What a great story.

Scammers accessed Age pensioner Ian Williams’ debit card details & withdrew $1,338, which is 5.5% of his annual income. He provided proof to his bank (NAB) but they did not accept responsibility or refund his money.

So he sued the bank - on his own, without legal representation - for 5.5% of their annual profit. That’s $379,005,000.

The bank did not respond to the case. He won.

On appeal to the Supreme Court the case was dismissed on technicalities & Mr Williams ordered to pay the bank’s legal costs.

Only after the story was widely publicised did the bank do what they should have done from the start: refund Mr Williams’ $1,338 & offer him an apology. They also waived their claim to costs.

Dragged kicking & screaming to basic ethical business practice. It’s a good look, NAB. We see you.

#bank #scam #megaprofit #NationalAustraliaBank

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-22/ian-williams-on-why-he-sued-nab-bank/106093720?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Ian's bank blamed him when he was scammed. He sued for $379m

Ian Williams has brought a whole new meaning to "taking on the big guy". When scammers stole from the pensioner the bank blamed him. So he launched a $379 million lawsuit to "make it right".

@26pglt

It is a great story, and good on him for persisting, but… the stress & effort that cost him probably contributed to his stroke. It might have been “wiser” not to have bothered, which is exactly what the banks and other big companies count on. Even government departments like Centrelink & NDIS.

Politicians and other public servants must be forced to remember that they are indeed, public servants. Legislating to protect the interests of the public is a politician’s job. The fact that we don’t have the same protections in place as in the UK is just wrong.