Scots Mum Loses Thousands as Ruthless Hacker Takes Over Her Accounts
A Scots mum-of-two, Leanne Cherrie, has been left devastated after cybercriminals hacked her email and drained her bank account, stealing thousands of pounds, including her 10-year-old son’s inheritance. Leanne, 36, from Dalkeith, described the ordeal as a “living nightmare,” with only 33p left in her account following the fraud.
The nightmare began on January 2 when Leanne woke to alarming messages from friends about suspicious activity on her deactivated Facebook account. Shortly after, she found she couldn’t access her streaming services or other online accounts. “I went to turn Netflix on for my one-year-old son, but I couldn’t get on,” Leanne explained. “The same thing happened with Disney+. I realized I’d lost everything, including my boy’s money after his dad died”, reported by the Daily Record.
The hackers targeted her email first, gaining access to her social media, bank accounts, and other platforms. They even sent her a chilling email demanding £1,600 in Bitcoin, threatening to expose her private photos and videos if she didn’t comply within 48 hours.
Leanne suspects the hackers infiltrated her accounts via public WiFi, a network she often used while her son played on her phone. “Police have told me they just watch for people on these open networks. They hacked into my email, got the password, and accessed all my accounts because I used similar passwords for most things,” she said.
The fraudsters also posted fake ads on her social media accounts, including one selling Oasis tickets, potentially scamming others. Leanne’s data may have been sold, as she even received a notification of a JustEat order sent to an address in Manchester.
With her bank accounts frozen and no assurance of recovering the stolen funds, Leanne has been forced to rely on food banks and apply for welfare support. “It’s sickening, especially for my son. He’s been through enough, and now this. It’s just heartbreaking,” she said.
Leanne urged others to take cybersecurity seriously. “Never use public WiFi and tighten your security. Change your passwords regularly and use different ones. This has been an awful start to the year, and I don’t want anyone else to experience the same.”
Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the incident. “Inquiries are ongoing,” a spokesperson said. Leanne’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of public WiFi and lax online security.