Computer repair scam costs Tuscola County resident $1,000

[SlapHappy]

https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Comp ... 63461.html

Computer repair scam costs Tuscola County resident $1,000

Hand typing on a keyboard.
By ABC12 News Team | Posted: Thu 1:06 PM, Feb 21, 2019 | Updated: Thu 2:57 PM, Feb 21, 2019


TUSCOLA COUNTY (WJRT) (2/21/2019) - A Tuscola County resident is out $1,000 after falling victim to a familiar computer repair scam.

Police say the scammer called on the phone claiming to work for a computer repair business. They offered to fix the victim's computer remotely for a fee.

The victim provided the scammer with bank account information, credit card numbers and allowed the scammer to access their computer remotely, potentially exposing other sensitive information.

The scammers continued calling the victim and demanding more more while a Tuscola County sheriff deputy was taking a report from the victim. The caller ID came up as "Unknown."

Police reiterated that nobody should ever give financial information over the phone to any stranger. The sheriff's office also advised people to seek out a local business for computer repairs.

The Lapeer County Sheriff's Office offered a number of tips for avoiding scams that proliferate during tax season:

-- Never give out personal information, even if the person on the phone seems to know who you are. Scammers are astute at looking up information about their victims before calling so they sound legitimate.

-- Research any emails before agreeing to pay any money. When it doubt, find the agency's phone number on a billing statement or its website and call back yourself.

-- Hang up any time someone claiming to represent a utility company, the IRS or law enforcement calls to demand immediate payment. None of the agencies will ever seek payment over the phone without mailing or contacting someone first.