Scammers Use Fake Microsoft Alert to Swindle Elderly Victim Out of $25,000

A scam targeting elderly residents in Ventura County, California, has led to the arrest of a suspect. The scheme began on August 4 when an 80-year-old victim received a fake Microsoft alert on his computer.

The pop-up directed him to call 'Microsoft,' where he was transferred among several people before speaking with a man named Damian Myers who claimed someone had used the victim's Ventura County Credit Union account to make a $25,000 purchase of child pornography in China.

Myers instructed the victim to withdraw money from his accounts to protect them. The victim withdrew $20,000 and purchased an additional $5,000 in gift cards before being told to package the cash for collection by a purported Federal Trade Commission representative.

The scammers arranged for Ze Li, 35, of Fremont, California, to meet the victim and collect the money. However, when investigators contacted the victim again on August 26, they set up a sting operation and arrested Li as he attempted to collect another $20,000 package.