had low expectations of financial compensation. “There has been very little support and certainly almost the opposite from banks” Or criminal consequences. Harriet Spring - “As we're constantly told, it's very difficult to get money back once it's gone overseas and we're constantly discouraged from even chasing that.” But over the past week, progress on both fronts. With the federal government opening consultation on draft laws for a 'scams prevention framework' and seven people, allegedly involved in moving Mrs Spring's money offshore, arrested in Victoria. Harriet Spring – “It's good, I guess, but I don't think I'll get any of the money back.” Police allege the group was hired by an international syndicate to open and manage fraudulent bank accounts and transferred more than 14-million-dollars overseas between August 2022 and February this year. The alleged money-mules have been charged with offences, including knowingly and negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime. Stephanie Tonkin – “It's fantastic to see Victoria Police taking action but, unfortunately, at this point, the money has gone. We really need to be preventing scams in the first place.” ACT senator David Pocock joined scam victims at parliament house today to criticise the government's proposed 'code of conduct' system, which would place new obligations on banks, telecommunications providers, and tech gaints to prevent, detect and disrupt scams. David Pocock – “The government is proposing to prevent and punish, with fines, not to protect. That comes down to a reimbursement model. As we've seen in the UK, where the banks are on the hook and that means that they are investing in solutions.” In the meantime, Mrs Spring is pursuing other options. Harriet Springer – “I'm beginning to talk to lawyers now, to take up civil action.” Consultation on the draft laws is open until October the 4th.