"Around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Essex police received a report from a family member of an Essex resident who said they had been told both over the internet and by phone to pay $15,000 to fix a virus on their computer. The resident was prepared to pay the sum in cash, but the family member stepped in before the scammer was paid, police said. Essex police arrived at the resident's home to intercept the alleged courier there to collect the cash."
"To prevent further scams, the Essex Police Department reminded residents to understand that scammers may say they are with a known organization, there is a problem or a prize, and ask for immediate action and specific payment types. The department also warned residents from clicking links sent to them via text or email and instead using a trustworthy website to contact the organization."
A 35-year-old Revere man, Yi Peng Lou, was arrested after Essex police intercepted an alleged courier sent to collect $15,000 from an Essex resident who had been told to pay to fix a computer virus. A family member prevented the resident from paying the cash and alerted police around 12:30 p.m., leading officers to the home. Lou was charged with attempt to commit a crime (larceny over $1,200) and is scheduled to appear in Gloucester District Court. Police believe the suspect was part of a larger technical support scam and warned residents to avoid clicking suspicious links and to verify organizations through trusted websites.
Read at Boston.com
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