A grandfather has been left devastated after losing his $200,000 pension in an elaborate poker scam in Bali.
The man named only as Joe, from Perth, was visiting the holiday island in October.
He said the scammers first made contact with him when a woman struck up conversation at a shopping centre and asked him where he was from.
After the pair formed a friendship, 66-year-old Joe agree to meet the woman’s family to tell them about Perth.
A grandfather (pictured) has been left devastated after losing his $200,000 pension in an elaborate poker scam in Bali
When Joe got to the woman’s house, her family members were playing poker and taught him how to play.
He was persuaded to put down $200 as a starting bet, even though he says he is not a gambling man.
Another man later entered the game. Joe said he seemed very rich and claimed to work in the diamond and oil industries.
As Joe kept winning, the stakes were raised and the family members gave money to Joe to help him beat the other man.
After several more rounds, the man bet $50,000. Joe was dealt a hand which the family members convinced him that he couldn’t lose. They encouraged him to match the bet.
He said he was motivated by wanting to help the poor family members win the money too, as he would split the winnings with them.
So Joe flew back to Perth, and returned with $50,000 in cash.
But the scam deepened and soon he found himself handing over $200,000 after several trips home to empty his pension fund.
He gave the family members the cash as they met at a KFC in Manila in the Philippines. They left him at the table to go to the bathroom but never returned.
Joe told Today Tonight: ‘I’ve lost my whole superannuation for my retirement. I’ve worked since I was 15 and it’s all gone. All my retirement’s all gone. What am I going to do now?
He added: ‘It just made me feel sick and then everything went into my mind stupid. I worked hard all my life and it’s all gone in five minutes.’
Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe said the scam has resurfaced after many years.
‘The scenario in this case is identical to the previous reports we have received. Victims are duped into believing that they have a winning hand and it’s impossible to lose so this entices them to invest more of their money into the game,’ she said.
‘We strongly advise anyone going overseas not to get involved in these games as tempting as the proposition may be at the time. The perpetrators are professional criminals so won’t take no for an answer and put enormous pressure on their victims to take part.’
Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe said the scam has resurfaced after many years (stock image)