THUNDER BAY — A fraudster has bilked a Shuniah resident out of tens of thousands of dollars in a computer hacking scam.
The elderly victim noticed their computer was hacked when a flashing text box appeared on their screen. It advised them to call the number immediately to regain access to their computer.
Once the victim contacted the illegitimate number, the scammer, posing as a representative of Microsoft, asked the victim if they knew about certain electronic money transfers and if they could help them get the money back.
The victim was asked to go to the bank to make several money transfers to the fraudster. While on the phone in the bank, the victim was told by the scammer not to tell the bank teller they were being instructed to send the money.
In total, the elderly victim lost upwards of $90,000 to this incident of fraud.
Online frauds and scams are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, police say, but many still fall victim to them.
Const. Matthew Foster with the OPP advises those who are unsure of the legitimacy of a message or call to verify the contact information on their own, speak to family and friends about a suspected scam, trust their gut and don't be rushed into sending money.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre provides education and tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, as well as what to do if you are and how to report it.
