Elderly man robbed of almost $10k after scammer steals bank cards and shops in Chadstone

A pensioner living in Melbourne’s southeast has been fleeced of his savings after answering a phone call from a scammer.

Police believe Al - a 94-year-old Mount Waverley man - received an hours-long call from a man purporting to be a Telstra worker on September 19, during which he was asked to give his bank details over the phone.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Heartless scammer rips off elderly Melbourne man.

The scammer also convinced him to leave his bank cards in a letterbox, telling him they could be reissued later.

The cards were then stolen and used to buy four iPhones at a cost of $9000 at stores in Malvern East and Chadstone.

The thief also tried to buy $4500 worth of electronics at another store in Chadstone and attempted to withdraw money at several ATMs in Ashburton and Mount Waverly, but all transactions were declined.

His son Murray said his father is “coping the best he can”.

“It shattered dad, he’s been such an independent person his whole life.”

His family has managed to recoup only a small portion of the missing money.

“We’re still mopping up, we’ve had to change his phone number and go through all the organisations ... scamming effects all ages of vulnerable people, not just elderly like my father,” Murray said.

On Friday, police released images of a man they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.

In the video, he is wearing a brown Kathmandu puffer, black pants and black sneakers.

“It’s very concerning especially because someone has come to the house of the victim and taken his cards from the letterbox as well,” Victoria Police Detective Leading Senior Constable Aaron Gillies said.

“We want to get it out there to try to find this person because we want to stop it from happening again.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.