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A woman who lost her life savings to a sophisticated phishing scheme took the witness stand this week, detailing how a single fraudulent text message led to the theft of €20,000 from her BNF Bank account.

The testimony was part of the ongoing compilation of evidence against Tammy Caruana, a 25-year-old from St Paul’s Bay. Caruana stands accused of defrauding approximately 200 victims of a combined €1 million. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The “Rachel” Deception: How the €20,000 Was Stolen

The court heard how the victim’s ordeal began in November 2025 when she received an SMS warning of an unauthorized login attempt on her bank account. Following the instructions in the message, she clicked a link that directed her to a website mirroring the official BNF portal.

The scam shifted from digital to personal when a woman calling herself “Rachel” phoned the victim, claiming to be from the bank’s fraud department. To “stop” the suspicious transactions, the victim was told to:

  • Click a “cancel” button on the site.

  • Enter a specific security code.

The fraudster offered a chillingly calm reassurance, telling the victim that while it might appear as though funds were being withdrawn, it was a technical necessity that would be reversed. The victim only realized the gravity of the situation when the real bank confirmed the €20,000 balance had been cleared out.

Professional Experience No Shield Against Scammers

The court also heard from a second victim, a former bank employee, who lost €4,900 from her APS account. Despite her professional background, she found the scammer’s approach highly persuasive.

“It did not cross my mind that it was a scam… I felt stupid when I realised I had lost €4,900—money taken from my children and me,” she testified, noting that the caller’s slight nervousness made her seem like a genuine, albeit new, bank staff member.

The Legal Battle

The prosecution is being spearheaded by AG lawyers Mauro Abela and Marica Ciantar, supported by Police Inspector Claire Vella Borg.

The defense is led by lawyers Roberto Spiteri and Franco Galea, while the interests of the involved financial institutions are being represented by Stefano Filletti (BOV) and Maria Lisa Buttigieg (BNF).

As the case proceeds before Magistrate Lara Lanfranco, the evidence continues to highlight the devastating human impact of the massive €1 million fraud operation.