A lonely grandfather was scammed out of his life savings by brazen scammers who convinced him to hand over more than $1 million in gift cards just weeks before his death.
Adrian Heartsch, 77, was targeted by scammers who convinced him he would win more than $20 million in gold bars or bullion in return.
He died devastated just a month after finding out he had been scammed.
“It was like all this was the nail in the coffin, it was devastating for him, he lost all his life savings,” his son Simon said. A current issue.
Heartsch, a former truck driver and grandfather of 11, had been saving to enjoy his retirement.
Retired truck driver Adrian Heartsch was targeted by scammers who convinced him he would win more than $20 million in gold bars or bullion in exchange for Apple gift cards.
“He was going caravanning, he bought a big GMC van and a huge caravan, and he was getting ready to fulfill some of his wishes,” his son Simon added.
Simon claimed that his father had always been very sensible with money and didn’t even use internet banking.
“Unless I knew exactly what I was paying for, I wouldn’t pay it,” Simon said.
But somehow his father started talking to a woman online who called herself Vida.
‘He wasn’t alone, but he felt alone. He didn’t have company, he didn’t even have his dog to talk to anymore,” Simon said.
“So I guess he’s vulnerable in that sense.”
‘Vida’ groomed Mr Heartsch for months, calling him ‘handsome’, ‘baby’ and ‘my love’, before convincing him to send her Apple gift cards with the promise of money in return.
She also promised him that she would come to Australia and live with him.
Heartsch would buy up to $10,000 in Apple gift cards at stores in his local area in one day (file image)
Simon Heartsch said it was the “final nail in the coffin” for his father, who died a month after finding out he had been scammed.
Simon discovered the “staggering” evidence when his father was ill in hospital.
“The story grew from $300,000 to $600,000 and up and up…over a million dollars,” Simon added.
His father would buy up to $10,000 in Apple gift cards at stores in his local area in a single day.
Simon said his father felt “embarrassed” and “mortified” when he realized he had been scammed.
His life savings, his caravan and his truck, were gone. The only thing she had left was his house.
Mr. Heartsch’s health deteriorated further and he died shortly afterwards.
A cybersecurity expert discovered that the scammers were operating from Ghana.
“They’re ruining people’s lives,” Simon said.
‘They are accelerating the death of people. They are taking advantage of the vulnerable. They are horrible people.
Adrian felt “embarrassed” and “mortified” when he found out he had been scammed.