Fake Microsoft Pop-Up Snares Ohio Woman in $30,000 Tech-Support Impersonation Scam
A 71-year-old Ohio woman nearly lost $30,000 to tech-support impersonation scammers after they tricked her into withdrawing cash from her bank account and handing it over to a stranger.
The scam began on July 17 when the woman's computer screen went black and a pop-up instructed her to call Microsoft. The person who answered claimed there were child-pornography and gambling problems connected with her computer, as well as attempts to access her bank account.
The scammers stayed on the phone with her, guiding her through the next steps, which included withdrawing $30,000 in cash from her bank and hiding the real reason for the withdrawal from her bank. They allegedly coached her on what to say if a bank employee questioned such a large withdrawal, telling her it was for home renovations.
The woman placed the cash inside a shoebox and was directed to take it to the parking lot of a nearby Kohl's store. A man arrived with an expected code, took the box containing the cash, and left. She only realized she had been deceived when she filed a police report.