Don't allow anybody to instruct you to install an app on your computer. “Amazon is not going to ask you to go buy gift cards for any reason. “What we say is they are pros at being cons,” said Sue McConnell, the president and CEO, of the Better Business Bureau serving Greater Cleveland. In addition to the money she spent on gift cards, an additional $2,400 was taken from her bank accounts.įairview Park police are investigating and the woman was told to change her bank account information. She was told to buy $4,500 in iTunes gift cards to make up for the difference, scratch off the security foil on the back and provide card numbers to the scammers. She followed the caller's directions, but the amount entered into her account was changed to $5,000.
“It basically opens up your computer to an outside person so they can go through your files, personal banking,” Shepard said. The fake employee told the woman to download the app called "Anydesk" onto her computer and enter the amount of $500.Īnydesk is a software that gives remote access to personal computers. The person said she had a fraudulent charge of $499.99 on her Visa account. On June 16, a Fairview Park woman received a call from someone who claimed to work for Amazon, police said. “It's all different types of scams,” Fairview Park Police Chief Paul Shepard said. FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio - There’s still a couple hours left to score some deals for Amazon Prime Day, but before you shop you might want to make sure your personal information is safe.Ī Fairview Park resident lost $6,900 after someone claiming to work for Amazon convinced her to purchase iTunes gift cards because she had a fraudulent charge that was made on her Visa account, according to the Fairview Park Police Department.