Caution - Phone Scam for Computer Access
I was visiting an elderly friend today and she had gotten a call telling her that her computer had a virus and that she was to turn it on and they would walk her through how to "fix it".... SCAREY STUFF!! Thankfully she told them that she was too old and did not know how to use the computer and they would have to call back when her daughter was home. They persisted over and over pressuring her to do as they told her and how important it was. She said that she was not really feeling "with it" and did not know really what to make of it. When they finally gave up she called another friend who told her to call the police. I urged her to do the same. I am concerned as she basically did tell them though that she was home alone and she is 89 years old. So I think that just an fyi for the area if you to share this happening as it was local to Glencoe but can happen anywhere. There is a particular target apparently for seniors.
The one thing that was interesting was that they asked first for "Eric" and then when told no one by that name lived there they called back 1/2 an hour later asking for "Mrs ...." Well they got her name out of a phone book that did not provide her first name. They then asked her for her full first name... she did not provide that but could have. They asked where she lived. She said that she realized if they were actually her internet provider they would have had that information. When she questioned the woman scammer on the phone about this the woman told her that she was from a company that had been hired by her internet provider and did not have the full information she needed for my friend's account but needed it to help her.
Let people know and share the word! Especially tell seniors and younger children... to ensure safety!!
thanks!
