HSBC is run by a bunch of douche bags and criminals. IMO they should have been put out of business for the continued laundering of drug money that they did for

HSBC is run by a bunch of douche bags and criminals. IMO they should have been put out of business for the continued laundering of drug money that they did for years. And the "responsible" corporate officers should have all been thrown in jail. Just fining the bank (i.e. the shareholders) doesn't do anything to punish the perpetrators. However, it's a fact of life that as people age, they become more vulnerable to scammers. Many old people are tricked into withdrawing cash from the bank at the behest of scammers. Whether it's for roof repairs, or for driveway resurfacing, or to help a long-lost niece, older people are often victims of flimflam artists. This happens a lot. It's on the news a lot. I personally know older people who were victimized by scammers. Unfortunately the article didn't mention the ages of the depositors. As the bank says in the article: "we have an obligation to protect our customers, and to minimise the opportunity for financial crime". So I do see HSBC's point. But, as the article discusses, the whole thing should have been handled much better.