Tech Support Scams In 2023 Cost Prince George's Residents $287K

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Tech support scams this year has cost Prince George's County residents more than $287,000 in just 13 reports. So far, the average age of victims in the county are 69 years old.

During a tech support scam, the victim will receive a computer pop-up message, text message or phone call from a scammer posing as a customer “tech support agent." The scammer advises the victim that his or her computer has a virus and has been compromised. To protect the victim’s computer, the tech support scammer states they will need remote access into the victim’s device to resolve the issue, the Prince George's County Police Department explained.

After being given remote access, the scammer tells the victim his or her financial accounts have also been compromised and transfers them to another scammer who poses as a bank official. The bank official scammer then steals the victim’s money by transferring it into cryptocurrency, purchasing gift cards or arranging an illicit wire transfer, the police department stated.

If you have been the victim of a tech support scam, contact detectives at 301-516-1464.