A Maumee man’s quick thinking prevented his father from losing $7,000 to scammers who had gained control of the elderly man’s computer.
MAUMEE, Ohio - A Maumee man’s quick thinking prevented his father from losing $7,000 to scammers who had gained control of the elderly man’s computer.“He was led to believe through an e-mail disguised as Microsoft that he was being refunded $700 for a service he didn’t even remember paying for,” the son said.
When the son arrived to check on his father, he found him talking to someone on the phone who had control over his computer. The scammer told the father they had accidentally processed the refund for $7,000 instead of $700, and he needed to pay back the difference or his accounts would be frozen. The scammer instructed the man “to not tell anyone what was happening, to get up, get dressed, and go to his bank, and call him from the parking lot,” the son said. The son said he knew it was a scam, but his father didn’t believe him and thought he was doing the right thing. The son called 911 while they were about to leave for the credit union. A dispatcher told them to go back to their house and a Maumee Police officer would meet them there. The scammer called back while the officer was with the family. The officer answered the phone. The scammer hung up and hasn’t contacted them again.“They’re very convincing in what they do, which is why they’re so successful,” Sprow said. Sprow said scammers rely on urgency, fear and secrecy. He said these signs should be red flags to watch out for. He also said that oftentimes the scammer will threaten the person in some way. In this case, the scammer threatened to freeze the man’s accounts. Sprow said if you think you’ve been targeted, do not send any money and stop communication immediately.The family isn’t out of any money, but they have spent considerable time restoring the father’s computer and resetting all his passwords. The son said his father is a decorated Vietnam veteran who was a medic and gave his leg for the country. “To have someone try to swindle him out of thousands of dollars? It doesn’t just break my heart; it angers me,” the son said. He said he’s speaking out to let this serve as a warning for other families in the area to be careful and monitor their elderly family members’ internet usage.Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies respond to Giant Eagle for reports of shots fired
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