Moilaned said it is crucial to avoid downloading any program that allows another person remote access of your computer or other device unless you’re certain of their identity.
The scammer then told the man he had accidentally sent $40,000 directly to the man’s Wells Fargo account, and sent a false charge notification.
The scammer told the man this had been a mistake, and asked him to wire $39,500 to an address.
Later, the Rochester man spoke to another scammer claiming to be the first person’s manager, who said the first wire transfer hadn’t gone through, and “McAfee” was still out $40,000.
The scammers asked the Rochester man to wire another $39,000 to Hong Kong, which he did.
Finally, the Rochester man was told there was another $40,000 “hiding” in his account, which would be revealed somehow if he sent more money.
The scammers told the man that if he wired them $90,000, they would reimburse him $200,000 to account for that transfer, the two $39K transfers, with an additional $30,000 or so on top for all of his trouble.
The scammers also told the man they would send him a free iPad.
He sent the $90,000.
Moilanen said he does not know when the man realized the calls and transfers were a scam, but he suspected that it happened when he checked his bank account and realized that the transfers from the scammers had not arrived in his account.
He also did not receive an iPad.
“Some of the feedback I’ve received from the elderly is that they just…
