Computer Scam Costs Solon Man $3,600

SOLON, OH — An elaborate tech scam ensnared a local man this month. The fraud cost the man $3,600 and loaded his computer up with malicious software.

On Feb. 8, a 20-year-old Solon man said he bought software from a company about a year ago and then got a phone call from someone representing the business. The representative said the company was going out of business and the 20-year-old could be refunded for his purchase.

That meant the Solon man could get $400 deposited back into his account. But wait...there was a catch.

The representative called back a short while later and said that the company had accidentally deposited $4,000 into the man's account, instead of $400. At that point, the representative asked that the 20-year-old send $3,600 in iTunes gift cards to repay the extra amount deposited.

The 20-year-old fulfilled the request, sending the money via gift cards by emailing the serial numbers to an email account. The man is now out $3,600 and his computer has been sabotaged with malicious software.

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