In spite of repeated warnings and attempts to raise awareness from Battlefords RCMP, an elderly resident has been bilked out of $220 by an apparent Internet scam.
RCMP say an elderly victim was contacted with an offer to monitor the victim's computer for a fee of $130. The victim agreed and the perpetrator had the victim set up a PayPal account to transfer the money. A short time later an additional $90 was requested to continue the monitoring.
Atthis point the family of the victim realized something was wrong and called police, according to the RCMP. This investigation is ongoing.
Battlefords RCMP offer these safety tips:
Be cautious of people who call offering monitoring services that you have not solicited.
Do not give sensitive informationover the phone to someone youdo not know,including e-mail addresses.
Be aware scam artists aresmooth and convincing talkers who rely on this skill to put a victim at ease. Once they have the victim's trust theywill try to solicit personal information.
Know that the scam artists prey on the elderly and never be afraid to hang up on someone who is asking questions you are not comfortable answering.
If unsure about what the caller is offering , ask for a contact number to call them back, or ask them to mail additional information. High pressure sales with the "limited time offer" is a tool used by many to secure personal information quickly and then move on to the next victim.
If concerned about a computer's security, there are numerous reputable computer repair stores in the Battlefords that you can meet with face to face and have a goodunderstanding of what you require and what it will cost.
