Scam busters

Army veteran robbed of thousands in his final years >> Grandson helps over-50s combat ransomware attacks

- BY BILLY GADDI

A TECH entrepreneur has revealed how his grandpa being targeted by scammers inspired him to create a cybersecurity service.

Ian Gardner, a retired army veteran from Coatbridge, fell victim to a ransomware attack which not only robbed him of thousands of pounds - but also his independence - before he died, aged 78, in 2017.

Ian used his computer to store precious memoirs of his time in the military, to keep decades of treasured photographs and to connect with family members on Skype.

He had saved thousands of words on his time with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Malaya in the 60s and his work as an engineer at Glasgow Central Station.