POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of scams involving computer repairs and refunds, according to a release.
Since November, there are four such reported cases in the county totaling about $23,200 in loss. The most recent case involved a 71-year-old Winter Haven woman, who lost $4,000, the Sheriff’s Office said.
According to a release, scammers call to tell people that they’re with an antivirus company and are offering refunds. Those who receive the calls are asked to give the scammers access to their computer accounts and the scammers use it to gain entry into their bank accounts, the Sheriff’s Office said.
In some case, deputies said, the scammers will say they’ve refunded too much and ask the victims to buy gift cards to reimburse the caller. Those who think they are being scammed are told to ask the caller for a name and contact information and if it’s OK to call back.
From there, people are advised try search engines or FBI.gov or USA.gov to see whether the scenario comes up.