YCSO Warns Residents Of Ongoing Tech Support Scam

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office’s Fraud Intervention Team wants to educate retailers and victims about the gift card tech support scam that recently victimized a Prescott man. Earlier this month a 72-year-old Prescott man reported he was scammed out of more than $13-thousand in a scam known as the “Microsoft Computer Repair Scam.” Scammers use scare tactics to trick users into paying for unnecessary technical support services that supposedly fix computer issues. These services are paid with gift cards. The victim and his daughter told FIT members the victim visited several stores over three days in Prescott, buying $13-thousand in gift cards to pay for computer repairs by the scammer. Remember, paying for services by gift cards is almost always a scam. The use of the cards allows the scammer immediate access to funds. Most of the targeted victims are seniors. If anyone feels like they have been scammed, call local police, the sheriff’s office or the FIT hotline at (928) 771-3299.