On Friday, August 2, 2024, at approximately 8:40 p.m., a deputy with the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office was informed by a complainant about a significant scam involving $40,000. According to the complainant, she sent this amount in cash to San Jose, California, between July 17, 2024, and July 26, 2024.

The complainant reported that her computer screen had turned blue, prompting her to call the phone number displayed for assistance. She was initially advised that her computer had been hacked since July 2020. She was then allegedly transferred to representatives claiming to be from Microsoft, the FBI, and the Federal Trade Commission.

The scammers led the complainant to believe she was working with the Department of Justice to apprehend the hackers. They instructed her to withdraw $10,000 in cash on July 17, 2024, and $30,000 in cash on July 26, 2024. The complainant complied with these instructions, withdrawing the money at a local bank, packaging it, and mailing it from a local UPS store while remaining on the phone with the scammers.

The complainant has been advised on steps to protect her credit and identity, and the investigation into this scam is ongoing. The public is urged to be aware of such scams and take preventive measures to protect themselves.

To avoid falling victim to similar scams, the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office provides the following recommendations:

• Do not click on links or call numbers provided by computer pop-ups claiming to identify issues with your computer.
• Never grant remote access to your computer or accounts unless you are certain of the identity and trustworthiness of the requester.
• Always verify phone numbers through trusted sources rather than relying on contact information provided in unsolicited messages.
• Do not rely on caller ID alone, as scammers may use spoofing techniques to mimic legitimate numbers.

For further assistance or to report suspicious activity, contact the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office at (830) 997-7585.