Oshkosh police warn of scam that asks people for computer access, bank account info or money
OSHKOSH – Oshkosh Police Department is warning the public of a scam it says has impacted several residents.
The department said in a news release June 27 the scam involves a victim receiving an alert on their computer that prompts them to call a phone number.
The alert appears to come from a legitimate organization, the department said, and indicates there is a problem with the victim’s computer, bank account or other account.
When the victim calls the phone number provided on the alert, a scammer may persuade the victim to give them access to the victim’s computer, obtain banking information or persuade the victim to provide money.
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The scammer may also convince the victim they have already fallen victim to a scam by manipulating what the victim sees on their computer.
The scammer then may convince the victim they need to provide additional funds to overcome the scam.
The victim may then be convinced to send money to the scammer by cashier’s checks, cash or depositing funds into a cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) ATM.
Many of the scams originate outside the United States, the department said. The scammer may keep the victim on the phone throughout the scam, which may take several hours. The scammer may convince the victim to be secretive and not talk to anyone about what is happening.
The Oshkosh Police Department is encouraging individuals to not respond to these alerts. Anytime someone is directed to remain on the phone for extended periods of time, be secretive about a possible issue or send money, it is almost certainly a scam, the department added.
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If anyone is concerned about an issue regarding their accounts, they should reach out to the appropriate agency through their own means, police said.
If anyone is unsure if something is a scam or if they feel they fell victim to a scam, they should contact the law enforcement agency where they live. Anyone who becomes the victim of a crime in Oshkosh can contact Oshkosh Police Department at 920-236-5700 or submit tips anonymously by contacting Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at 920-231-8477 or by using the P3 app.
Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh police scam alert says don't give bank info, computer access
