AURORA, Colo. – Police in Aurora are issuing a warning about a new type of scam targeting residents.
Police say a caller, who went by Rex Johnson and claimed to be from Microsoft, convinced an elderly woman that her computer was infected with a virus.
Over the course of two-days, the victim wired money to two locations in India and Africa, apparently at the request of the scammer so that the virus could be removed.
Aurora Police say that this was a phone and internet scam and the elderly are often the most vulnerable.
Police offer the following tips to avoid being scammed:
- Don't fall for purchasing money grams or gift cards chances are it's a scam.
- Don't answer or trust unknown numbers.
- Don't give out your financial information.
- Verify information of caller as well as the company. Find the customer service numbers and give them a call before you take any action.
- Be instantly suspicious of "deals" that require secrecy.
- Take a few days to consider money propositions; talk them out with someone close to you.
