Provincial police are reminding the public never to allow anyone remote access to their computer after a Norfolk County senior was scammed out of $10,000.
OPP began investigating the fraud on Saturday afternoon. The senior told police they received a call from a person claiming to work for Amazon who said there was an issue with their account that required remote access to correct. The elderly person granted the individual remote access at which point the five-figure sum of money was removed from their financial account.
Realizing after the fact that this was a scam the senior called the police.
So far no arrests have been made.
Police are now urging anyone who owns a computer to be "very skeptical" of any calls or pop-up messages that suggest there is an issue requiring remote access be granted.
"Please do not allow anyone access to your computer and do not call any number that is provided. Hang up the phone, it's a scam," police said in a statement. "Unless you initiate the call, do not allow anyone access to your computer. Don't give out personal, banking or credit card information to anyone unless you are sure of whom you are dealing with."
For better protection online, police also suggest changing your passwords frequently, updating anti-virus software often and scan the computer for viruses regularly, and not to click links and attachments in emails sent by strangers.