Deputies warn of computer scheme involving fake refunds

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Polk County deputies are warning people about a sophisticated scheme.

Maritza Sanchez, a single mom who lives in Poinciana, says she realized something was wrong when a stranger took over her laptop. 

“I could see the little mouse moving, and I could see all the work they were doing,” she said. 
 
Sanchez says she decided to check her bank accounts and found hundreds of dollars were gone. 

She says the remaining balance was just $0.27. 
 
“Everything was good financially, and everything, then this hits me,” Sanchez said. 

The sheriff’s office says she’s one of several victims targeted by schemers over the last couple months. 

Investigators say the victim will get a message or call from someone claiming to be with a computer or anti-virus company offering a refund. 

They say the person will then ask for remote access to the victim’s computer to get them the money. 
 
“They'll have the person get onto one of their banking accounts online and they'll say, 'You should see your $400 refund’ or something like that pop-up and then all of a sudden, bam! They see $400 goes into their account,” said Polk Co. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Brian Bruchey. 
 
But, Bruchey says the person on the other end of the line is just moving money from one of the victim’s accounts to another. 
 
“What they also see is that it's more than the refund they told them. So instead of $400, it's going to be like $4,000 and then the person on the phones says, 'Oh no, I’m going to get fired, can you help me figure this out?’” Bruchey said. 
 
Deputies say the schemer then asks the victim to buy gift cards for them, to try and cover up the mistake. 
 
“Some people have lost a few hundred. Others have lost several thousand,” Bruchey said.
 
He says there are different versions of the ploy. 

Sanchez says she got calls about the refund, but never handed over any personal information. 

She still doesn’t know how exactly they got in. 
 
“I never expected to be a victim of it,” Sanchez said. 
 
The sheriff’s office says it’s currently investigating six cases. 

Investigators say the phone numbers involved have traced back to countries outside of the U.S.