Otter Tail County Resident Loses $30,000 in Computer Tech Support Scam

A pop-up virus alert that appeared on a resident's computer in late August set off a chain of events that cost the victim nearly $30,000, according to a report covered by the Perham Focus.

The resident, whose name was not released, saw a virus notification on their computer on Aug. 28 and searched online for a repair service, believing they had found a phone number for a reputable business affiliated with a big box store. When they called, the line did not connect to any repair shop. Instead, the call routed to a scammer, according to a sheriff's office report.

The person who answered told the resident that "someone had hacked their computer and attempted to take out a loan in their name." The scammer, who identified herself only as Rita, then instructed the victim to withdraw $10,000 from the bank and transfer the funds to her through Bitcoin and gift cards.

A deputy was called to the residence on Sept. 1, four days after the initial virus notification appeared.

The Perham Focus reported the incident on March 18 as part of its sheriff's blotter, noting the resident may have lost up to $30,000. No arrests have been reported, and no funds are known to have been recovered.

The scam follows a well-documented pattern: criminals manufacture urgency through fake virus alerts, then impersonate tech support representatives from recognizable companies to build trust before steering victims toward untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency and gift cards. Once those transfers are made, the money is nearly impossible to recover.

Anyone who receives an unsolicited virus warning or a call claiming their computer has been compromised should hang up and contact their bank or local law enforcement before moving any money. The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office can be reached at its non-emergency line for guidance on suspected scam activity.