LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A warning from area law enforcement: Beware of a computer scam showing up in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. This scam targets a specific demographic, a certain gender, and an age group.
Just when you think you've heard it all when it comes to scams, nd quite frankly, we have all heard a lot in recent years, there's a new scam. It targets older men, usually single older men.
"In Lycoming County, we've had four of these situations. The fourth one came in not too long ago, and a total of $6,000,000 has been stolen from these men," Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino stated.
DA Marino says all of the victims say their computers were hacked by the scammers.
"What they do is send a picture, actually a picture, to the person. They were able to get some of their early computer information. of a beautiful young 18-year-old wearing a bikini, starts a conversation with this older gentleman," DA Marino explained.
Eventually, the con-artists gain access to the target's financial information.
"It's sad to see what these men go through. It's even more sad, on what their families go through and the fact that what these men have saved or accumulate in their pensions, whatever their jobs are, that money is gone," DA Marino added.
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Spencer Rappaport is a computer engineer who owns Evolutionary Computers. He says these computer attacks can be prevented.
He suggests going to a computer store and having them check out the software protection.
"Have them check the machines, check the network, check everything out because in this day and age we live in, if security is not up to date, your protocols are not right. You're going to get compromised," Rappaport explained.
DA Marino says his detectives are working with the FBI, and they believe the scammers are operating out of India and China.
He admits that if you've been taken, you will likely never see your money again. That's why he is trying to get the word out about this scam.
