A New Jersey woman mailed a $50,000 cashier’s check after scammers convinced her that her bank accounts had been compromised. When they came back asking for another $30,000, police were already involved.
The scheme began when a Microsoft error message took over the woman’s computer screen and displayed a number to call, according to Daily Voice.
A woman claiming to work for Microsoft told the victim that her bank accounts had been compromised, police said. The call was then transferred to a man posing as a Wells Fargo employee.
The victim eventually mailed a cashier’s check for $50,000. The people contacting her continued calling every day, maintaining the appearance that she was dealing with legitimate Microsoft and Wells Fargo employees.
The Scam Started With a Fake Microsoft Warning
The Berkeley Township woman reported the fraud to police on Aug. 14 after realizing that the people she had been speaking with were not legitimate company representatives.
The initial computer message directed her to call a phone number for assistance. Once she called, the supposed Microsoft worker introduced the idea that her financial accounts were in danger.
The fake Microsoft representative then transferred the call to a man who claimed to work for Wells Fargo. Police say the woman was eventually persuaded to mail a $50,000 cashier’s check.
The Callers Kept Contacting Her Every Day
Police said the people involved continued communicating with the victim over the following several days in an effort to maintain her trust. By then, they had already convinced her to send a large payment, but they continued presenting themselves as legitimate Microsoft and Wells Fargo employees.
The victim eventually recognized that she had been scammed and contacted Berkeley Township Police. She continued answering the scammers’ calls while working with investigators. That gave police an opportunity to intervene when the people behind the scheme asked for more money.
While officers were at the woman’s home, the callers made another demand. This time, police said they wanted an additional $30,000 and told the woman that a courier would come to collect the money for “safe keeping.” Detectives and patrol officers established surveillance around the residence and waited for the expected pickup.
Police Watched a Toyota RAV4 Return to the Neighborhood
During the surveillance operation, investigators saw a gray Toyota RAV4 drive past the victim’s home and leave the area. The vehicle returned a short time later and parked about one house away. Around the same time, the victim received a phone call telling her that the courier had arrived.
Officers then arrested Gurdutt Singh, 24, of South Richmond, New York. He was taken to Berkeley Township Police Headquarters for processing and later lodged in the Ocean County Jail under New Jersey’s bail reform procedures.
Singh Faces Theft and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charges
Police charged Singh with conspiracy to commit third-degree theft by deception and conspiracy to commit third-degree money laundering. The charges against Singh remain accusations and have not been proven in court.
The investigation also leaves open the identities of the other people who police say communicated with the victim and helped carry out the broader scheme.
A Microsoft Warning With a Phone Number Is a Scam Red Flag
Microsoft warns that its genuine error and warning messages do not include phone numbers. The company also says it does not proactively make unsolicited calls or send unsolicited messages asking people for personal or financial information to fix their computers.
The Federal Trade Commission gives similar advice: legitimate technology companies do not unexpectedly contact consumers to announce a computer problem, and genuine security pop-ups do not instruct users to call a telephone number.
If a warning like this appears, do not call the number on the screen. Close the browser or application if possible, update legitimate security software and run a scan. Anyone who believes they actually need technical help should find the company’s official support channel independently.
Instructions to move money because a bank account has supposedly been compromised are another major warning sign. A caller claiming money needs to be mailed, transferred, withdrawn or handed to a courier for “safekeeping” should not be trusted without independent verification through the financial institution’s official contact information.
The FBI has specifically warned about schemes using couriers to collect cash or precious metals from victims after scammers convince them that their assets need to be protected. Someone who has already mailed or transferred money should contact the bank or other financial institution involved immediately, explain that the payment resulted from fraud and ask what options remain to stop or recover it. The incident can also be reported to local law enforcement and through the FTC’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov.