Internet scammers continue to target seniors and young people in Columbia County.
According to incident reports, a West Lake Drive man reported he was working on his computer Thursday when it froze.
“A window popped up with a number for him to call to fix the issue,” said the report, filed by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
When the 82-year-old victim called the number, an unknown subject said he worked for Microsoft and asked for various permissions to gain access to his computer.
The subject then told the man to purchase gift cards to pay for the computer assistance, and to stay on the phone.
As he was leaving for the store, the victim’s neighbor advised him the call was likely a scam and to hang up the phone.
He did, but his bank advised a Zelle account had already been created in his name and $999 was withdrawn from his savings, the report said.
The same day, an Appling man reported after his iPad locked up, a pop-up gave him a number to call.
When the man called the number, an unknown subject told him that an alleged drug trafficker had stolen his identity.
To avoid being prosecuted, the man needed to withdraw $30,000 for a Federal Trade Commission investigator to pick up, the caller said.
When no investigator showed up, the caller said to leave the money in a box at the Appling Dollar General.
After he did that, the caller said to withdraw another $30,000 from a different bank branch.
At that point the victim contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which advised him to file a report with Columbia County. He’d left a total of $55,000 for the thieves.
A Grovetown man reported Friday he’s been paying $100 a week for 27 weeks to a person who allegedly photographed him naked on a video.
The 25-year-old said he responded to a friend request from someone he thought he attended high school with. After they talked, she suggested he participate in a video chat naked.
When he did, he was sent a picture of himself naked and told if he did not send $100 every week the photo would be revealed.
