An 84-year-old Washington resident handed about $420,000 in gold to a man waiting at the end of the resident’s driveway after a fake Microsoft alert turned into a government impersonation scam, deputies said.
The case was part of a sharp run of fraud reports in Clallam County, where residents reported losing more than $673,000 in just three days, according to a sheriff’s alert cited by the Peninsula Daily News. The losses included gold, cryptocurrency, investment funds, and Apple gift cards.
Undersheriff Lorraine Shore said the criminals relied on fear, trust, and urgency. She urged residents to stop before sending money, buying gold or gift cards, or transferring cryptocurrency, and to call a trusted relative, bank, or local law enforcement agency before acting.
The reports involved different approaches, but deputies pointed to the same warning signs across the cases: fake security alerts, pressure to keep quiet, requests for remote access, and demands for payment through gold, crypto, or gift cards.
A Fake Microsoft Alert Ended With a Gold Handoff at the Driveway
The largest reported loss began when the 84-year-old opened what appeared to be an email from the resident’s daughter containing a photo, according to the Sheriff’s Office alert. After the email was opened, a fake Microsoft security message appeared on the computer and told the resident to call a support number.
The call was then transferred to someone claiming to represent the Federal Trade Commission, deputies said. The scammer falsely told the victim they were under investigation for serious federal crimes and money laundering, then warned them not to contact local law enforcement.
Deputies said the scammer also claimed local banks were under investigation and told the resident their accounts could be seized. The victim was instructed to buy gold to protect their assets.
Across three transactions, the resident bought about $420,000 in gold and handed it to an unknown man waiting at the end of the driveway. Deputies said the victim realized they had been defrauded only after speaking with bank officials.
A Phishing Email Drained an Investment Account
The next day, deputies received another report from a resident who clicked on a phishing email. The email gave scammers access to financial accounts, according to the Sheriff’s Office alert.
About $50,000 was taken from the resident’s investment account. Deputies did not describe that case in as much detail as the gold handoff, but it added to the same three-day loss total and showed how quickly a single click can expose financial accounts.
A Fake Coinbase Contact Cost Another Resident $200,000 in Crypto
Another Tuesday report involved a 64-year-old resident who tried to contact Coinbase after seeing that their account appeared to be closed. The resident believed they were speaking with a real Coinbase representative and was told there was fraudulent activity on the account.
Deputies said the scammer instructed the victim to download a “rescue” application, which gave the scammer remote access to the victim’s phone. The resident was then convinced to move about $200,000 in cryptocurrency into what was described as a secure wallet.
The wallet was not secure. Deputies said the money went directly to the scammer and could not be recovered.
Another Fake Microsoft Pop-Up Led to Apple Gift Cards
The fourth report came after another resident received a fake Microsoft pop-up claiming the computer had been locked. This time, the scammer identified herself as “Samantha” and told the victim their banking information had been compromised after being used on adult websites, according to the Sheriff’s Office alert.
The victim was told to buy Apple gift cards, photograph the card numbers, and send the images to the scammer. The resident bought $3,500 in Apple gift cards, and once the numbers were shared, the money was effectively gone.
Deputies Warned Residents Not to Follow Orders to Stay Quiet
The Sheriff’s Office said legitimate companies and government agencies, including Microsoft, Apple, Coinbase, the FTC, banks, and law enforcement, will not tell people to avoid local police or claim they are under investigation while demanding immediate action.
Officials also warned that real agencies and companies will not ask people to buy gold, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire money to protect their assets. They will not send someone to a home to collect cash, gold, or valuables, and they will not demand remote access to a computer or phone.
The FTC gives the same warning about impostors using its name. The agency says it will never threaten people, tell them to transfer money to “protect it,” or tell them to withdraw cash or buy gold and give it to someone.
Anyone who believes they were targeted should contact their bank, credit union, cryptocurrency exchange, or gift card company immediately, then report the incident to local law enforcement. Cyber-enabled fraud can also be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, and FTC impersonation scams can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.