More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The director of a foodbank set up in June to help families in need says hackers have swiped £28,000 from the organisation's bank account.
Devastated John Finnegan, who set up Margate Independent Foodbank with Darryn De La Soul, says it has left them without a penny, leaving the future bleak.
The pair run the collection and delivery service from the town's Union Church.
Mr Finnegan says he was scammed earlier today when he received a call from someone who he thought was from Starling Bank, where the foodbank's money is held.
"It was the number of the bank and I thought it was a genuine call," he said.
"I wasn't asked personal details; she just asked me to go onto the app and then she said she was looking at the foodbank's account on the screen."
Mr Finnegan says she then pointed to a suspicious £10,000 PayPal payment which she was "worried about" and said they would need to lock down the account.
"She said I'd need to transfer all the money - £28,000 - out of the account and into my personal one, which is also with Starling Bank.
"So I did that, but when I looked a bit later it wasn't there."
When he contacted the bank he says he was told they are aware they are being targeted by scammers, but that there is currently little they can do except investigate.
"I feel sick," he said.
"I feel it's my fault. How can someone have the nerve to even think of hitting on a foodbank?
"I and everyone does this as a volunteer.
"We don't get paid. I now have the extra problem of finding the money to keep the foodbank going.
"I feel physically sick. I am sorry to all the wonderful people that have donated to the foodbank and the grants we have received."
Mr Finnegan and the other volunteers have been providing hundreds of food parcels since the service launched in June and have reported a high demand.
They have also teamed up with Sharon Goodyer of Our Kitchen on the Isle of Thanet, which provides nutritious meals to those who need it in the community.
A police spokesman said: "At 2.26pm on Friday, Kent Police received a report that a Margate-based charity had been defrauded.
"The informant said they transferred a large sum of money after receiving an instruction to do so from a fraudster, who claimed to be from their bank.
"Action Fraud is the lead agency for incidents of this nature, however officers have made further contact with the victim to gather more information and provide advice."
UPDATE
Starling Bank has now reimbursed the foodbank, as the investgiation continues.
“We have reimbursed the customer under the Contingency Reimbursement Model Code while we continue to investigate this case with the fraudster’s bank,” a spokesperson said.
