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A charity which has served the community for the last quarter of a century has been forced to close after scammers wiped out its bank account.

However, a new organisation is likely to rise from its ashes after the charity’s bank agreed to repay the full amount when contacted by Caerphilly Observer.

Right from the Start was established in 1996 to help first-time parents in the Rhymney Valley.

Its service was pioneering at the time and was the idea of headteacher Janet Carr.

In recent years the charity has been running the Bargoed Community Hub on High Street, Bargoed, as a place for people to drop-in for advice and help.

Margaret Lippard, 81, the charity’s chair of trustees, was scammed by a person pretending to be from Amazon in November 2020.

After cold calling her, they managed to take over her computer and took thousands of pounds of her savings.

They also managed to gain access to the charity’s Lloyds Bank account and cleaned that out to the tune of £55,000.

Because the money was funnelled through her personal account, around half of what was stolen was returned by Ms Lippard’s bank – but it still left the charity short of £27,500.

Ms Lippard said she was told by Lloyds the money was not stopped going to her personal account because payments had previously been made between the two and the bank initially refused to cover the losses.

On Friday, April 29, before Lloyds agreed to repay the money, the charity held a goodbye event at the hub.

Its manager Charlene Munday told Caerphilly Observer how the hub had helped her when she was in a time of need and vowed to carry on its work.

After Lloyds agreed to repay the money she said: “It takes a good deal of time to get to know a person and gain their trust and the hub has time for that to happen.

“The hub is a place where people meet and offer support to each other as friendships are formed.

“It can be reassuring, realising people also struggle in the same way you do. Those who overcome challenges can help to advise those who are going through similar things.

“The hub closing made me feel I was letting so many people down even though I had no control of the situation. Getting this money back means everything to me and I’m sure it will to the people of our community. It will allow us to build on relationships with people in the community and to form new ones.

The hub is more than a workplace for me. I am grateful and honoured that I have been given an opportunity to bring hope and happiness to so many people – and long may it continue.”

The charity will still be wound-up, but the money being returned will be given to a successor organisation to start afresh.

Mrs Lippard said: “I’m incredibly relieved. I hadn’t realised what a stress it’s been.

“It means we’ve got some freedom now, but I’m also angry that it’s taken this to reverse their decision. If they had done it six months ago we could have used that money much more effectively.”

Those involved with the charity will be having discussions in the coming weeks to now work out a way forward.

In a statement, a Lloyds Bank spokesperson said: “We have a great deal of sympathy for Ms Lippard as the victim of a scam and, after a further review of her case, will be refunding the remainder of the funds lost as we recognise we could have done more to stop the scam.

“Fraudsters are always looking for ways to trick people into transferring their money, so it is vital to remember that no official organisation will ever ask you to move money to another account.”

Aurora’s story: “I feel I can walk the Earth by myself”

Aurora Preece, 21, was kicked out of her home at 17 when she was pregnant and ended up living in hostels. At the hub’s goodbye event she explained how the charity helped her at a time of need.

“I had no idea how to be an adult. I was sat on a chair thinking ‘what am I going to do?’

“One of my mates got support from Charlene – and now I was struggling.

“Charlene helped me to sort my debts, I accessed a discretionary fund and I was able to get back on my feet within six months.

“I love everything about this place. I thought if I don’t need the support now, I can give support back and I volunteer here. I feel I can walk the Earth by myself.”

Spotting scams

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A scam call is when a fraudster calls and pretends to be someone you trust, such as the bank, police or other official organisation.  Their goal is to convince you to move money out of your account and into theirs and they will lie to get you to do this.  Common lies include your account being at risk, you’re due a refund, they need your help to catch criminals, or you owe money to HMRC.  Remember:

• No official organisation, nor your bank or the police, would ever ask you to move money to another account
• If someone is trying to rush you into doing something, or making a decision, it’s a sign of a scam
• Never trust anyone who tells you to keep what you are doing secret
• Always tell your bank the truth about why you are requesting to move money – they are there to help and protect you.

Sometimes, during a scam call, the fraudster will be aiming to obtain remote access to your electronic devices.  Remember:

• You should never have to log on to your computer, or internet banking, for someone who calls out of the blue.  Your bank will never ask you for any log-on passwords, User IDs or memorable information.
• Never give someone who calls you out of the blue remote access to your computer or other electronic device.
• Never download anything to your device when requested by someone who has called you unexpectedly.
• If you become concerned, disconnect from the internet, hang up the phone and call your bank from the number on your card.