A Clayton man lost $500 and the ability to access his home computer after falling victim to a scam.
The victim said he received a phone call from a person pretending to be with GeekWorld. The caller said his name was Max and claimed the company was closing and that the victim was eligible for an $1,100 refund. To receive the refund, Max said he needed to download software onto the victim’s computer to complete the refund process.
The victim gave the caller remote access to his computer. Minutes later the victim said he had been locked out of his home computer and the caller demanded a $500 Wal-Mart pre-paid credit card for him to regain access. The man said he went to Wal-Mart and obtained a credit card. The caller then told the victim to burn the receipt and give him the credit card number. Even after complying, the victim said he was still unable to access his computer.
You should never allow a random caller to gain access to your computer. It is most likely a scam. Computer experts say to make sure your anti-virus software is always up to date, never click on a suspicious link, and consider installing adblocker software. Adblockers software can help prevent fake software updates and some other forms of fake technical support scams from appearing on your computer. In this case, the scam began on the telephone. The victim lost $500 and may have to buy a new computer.
