NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. — A San Francisco man was arrested and accused of having a role in an effort to scam an elderly woman out of $32,000.
Qi Lin, 39, was arrested and booked into a county jail on suspicion of attempted grand theft, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit crime and elder theft.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office said the scam started on Sept. 26. The woman got a Microsoft Windows error message on her computer along with a frozen screen and a number to call for help. However, deputies said that number was part of the scam.
She ultimately called the number and gave the scammer remote access to her computer, according to deputies. Officials said the scammer said there were signs of criminal activity with her computer and bank transactions, noting the scammer said she could be held liable.
She was transferred to a fake bank security officer and fake federal agent. Ultimately, deputies said the victim was convinced to take out $32,000 to prevent the fake activity. However, she told her family before handing anything over to them, and her family told her to call authorities.
After she called the sheriff's office, deputies said they waited inside the home while the woman spoke with the other scammers on the phone. Lin allegedly arrived to collect the money and was ultimately arrested without incident.
“Most people don’t think they will fall victim to scams, but many of these scams are highly sophisticated and convincing, and they happen more often than people think,” said Sheriff Shannan Moon. “A similar Microsoft scam was carried out over the summer with another victim out over $12,000. It is our hope this latest scam attempt serves as an ongoing reminder of the seriousness of scams and the importance of checking in with your family and loved ones anytime something urgent or time-sensitive comes up involving money, and when in doubt, always call authorities.”
Anyone who believes they have been victim to a scam should call the Nevada County Regional Dispatch Center at (530) 265-7880.
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