SAFFORD — A Safford man was scammed out of $10,000 right before Christmas.
Safford Police report the victim was contacted by phone by a person who claimed to be with McAfee computer anti-virus. After giving the phone caller remote access to his computer — which included access to the victim’s banking information — the victim said the caller “accidentally” deposited a large sum of money in the victim’s bank account.
To repay the funds, the victim was instructed to purchase gift cards from Walmart and relay the redemption codes.
Once the victim completed the task, he discovered the deposit was gone. Police report the victim is currently working with the fraud division of his bank.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office reports that, in 2016, Arizona ranked No. 19 for states reporting consumer fraud, and No. 10 for states reporting identity theft.
When contacted by an unknown party demanding money, the Attorney General’s Office said to disconnect and immediately notify local law enforcement. Do not share or give access to personal information.
