TROY, Mich. – An elderly Troy man was tricked into transferring more than $49,000 in an online scheme, and the scammer tried to get another $43,000 the following day.
On Tuesday, July 15, a 78-year-old man reported that he received an email from who he thought was Norton, an antivirus software, and was informed that there was a renewal cost of $400.
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Troy police say the victim contacted the suspects back and “gave them remote access to his computer and cellphone.”
After that, they told the 78-year-old that $40,000 had been deposited into his account instead of $400 and that he needed to pay them back $49,500 in cash.
The scammer then told the man that “a courier would be sent to his house to pick up the money,” according to police.
Later that same day, a man arrived at the 78-year-old’s house and collected $49,500 in cash.
The following day, the scammer contacted the victim again and said another $43,000 had been placed into his account by mistake, and that he needed to wire $42,000 back.
That’s when the victim realized it was a scam and reported it to the Troy Police Department.