Westpac text message scam: Couple who lost $98,000 upset at bank’s ‘offensive’ offer

A couple have slammed Westpac’s ‘offensive’ offer to compensate them with $3,000 after they lost nearly $100,000 in a sophisticated scam.

James and Sarah from Victoria said they were conned after receiving a fake Uber payment text which allowed scammers to access their legitimate message chain with Westpac.

The fraudsters then used the chat to send messages that appeared to come from Westpac that warned the couple they had been scammed and to transfer their life savings into another ‘safer’ account.

Victorian couple James and Sarah lost $98,000 after messages impersonating Westpac told them to transfer their savings into another account (pictured, messaged from the scammer)

James and Sarah sent a total of $98,000 to the new account in a sequence of payments and received regular transfer notices.

The messages, which also appeared under the legitimate Westpac chat, appeared to confirm their money was put into a new account under their names.

But the couple quickly noticed they were unable to access the money and lodged a scam complaint with Westpac. 

In a four-page letter Westpac claimed the bank was not at fault and played no role in the scam, but James and Sarah believe they could be doing more.

Westpac offered the couple (above) $3,000 compensation for the scam, which they said was ‘offensive’ considering the amount they lost

‘I just would like to see some sort of acknowledgment that they will work on it, it’s going to be an issue going forward for sure,’ James told Nine News.

‘We purchased our first home and we lost close to $100,000. That money was there to pay off our mortgage and it makes a massive difference to lose that.’ 

Westpac has offered the couple a $3,000 compensation to help resolve their scam complaint.

‘It’s offensive, $3000 isn’t going to change anything,’ Sarah said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Westpac for comment.