‘Elaborate’ scam costs 88-year-old Manatee County woman $27K, deputies say

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An "elaborate tech support scam" cost an 88-year-old Manatee County woman more than $27,000, according to deputies.

The woman was tricked into believing that her computer was used to "authorize a transaction for child porn," and that if she didn't pay, she would face criminal charges, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

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A message popped up on the woman's computer stating that there were threats to her computer's security, deputies said. The message appeared to come from Apple Support.

The woman called the listed phone number and a person on the phone said she was being investigated and that her financial data was at risk.

She was convinced to withdraw cash and deliver the envelopes to a person at the gate in her residential community, according to the sheriff's office.

"Fraudsters are using this tactic to first scare vulnerable victims into thinking they have a problem with their computer, then create a fear of public humiliation and a threat of criminal prosecution to steal their money," deputies said in a news release.

Residents are encouraged to contact law enforcement immediately if they suspect a scam. The sheriff's office said citizens should ensure their anti-virus and security software are up to date, resist any urges to act quickly, and don't give information to unknown people.

If a scammer has access to a device, it's recommended to change all passwords.