Knoxville Woman Duped Out of $1,000 in Tech Support Scam

Knoxville Woman Falls Victim to Scam Worth $1,000

In Knoxville, Tennessee, a heartbreaking story has emerged about a local woman who lost an eye-popping 1,000 dollars to a scammer posing as tech support. It all began when Sharon Hart, a resident of the area, purchased a secondhand laptop from a pawn shop, not knowing that a simple tech issue would cascade into a devastating financial loss.

The Unexpected Emergency

Picture this: Sharon brings her newly acquired laptop home, ready to set it up and register it. But as soon as she powers it up, her screen starts flashing messages that scream for attention, saying her device is in danger. “I brought the laptop home, got ready to register it, and it just started ringing,” Sharon explained. “It kept ringing – Call Microsoft, call Microsoft, your laptop is in danger.”

With her laptop effectively frozen, she decided to take action and called the number displayed on the screen, hoping to resolve the panic-inducing alerts.

The Scammer’s Ploy

A man answered the call, claiming to be from Microsoft. “He said he’d help me figure out what is wrong with my laptop. While I’m on the laptop with him, it’s still saying that. He’s like, well I’m going to fix it. Don’t worry, I’m going to fix it,” Sharon recounted. Her initial worries seemed to ease as she believed he could lend a helping hand.

The scammer quickly took control of her computer and informed Sharon that her account had been hacked and he was there to fix it. “He said he was trying to clear up what was inside of the laptop,” she mentioned. Little did she know, she was walking straight into a trap.

Following Directions into a Trap

In a shocking turn of events, the scammer told Sharon to head over to Home Depot and buy two gift cards—each for $500. “I did exactly what he said,” she said. Using her debit card from Chime, she bought the two prepaid cards, totaling $1,000. After obtaining them, Sharon followed the instructions to relay the numbers on the cards back to the man on the line.

“They said, okay, you are done, we got it fixed. Your account is secure now,” Sharon explained, still bewildered about what was supposed to happen next. When asked what the scammer intended to do with the money, her response was simple: “I have no idea. That’s what I was wondering.”

Recognizing the Scam

Sadly, Sharon’s experience is a classic example of what experts call a tech support scam, designed to swipe both personal information and money from unsuspecting victims. The best way to avoid falling prey to such schemes is to refrain from calling any number provided on suspicious screens or clicking on any pop-up ads. “Don’t ever give your information out to anyone. And if your laptop has a virus or if it’s ringing, shut it down,” Sharon advised, emphasizing the importance of caution.

Reporting the Incident

After realizing she had been tricked, Sharon reached out to the Federal Trade Commission about her unfortunate situation. Unfortunately, the chances of recovering her hard-earned money seem slim. Nonetheless, her laptop is functioning properly now.

Protect Yourself Against Scams

To keep your technology safe and sound, it’s wise to take some precautionary measures. Installing a reliable antivirus program is a good start, along with being careful about what files you download and open. Remember to regularly update your software to stay ahead of potential threats.

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder to everyone: scammers are out there, and they can be incredibly convincing. Stay vigilant, protect your personal information, and before making any rushed decisions, take the time to think it through.