Police Warn About Computer Scam With Pop-Ups Claiming To Detect Porn

YORKTOWN, NY — An extortion scheme making the rounds nationwide has been reported in the Hudson Valley, according to police.

Yorktown police are warning the community about a scam that affected a local resident on Thursday afternoon, between 3 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., in the Ravencrest Road area.

The victim received a pop-up alert on their computer saying that child pornography had been detected on their computer, according to police. The victim then called the phone number in the pop-up and spoke to a scammer pretending to be a Federal Communications Commission representative.

The scammer then falsely verified to the victim that there was child pornography on the computer and that the cost for removal would be over $20,000 in cash.

Police say the victim was given specific instructions on withdrawing cash from their bank, such as telling bank employees, if asked, that the funds were needed for a home improvement project.

After the victim withdrew the cash, they contacted the scammer and a person described as an "Asian male" soon arrived at their home to retrieve the money, according to police. The suspect then left on foot, with no vehicle nearby that the victim could see.

Yorktown police thanked the residents who provided them with home security video to review.

They are also asking other residents who live on Ravencrest Road and the Curry Street area of Ravencrest, to review their video footage during the time frame of the incident. If you have footage of the suspect or any vehicle parked and occupied/unoccupied in the area, you are asked to call police at 914-962-4141 and ask to speak with a member of the Detective Bureau. You may also share information by sending an email to this address.

"We once again remind the public that these type of scams are not going away any time soon," Yorktown police said on social media. "For those who ask 'how can someone fall for this and pay out this type of cash,' these scammers can be quite convincing. No shame here. Please speak with your loved ones, both young and old, that if a scenario sounds too good or bad to be true, it almost always is!"