A 73-year-old North Carolina woman lost a staggering $61,000 to a sophisticated scam involving fake virus warnings, phony Apple Care representatives, and a fraudulent Wells Fargo “fraud department.”
The Scam Unfolds
It all started with a pop-up message on her computer claiming a virus infection. The message included a fake Apple Care number. When she called, scammers posing as Apple Care employees told her her computer and bank accounts were compromised. They then pretended to transfer her to Wells Fargo’s fraud department.
Over several days, the criminals convinced her that fraudulent transactions were pending. Following their instructions, she withdrew $61,000 in four separate transactions and converted the money into Bitcoin.
The Red Flag
The scam unraveled when the scammers instructed her to meet at a local police station to sign paperwork to recover her funds, claiming they’d identified a suspect in Texas. This raised her suspicions, leading her to report the incident to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office is now investigating.
Protecting Yourself from Similar Scams
Authorities are warning people to be wary of unsolicited calls or messages requesting financial transactions. Always verify such claims directly with the official service provider. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises against sharing personal or financial information in response to unsolicited requests and cautions against urgent demands or unusual payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. You can report suspicious activity to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
