Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters has spoken out after being targeted by scammers in an email bank fraud. The 63-year-old, who played Gwen West in the hit BBC sitcom, narrowly avoided losing thousands of pounds when fraudsters claimed her account security had been compromised.
Walters described feeling 'shocked and angry' after the ordeal. She received two contacts over six weeks, with the second letter convincing her the first was genuine. 'It felt like they had been sitting there thinking: She's not taken the first bite, but she might take the second bite,' she said.
The first email warned that a new account and her personal information were at risk, offering a year's free credit score check as compensation. Although initially suspicious, a follow-up letter weeks later persuaded her to enter her bank details. She only stopped at the last minute due to a glitch in the form.
Walters went into her bank, where staff had to verify whether the communications were fraudulent. She is now backing a BT Group campaign to help over-65s feel safe online, as new research shows over half of that age group fear becoming scam victims.
'My advice is to not beat yourself up about it,' Walters said. 'People do feel embarrassed, but it is much more common than one would think. Try not to feel embarrassed, and do talk to somebody.' She urged people to improve their digital skills and to pause before responding to suspicious messages.
