The Portage County Sheriff’s Office is warning of two separate reports it has received of a “Microsoft virus” scam targeting seniors.
In this scheme, victims are falsely informed that their computers have been infected with a virus. They are then provided with a phone number to their bank’s “fraud” department and instructed to withdraw funds to invest directly in Bitcoin to supposedly resolve the issue.
This scam resulted in a total loss of $25,400 between the two victims.
“It’s easy to believe we wouldn’t succumb to such scams, but many times we find ourselves caught off guard and may not recognize the trap until it’s too late,” the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook July 25. “While we like to trust in the goodness of others, sadly, some prey on this trust. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and to protect those in our communities, particularly seniors who may be more susceptible to these types of scams.”
The Ohio Attorney General’s office says Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency. It is not government-backed and can be highly volatile and risky.
“Scammers like to request crypto because it lacks many of the same protections that other payment forms provide and is hard to trace once the money is sent,” the state says.
The scam should be reported to local officials, such as the sheriff’s office, or state and federal authorities, the attorney general says. The attorney general’s office can be reached at at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Computer virus scam costs two Portage County residents more than $25,000 between them
Reporting by Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
