Money Saving Expert guru Martin Lewis told Good Morning Britain viewers how one of his elderly relatives was targeted by a financial scam.
Martin, who was co-presenting alongside Susanna Reid, told viewers how a relative fell victim to a scam nearly losing thousands and putting them at risk of identity fraud.
The stark warning came as Susanna and Martin warned viewers about common WhatsApp scams, that could see criminals posing as their 'children' asking their 'parents' to send them money.
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Financial expert Martin then warned: "The problem with this is scammers are very, very sophisticated.
"A close relative of mine was scammed yesterday – it was quite upsetting.
"They were called by Microsoft Security Essentials, which is not Microsoft Security Essentials, and it was scammers, saying their computer had been defrauded, and in four hours on the phone, thinking this person was helping them, gave all their details."
He continued: "An elderly relative of mine, and the honest truth is there are many times you’ll be called up by people trying to help you with scams, that’s what the scammers do.
"When I spoke to this person – I don’t want to name them – I spoke to this person later in the day, and as soon as they said Microsoft Security Essentials called me I knew it’s a scam, they don’t call."
Martin revealed he had to break the news to his poor relative that they'd been targted by a scam, as he said: "It took me minutes to persuade, because obviously, when it’s family they treat you in a different way, and at one point I had to say, 'Look forget my relationship to you, this is what I do for my job, this is a scam.'"
Martin then offered some sage advice for viewers at home who could be targeted themselves, as he warned: "You have to be sceptical. If anybody calls you out of the blue, that you’re not expecting, be sceptical about it."
Martin has repeatedly pushed the UK government to provide better support for protection against scams, as well as those cold callers knocking on doors who are known for targeting elderly and vulnerable people in their homes.
He commented: "They should look at banning that one as well because then I should be able to sit on this programme and tell you if anybody ever cold-calls you from an insurance company or a bank that you don’t have a relationship with, or anything like that, it is a scam, because it will be illegal.
"Because we need that clarity to protect people."
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