Computer Scam in Manalapan

Manalapan, NJ - A 70-year-old Manalapan man said he was a victim of a fraud attempt last week that involved his home computer being held hostage by a remote-access third party.

The man said that Wednesday, Jan. 20, just before noon, someone called his home phone and ”conned” him into providing remote access to his computer, Manalapan police said.

The caller subsequently locked the resident out of the computer and then demanded money to unlock the device. The resident did not pay the money and he subsequently lost all data stored on the computer, Manalapan Deputy Chief Michael Fountain told Patch.

Earlier that same day, a 77-year-old Monroe Township man said someone stole his identity to withdraw $7,000 from his Wells Fargo personal checking account in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Someone obtained the victim’s account number, forged his exact signature, and used identification with the victims’ name and address, Fountain said.

The man’s credit card was additionally used three to four months ago fraudulently, when someone used it to charge $80 at Walgreens in Wisconsin.

Police do not think the two incidents are related, but remind residents to be careful giving out personal information over the phone or on the Internet.