69-year-old Virginia man loses funds after remote access scam via fake PayPal email

Summary

A 69-year-old man from King George, Virginia, fell victim to a remote access scam after responding to a fake PayPal email. The email falsely notified him of a laptop purchase and included a phone number he called. The scammer instructed him to enter a code into his browser, which installed an app granting full control of his computer. The scammer accessed his bank account, transferred money between accounts, and instructed him to keep his computer running while on the phone. The victim shut down his computer, contacted his bank, and changed his passwords, limiting the damage. The incident highlights how scammers use fake emails and remote access to steal funds and sensitive data.