Victim Location 34221
Total money lost $6,099
Type of a scam Tech Support
About eight months ago, I contacted what I thought was an Amazon-sponsored tech company for help on how to set up some TV earphones. I got a company called Countrywide (Technology/Computers/Service?) not sure since I had to have my computer reset by an expert locally and the Countrywide icon disappeared). The Countrywide rep (David Parker) told me to go to my computer, which I did, and he said I had a virus, called Koobface, which he offered to remove for me. He even showed me a Wikipedia page with this Koobface on it, telling how dangerous it was. I said okay, and he then sold me a security package for $699.00 for 5 years. Three weeks ago, he called to say they had detected another virus, asked to get into my computer to get rid of it, to which I agreed. He then told me that his system and mine were not compatible, and therefore they were refunding the 699.00 to me. He told me to bring up my online bank account and he would transfer the money. I told him I did not bank of line and he said I had to set it up in order to get the refund. After much discussion, i told him to keep the money, because I wasn’t setting up online banking. Long story short, i did set it up, because he told me he would lose his job if I didn’t accept the refund. I was so dumb I even talked to a man he said was his supervisor, asking him not to fire David, as he made an honest mistake. I think David was even crying at one point. He proceeded to transfer 699.00 to my account, although he said he made an error and transferred 6,099.00, which DID show up on my account in the computer. However, when I checked personally with the bank, they said no such transfer had been made.
I went back and forth with David Parker at Countrywide, kept telling him my account never received the money. He said it did, look at the computer, and how was he going to get his money back. I finally wrote a check for the $5,800, which was 6,099.00 minus the 699.00 he was refunding me. I did this because I wasn’t sure about the online account, and I certainly didn’t want someone accusing me of keeping money that wasn’t mine. He gave me the name, account, but said it had to be cash. I absolutely refused to give cash, wrote a check and now the money is gone. The money went to an account of Susie S. Navarro, other information on the copy of the enclosed deposit slip.
Incidentally, last Sunday 12/31 I got a call from someone who claimed to be from the ScamPulse.com, asking for the deposit information. i have by this time received my cancelled check (copy enclosed), also have the deposit slip where I sent the money. I also learned from you that ScamPulse.com does not work on Sunday.
All of the people I talked with had East Indian accents, and somewhat broken English. Incidentally, as a parting shot, they locked up my computer and I had to get a local person to unlock it.
I hop this will keep someone else from making a very expensive mistake.