Australian bank teller Marlena Karbowski works at Southwest Sydney Westpac Bank. Last week a woman came into the branch and asked Marlena to help her cancel her home insurance.
Marlena thought this was odd so she invited her into an office for a chat where she learned the customer needed to send money overseas to her boyfriend.
Marlena asked her about this guy and learned the woman had never met him in person. He needed the money to get out of jail. After a Google reverse image search of the boyfriend's photo, Marlena confirmed her suspicions that it was a scam.
Marlena's father had been a victim of an online scam that cost him tens of thousands, so she is very alert to potential scams. She tried to comfort the woman who was heartbroken and crying. Marlena drove her to the police station to report the incident.
Marlena's diligence and empathy saved the customer from potential financial ruin. She hopes this story will raise awareness and encourage others to take steps to protect themselves, their loved ones, and others from falling victim to scams.