PlayStation Scam
A resident, 85, reported that he had been bilked out of nearly $49,500 in an escalating computer, phone and wire scam that started with an email notification that someone had fraudulently purchased a Sony PlayStation 4 for $549 using his personal information.
He called what he thought was a customer support number and was told that the PS4 had been sent to a Florida address.
He was also led to believe that his Amazon account had been hacked and that it would cost him $550 to have a technician fix it -- after he gave them more information about his bank account. He told police that the technician also gained control of his computer cursor.
When he checked those accounts later, he realized that he may have inadvertently typed the amount in as $55,000. From there, he was told that this in turn could be fixed by withdrawing money and wiring it to Singapore, after which all but the original amount would be refunded to him.
He was also instructed that if bank officials inquired about the reason for the large withdrawal, for him to explain that it was for a loan repayment, which he did -- twice, including a second query from the bank’s wire department.
In fact, the money had been transferred from his wife’s account.
He called what he thought was a customer support number and was told that the PS4 had been sent to a Florida address.
He was also led to believe that his Amazon account had been hacked and that it would cost him $550 to have a technician fix it -- after he gave them more information about his bank account. He told police that the technician also gained control of his computer cursor.
When he checked those accounts later, he realized that he may have inadvertently typed the amount in as $55,000. From there, he was told that this in turn could be fixed by withdrawing money and wiring it to Singapore, after which all but the original amount would be refunded to him.
He was also instructed that if bank officials inquired about the reason for the large withdrawal, for him to explain that it was for a loan repayment, which he did -- twice, including a second query from the bank’s wire department.
In fact, the money had been transferred from his wife’s account.