Clallam County Residents Lose $673,000 in 3 Days to Fake Microsoft, FTC Scams
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 5
Clallam County Residents Lose $673,000 in 3 Days to Fake Microsoft, FTC Scams
1 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 5
Summary
Four Clallam County residents lost more than $673,000 over three days, with the biggest case involving an 84-year-old who handed about $420,000 in gold to a man who came to the victim’s driveway.
Scammers posed as Microsoft, FTC and Coinbase representatives, using threats of child-pornography and money-laundering investigations, fake tech-support claims and malicious links to push victims into acting quickly.
Other losses included $200,000 after a 64-year-old downloaded a fake app, $50,000 after a victim clicked a malicious email, and $3,500 in Apple gift cards sent to a fake Microsoft support worker.
The sheriff’s office said legitimate companies and agencies will not demand gold, gift cards or cryptocurrency, seek remote access, send someone to collect valuables, or tell people to avoid police.
Undersheriff Lorraine Shore said the schemes exploit fear, trust and urgency, urging residents to stop, hang up and verify any demand with family, banks or law enforcement before sending money.