She Lost Almost $20,000 Due to Computer Fraud! Now What?

Computer fraud and scams happen all the time. They come in different forms, text messages or emails claiming you will be under arrest if you don't pay a fine, or traffic citation, or back taxes. Sadly, many people fall for these scams and send money or gift cards to cover the so-called fine. WRONG!

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Have you ever fallen for this scam? A pop-up appears on your screen. It may say your computer is infected and needs protection right away. A pop-up may say "unknown error" so you click okay. It goes on. WRONG!

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These are all scams and fraud! The scammers are trying to get access to your computer and steal information, or worse yet, your money.

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The pop-ups may list a phone number to call for help. It looks real, sounds real, so you call. Poof, within minutes a hacker is inside your computer.

WOULD THIS REALLY HAPPEN?

Sure would, and has.

Fox17 reported the story of a woman who lost a lot of money because she called a phony phone number.

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A woman named Brenda--she's kept her last name private--said many messages popped up on her screen and seemed urgent and legitimate. So what did she do? She called the number. WRONG!

She was told to download a program to remove the infected files, and BAM, hackers were inside her computer, accessing her bank and 401k accounts and pulled out $16,000! SAD!

Brenda is a senior who seem to be targeted all the time, and was lost. Now what should she do?

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The AARP Fraud Network says that first of all no legitimate company will ever ask for access to your computer. RED FLAG! RED FLAG!

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

AARP SAYS:

• Shut down your device and restart it
• If someone demands remote access to your computer, end the conversation immediately
• Do not click any links or call any phone number displayed in the pop-up
• Contact your bank or financial institution directly

If you have any concerns and questions, talk to a fraud specialist by calling the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360.