Aussie’s close call after nearly losing $200,000 to scammer – and the red flags she missed
A quick-thinking NAB employee was all that prevented a woman in her 70s losing $200,000 of savings in a sinister romance scam.
Saihaj Singh suspected something was amiss when a customer, Jamie*, walked into his branch in Capalaba, Queensland, intending to transfer the hefty sum overseas.
Jamie initially said the transfer was for a family property investment.
But after further questioning, Mr Singh learned that the cash was for a man she claimed to have been in an online relationship with for six months. She had never met him in person.
‘Normally you’d want to see a property in person and understand what you’re buying and who you’re buying it with,’ Mr Singh told Yahoo.
His fears were compounded when he discovered Jamie’s online ‘boyfriend’ had sent her messages which appeared to guide her through what to tell the bank when questioned about the money.
Mr Singh eventually called the NAB fraud team, who helped Jamie piece together what had happened: she had fallen victim to a romance scam.
‘Once she could see what wasn’t adding up, she felt more confident stepping back and protecting herself,’ Mr Singh said.
Banker Saihaj Singh was all that prevented a woman in her 70s losing $200,000 of savings in a sinister romance scam
‘It can happen to anyone. 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 constant threat, costing Australians an estimated $139.9million in 2025 alone according to ACCC data.
It is the third most costly scam category, with only investment and phishing scams sitting above it.
Experts warn that scammers are now predominantly operating online, using social media and dating platforms to find victims.
A Scamwatch report cited by the ACCC found that Australians between 55-64 were particularly vulnerable, with the demographic losing $7.1million in romance scams in 2025, a 7.8 per cent increase on 2024 figures.
The ACCC also noted that losses often include victims’ retirement savings and superannuation.
People living with a disability were also found to be increasingly vulnerable to romance scams, with $6.6million in losses reported in 2025, a 36.8 per cent increase on 2024.
NAB’s group investigations executive Chris Sheehan said slowing things down – like Mr Singh did with Jamie – is a crucial step for people when it came to protecting themselves from scammers.
Experts have warned that romance scams can happen to anyone (stock image)
‘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,’ he said.
‘Scammers want you to act fast and keep it to yourself. It pays to take a step back and pause.
‘If someone you’ve met online starts asking for money, offering investment advice or won’t meet you face-to-face, stop and talk it through with someone you trust. That one conversation can make all the difference.’
*Name changed for privacy reasons
