Scammers Target Elderly Couple in Brooktrails
Deputies help recover $73,000 after receiving a late night call for help
An elderly couple in the Brooktrails area of Willits initially lost approximately $100,000 in an elaborate scam that involved fraudsters posing as representatives of Microsoft, the Federal Trade Commission, and Chase Bank, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s deputies began investigating the case on May 8 after being dispatched to a Brooktrails residence around 11:43 p.m. The victims, an 86-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman, told deputies they believed their electronic devices had been compromised and that they were under surveillances by unknown individuals.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the scam began after one of the victims received a notification on their computer directing them to contact Microsoft technical support about alleged security problems with a laptop.
Investigators say the suspects persuaded the victims to grant remote access to their computer, then falsely claimed the device contained viruses, illegal material, and evidence tied to criminal activity. The callers reportedly told the couple they were part of a federal investigation and threatened them with arrest if they failed to cooperate.
Over several days, the victims were allegedly instructed to withdraw and transfer large sums of money. They were told they were assisting authorities.
Deputies learned that approximately $23,000 in cash was packaged and handed to an unidentified male “runner” who met the victims in the Brooktrails area. Investigators also determined the victims had been instructed to obtain and mail a cashier’s check for roughly $73,000 to an address in Brooklyn.
The Sheriff’s Office said coordinated efforts with local businesses and financial institutions allowed deputies to intercept the cashier’s check before it was cashed, returning those funds to the victims’ bank account.
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information related to this incident is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.