Maryland police on the hunt for tech support scammer

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD – The Financial Crimes Section of the Prince George’s County Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance to identify an individual believed to have crucial information regarding a tech support scam that occurred in June.

During the scam, a county resident received a computer pop-up alert claiming their device was compromised by a virus. The victim was directed to call a number, leading to interactions with individuals posing as tech support staff, bank representatives, and officials from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The scammers convinced the victim to withdraw money and hand it over to a person who confirmed their identity with a prearranged code word.

Photo: maryland police on the hunt for tech support scammer

The police have released images of a tattoo on the arm of the person who collected the money and the vehicle they used. These images are critical for the ongoing investigation.

This year, Prince George’s County has reported 22 similar incidents, with losses totaling approximately $500,000. Typically, these scams involve deceiving victims into granting remote access to their computers, followed by fraudulent claims of compromised bank accounts, leading to theft through cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.

Residents are urged to refrain from sharing personal financial information with unknown individuals and to contact legitimate software or antivirus providers if they suspect computer issues. Anyone with information about the scam or the individual in the surveillance video is encouraged to contact PGPD detectives at 301-516-1464.

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