'Prolific Scam' Targeting Residents In Walnut Creek: Police

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Walnut Creek police are warning community members about what authorities describe as a “prolific scam targeting our residents.”

Generally referred to as a courier scam, it reaches people via methods such as:

• A pop-up computer window claiming fraud or a hack urging the user to click a button or call tech support;
• An email about a purchase the victim did not make requesting a call to tech support;
• An alert that the user's computer is vulnerable to viruses;
• A call from a person impersonating a friend or relative, claiming they’re in trouble and need cash fast;
• An alert that the victim's money has been used for criminal activity.

Once the scam is underway, the victim will be told to withdraw a large amount of cash and meet a person to hand it over, police said. Scammers use spoofed emails and phone numbers, claiming to work for major financial institutions and government agencies. Those on the phone can be aggressive, controlling and possibly threatening.

“If you are contacted through any of the above means by people employing these tactics, simply disregard pop-ups and emails, do not click on anything within them, and do not call tech support phone numbers offered within these messages,” the police department said in a social media post.

“If there are people in your family who may be vulnerable to these scams, please have conversations with them regarding tech and financial safety.”