By Walnut Creek Police Department
We want to share an urgent message regarding a prolific scam targeting our residents. The scam is generally referred to as a “courier” scam, and preys on victims through manipulation and technology. The scam employs several methods, to include:
– Receiving a pop-up window on your computer alerting you to fraud or a hack. The pop-up will typically urge you to click on a button within the window or ask you to call tech support (a phone number provided by the suspects). Once you do these two things, the suspects have access to your computer, as well as the ability to manipulate you over the phone.
– Receiving an email alerting you to a purchase you did not make (commonly PayPal), and then requesting that you call tech support, which is connecting the suspects to you.
– Receiving an alert that your computer is vulnerable to viruses and is unprotected. Once you follow the prompts to pay for current protection, you are contacted by the suspect informing you that you overpaid, an excessive refund will be issued to you, at which point you are responsible for paying them back the difference. (This is common using PayPal).
– Receiving a call from someone posing as a family member or friend, stating they’ve been arrested or had an accident, and need cash quickly.
– Receiving an alert that your money has been used for criminal activity and that you are under investigation, after which you need to deliver your money to the suspects so they can “secure” it.
Almost all of these scams include the following techniques:
– You will be required to go to the bank to withdraw a large sum of cash, after which you will be instructed to meet with a “courier” or driver to hand over the cash.
– The suspects contacting you on the phone will be highly aggressive, controlling your movements through manipulation, and may even threaten you or your family.
– The suspects will attempt to avoid apprehension by using spoofed email addresses and phone numbers, and will state they work for major financial institutions and government entities.
– The suspects will ensure you’re following instructions by insisting you stay on the phone with them, FaceTime them, and photograph cash you intend to deliver to them.
It is WCPD’s first priority that its community members do not fall victim to crimes such as these. If you are contacted through any of the above means by people employing these tactics, simply disregard pop-ups and emails, do not click on anything within them, and do not call tech support phone numbers offered within these messages. If there are people in your family who may be vulnerable to these scams, please have conversations with them regarding tech and financial safety.
Thank you for reading and stay safe.
