Ballygawley woman's desperate cross-country hunt after £17,000 scam

A WOMAN from Ballygawley who lost £17,000 to a sophisticated banking scam took the extraordinary step of flying across the UK to confront the person she believed was responsible - and is now speaking out to stop others falling into the same trap.

Rhonda Montgomery, originally from Ballygawley but who now lives in Dungannon, says embarrassment, anger and desperation drove her to track down an address linked to the fraud after her life savings were drained.

But her dramatic journey ended with more questions than answers - and a stark warning about just how convincing modern scams have become.

“I worked hard for that money, and nobody was helping me,” she said.

The ordeal began while Rhonda was on a business trip in Germany when she received a phone call from someone claiming to be from her bank, Revolut.

The caller appeared credible - alarmingly so.

“They knew my name. They knew I was with Revolut. They even listed payments from my account,” she said.

Believing she was speaking to her bank’s fraud team, Rhonda trusted the caller and continued with her trip, assuming the issue had been resolved.

But days later, back home in Ballygawley, she discovered the truth in the most ordinary moment - when she couldn’t pay for a coffee.

“I checked my app and got a massive shock. Over £8,000 had been taken overnight.

“They were one step ahead the whole time.”

As she contacted customer support, Rhonda says the scammers struck again, this time appearing even more convincing.

While waiting on an online chat with the bank, she received another call.

“They had my date of birth, the payments I’d queried - everything,” she said.

“They told me if my phone was compromised, my other accounts could be at risk.”

She was persuaded to move her money into what she believed was a “safe” temporary account - one she could see being set up live on her computer.

In reality, it was controlled by fraudsters.

Within moments, the remaining funds were gone.

Armed with an address linked to the account, Rhonda made a decision that underscores the emotional toll of the crime.

She travelled alone to Cambridge, determined to confront whoever was behind the fraud.

“I didn’t tell anyone. I just thought - I have to go after this money.”

When she arrived and knocked on the door, the man she believed responsible was not there.

Instead, she spoke to his mother, who told her he no longer lived at the address and was estranged from the family.

Rhonda recorded the encounter, describing how the scam had left her “in financial ruin” and close to a nervous breakdown.

Rhonda’s experience is far from isolated.

Impersonation scams - where criminals pose as banks or trusted organisations - are one of the fastest-growing types of fraud in the UK.

Criminals often use stolen personal data to make their approach more believable, convincing victims to authorise payments themselves.

Rhonda has since recovered around £4,000 in fraudulent card payments.

Following intervention, Revolut also refunded a further £9,000.

But the emotional impact - and the loss of trust - lingers.

“I don’t want anyone else to go through this”

Now, the Ballygawley woman is determined to turn her experience into a warning for others.

Her message is simple and urgent:

• Banks will never ask you to move money to a “safe account”

• Never trust unsolicited calls, even if they seem convincing

• Always verify directly through official channels

“I thought I was being careful. I thought I was doing the right thing,” she said.

“But they were one step ahead the whole time.”

Her story is a stark reminder that anyone can be targeted - and that even the most convincing voice on the phone may not be who they claim to be.