FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Generous members of the public have already started to dig deep into their pockets to help John Thompson, who was tricked into transferring his life savings into another account by fraudsters. The pensioner, who also had a stint as a firefighter, even had special software installed on his phone to block such scam calls but was tricked fraudsters who claimed to be security from his bank. He lost almost £15,000 after transferring £4,900 into another account as instructed in three payments.

News of the disgusting scam has spread far and wide and now a fundraising page has been set up to help the great-grandfather get his life savings back. Those kind enough to have donated - whether it be a fiver or larger payments of £30 or £50 - have also added gestures of goodwill. One, who donated £100 said: “All the best. Hope you can cover your losses.” Another added: “Awful. Hope you reach your target and more.” A third said: “Don’t let the b*ggers get you down John! From a retired police officer.”

Britons are being urged to club together to help a 91-year-old retired police officer

Mr Thompson as a policeman

When news of the scam broke, Mr Thompson blamed himself, saying the incident had made him feel “foolish”. He said: “I do feel rather foolish to think I did this and it was a scam - but they were so convincing. “I’m not a young man any more - I turned 91 last week. If speaking out helps one other person from falling for the same thing then I’ll be pleased I’ve done it.” During the call, the scammer, posing as bank security, told Mr Thompson that there had been a security breach on his account that he had held for 50 years. Even though Mr Thompson has not given the man on the other end of the phone any information about his account, the fraudster was able to recite recent bank transactions and his bank balance as well as his mother’s maiden name. READ NOW: Fraudsters target Thomas Cook website aimed at refunding Brits

Generous members of the public have already started to dig deep into their pockets

Mr Thompson transffered £14,700 and afterwards worried it could have been a con. He said: “I called in to my local branch the following day and sure enough, they informed me it was a scam.” Mr Thompson has been unable to reclaim his money back despite being a victim of fraud. This is because he moved the money into the account himself, his bank - Nationwide - said. The term for customers being scammed out of money this way is called an “authorised push payment”. DON'T MISS: British Airways: 500,000 BA passengers have data breached WHICH? warns of Thomas Cook refunds website SCAM Coronation Street spoilers: Kevin Webster loses money in scam?

When news of the scam broke, Mr Thompson blamed himself

Trending