Frank D., 81
Sarasota, Florida
Based on real scams reported in the US. Names and details changed to protect privacy.
The short story
A warning filled Frank's screen: his security subscription had renewed for $399, call this number for a refund. The technician was polite and asked to connect to Frank's computer to process it. While Frank watched, the man typed in what looked like too many zeros, then said Frank had been refunded far too much and needed to send the difference back. The account that drained that afternoon was Frank's own.
How it unfolded
Frank had been a careful man his whole working life. But the pop-up looked like part of his computer, the number looked official, and the offer was a refund, not a demand, which lowered his guard.
Once the technician was connected, he showed Frank a screen that appeared to credit far too much money, then acted flustered and worried, and said he could lose his job over the mistake unless Frank returned the extra. The overpayment was a picture, not a real deposit. Frank lost $38,000.
What would have stopped it
What would have stopped itA real company never calls you, or pops up on your screen, to say it owes you a refund. Never call the number in a pop-up, and never let anyone you did not phone first connect to your computer.