WILTON — Police say a local resident fell victim to a computer scam that ended up costing him $750.
Wilton Police Sgt. Chad Abbott reported that a young resident received a message stating the browser on his computer was locked by the FBI because he was looking at illegal material, Jennifer Farrington, police secretary read from the report.
The message said he couldn’t move the browser any further till he paid a $350 fine. The resident went to Walmart to purchase a prepaid card and after paying the fine was informed he needed to pay a $400 processing fee before the browser would be restored, she said.
He went back to Walmart for another card and paid both amounts, leaving him out $750, she said. The report was unclear whether he was instructed to get prepaid cards, she said.
The money is gone, she added.
The resident then called police and Abbott went to his Depot home Sunday. Abbott advised him to call the Attorney General and not to make any payments. Government agencies don’t work that way, she said.
Besides which, the public doesn’t have access to FBI files, Farrington said.
Abbott was not available to comment further on this incident.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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