One family’s fight against banks and scammers

As it dawned on David Sweeney’s father that the people he was investing with online were scammers, he made a shock admission to his family. 

“I’ve lost all the money,” he said. 

It was the start of a fight led by his son David against the banks that had allowed about $1 million to leave his father’s accounts. 

It was an ordeal that lasted for five years, as a bank tried to deny it had been given a warning about the scammers before the money was taken. 

In the end, David Sweeney’s family got all the cash reimbursed, but the battle had taken its toll. 

Now, the Government has drafted legislation to address the rise in scamming, but it’s stopped short of forcing the banks to repay the victims. 

A reimbursement scheme is already in place in the United Kingdom, and today, investigative reporter Adele Ferguson explains how it’s working there to protect people’s savings. 

Featured: 

Adele Ferguson, ABC investigative reporter

Key Topics:

• Online scams
• Banking system
• Scam prevention legislation
• Consumer protection
• Financial fraud
• Option FM scam