Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has recently received the report of a computer scam leading to the theft of thousands of dollars from a local victim.

According to the victim, an anti-virus pop-up notification appeared on their home computer informing the victim that the computer had been hacked and sensitive information was at risk. The notification directed the victim to contact “Windows Defender” at 833-492-2407 in order to secure the computer. The victim contacted the number and allowed remote access to the computer after being told that the scammer needed to “run a diagnostic”. The scammer then went on to tell the victim that several bank accounts had been opened and charged under the victim’s name and even reportedly transferred the victim to another scammer pretending to be the bank.

The victim was instructed to send nearly $70,000 in cash wrapped in magazines in the mail to various locations on the East Coast to settle the accounts. After sending the money to the scammers, the victim then reportedly received a phone call claiming to be from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, spoofing the Sheriff’s Office phone number on caller ID, and later another claiming to be from the FBI Fortuna Field Office, also spoofing the agency’s phone number. Both callers again demanded more money, at which time the victim hung up and notified law enforcement.

This appears to be a sophisticated, large-scale online scam with many suspects involved. Scammers prey on fear and will pressure their victims to act immediately rather than stopping and evaluating the situation. If you receive unsolicited contact from someone or an organization you do not recognize, whether it be online, on the phone or even by mail, take pause and talk it through with someone you trust. Even a quick Google search of the situation can often be helpful to determine if it is a scam.

No government agency or banking institution will ask you to mail large sums of cash or pay fines with gift cards or pre-paid money cards. Additionally, while law enforcement may contact you regarding a warrant or investigation, we will never demand payment in exchange for dropping a warrant or stopping an investigation. 

Remember these tips to help protect yourself from fraud:

  1. Spot imposters 
    Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity or a company with which you do business. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request – whether it comes as a text, a phone call or an email.
  2. Do online searches 
    Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
  3.  Don’t believe your caller ID 
    Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.
  4. Talk to someone 
    Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert — or just tell a friend.
  5.  Don’t rely on personal information 
    Living in the digital age, access to information is easier than ever. Scammers are often able to get their hands on very personal information, providing it to their victims to make their scam look more legitimate. Don’t trust a scammer who is able to provide your personal information. If you followed the above tips and still aren’t sure, call back at a publicly listed number for the organization from which the scammer claims to be or contact your loved one directly.
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