A customer in her 70s narrowly avoided losing $200,000 in savings after a National Australia Bank employee intervened when she attempted to transfer the funds overseas. The transaction was stopped after the banker, Saihaj Singh, became suspicious of the customer's stated reason for the transfer and the context surrounding it.
Singh, working at a NAB branch in Capalaba, Queensland, initially accepted the customer's explanation that the money was for a property investment. However, further questioning revealed the funds were intended for an individual she had been in an online relationship with for six months, whom she had never met in person. Singh noted that the online contact appeared to be coaching the woman on what to tell bank staff.
"Normally you'd want to see a property in person and understand what you're buying and who you're buying it with," Singh told Yahoo. His suspicions led him to contact the NAB fraud team, who helped the customer realize she was the target of a romance scam.
"Once she could see what wasn't adding up, she felt more confident stepping back and protecting herself," Singh said, emphasizing the importance of continued communication in such situations. "The main thing was making sure she felt supported enough to keep talking, because that's when you start to understand what's really going on."
Romance scams are a significant financial threat in Australia. According to data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), these scams cost Australians an estimated $139.9 million in 2025, making it the third most costly scam category after investment and phishing scams. Experts warn that scammers commonly operate online, using social media and dating platforms to target individuals.
A Scamwatch report highlighted that Australians aged 55 to 64 are particularly vulnerable, losing $7.1 million in romance scams in 2025, an increase from the previous year. The ACCC also noted that losses frequently include retirement savings and superannuation. Individuals with disabilities have also become increasingly targeted, with reported losses rising significantly.
NAB's group investigations executive, Chris Sheehan, echoed Singh's actions, stating that pausing and questioning large or unusual transactions is a critical defense against scams. "These lowlifes know exactly what they're doing. They build trust, play the long game and make the relationship feel real before they ever ask for money," Sheehan said. "Scammers want you to act fast and keep it to yourself. It pays to take a step back and pause."
Financial institutions advise that if someone met online begins requesting money, offering financial advice, or refusing to meet in person, it is crucial to pause and discuss the situation with a trusted individual. Such conversations can be pivotal in preventing financial loss.