Online pop up scam tricks Wilkes Barre woman out of more than ten thousand dollars
Wilkes-Barre, PA – What began as a warning message on a laptop screen quickly spiraled into a costly deception after a 72-year-old woman was convinced her identity had been stolen and her bank account was being used for federal crimes.
The incident occurred Monday morning around 9:26 a.m. at a residence on Wilcox Drive. Officers responded after the woman reported she had been victimized by an online scam.
According to investigators, the woman said she was checking her email when a pop-up notification appeared claiming her computer was infected with a Trojan virus. The message instructed her to call a phone number for Microsoft Support. After making the call, she was transferred to an individual who claimed to be a Microsoft representative.
Police said the suspect gained remote access to both the victim’s laptop and her cell phone. The woman was then falsely told her identity had been stolen and used to commit federal crimes, including illegal online gambling and the purchase of prohibited materials. The suspect further claimed her bank account was being used for a fraudulent $10,000 transaction that needed to be stopped immediately.
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Following the suspect’s instructions, the woman went to her local credit union and wired $10,020. She was told to keep her phone hidden, remain on the line during the transaction, and not inform bank employees, family members, or neighbors about what was happening.
Investigators said the victim was later directed to contact another individual claiming to represent the Social Security Administration. That person allegedly instructed her to send daily text messages and to notify him before using her own bank account. After one brief response the following day, all communication stopped.
The investigation into the theft by deception remains ongoing.
Key Points
- A 72-year-old Wilkes-Barre woman was targeted in an online scam
- Suspects posed as Microsoft and Social Security representatives
- More than $10,000 was wired before contact abruptly ended
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