An Aussie couple did all the right things to make sure they weren’t being scammed… but they still lost $250,000

An Aussie couple have lost almost $250,000 in a scam so sophisticated that it even went undetected by professional bank tellers.

Sunshine Coast couple Kerry O’Mahony and Kerry Littlejohn had been shopping around for the best interest rate on their term deposit. 

Thinking they’d found the best offer through ING Australia, the pair clicked a link to what they assumed was their website. 

‘I clicked on obtain a quote and within, I think, about a day or two of doing that we had a phone call… from ING,’ Ms O’Mahony told A Current Affair.    

A person impersonating an ING employee emailed through a fake quote, documents, contracts and payment instructions using the bank’s logos.

Thinking they’d found the best offer though ING Australia, the pair clicked a link to what they assumed was their website

The couple went into their local Suncorp Bank branch and withdrew their money. 

‘He looked at [the emails] and then he said yeah, it looks alright but you know if you’re really concerned you can ring ING,’ Ms O’Mahony said.  

Ms O’Mahony claimed to have called ING in front of the teller.

She said she Google searched the ING number and called 13 34 64, but got through directly to the scammers instead of the bank.   

Ms O’Mahony was unaware her phone had been spoofed by the scammers, meaning they had the ability to redirect her calls to pose as ING.

She said the Suncorp teller approved the transaction and $240,000 was transferred directly to the scammers.

It is understood that there were some tell-tale signs from the scammers that went undetected. 

It is believed the account details for what they thought was an ING account was actually for a Commonwealth Bank account and the email address being used by the scammers wasn’t an authorised ING email.

Ms O’Mahony said the funds were taken out and then moved around the world through various IP addresses by the time they contacted the Commonwealth Bank about the scam.

The pair said their funds were moved around the world through various IP addresses and by the time they contacted the Commonwealth Bank about the scam it was too late

While the pair hold the scammers accountable for the ordeal, they believe Suncorp are also partly to blame.

‘I just felt that [Suncorp’s] duty of care to us was sadly lacking,’ Ms O’Mahony said.

The couple have lodged a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. 

Suncorp said in a statement the case is currently being reviewed and that they’re fully participating in that process.

‘Suncorp Bank understands the impact frauds and scams can have on individuals,’ it read.

‘Alongside the banking industry, we are committed to implementing the measures outlined in the Scam-Safe Accord including account name checking for domestic payments.’

Daily Mail Australia contacted Suncorp Bank for further comment.