New Milford Police Warn of New Scam Targeting Seniors

The New Milford Police Department is warning the public about a new scam targeting seniors that involves "antivirus software licenses."

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They posted the warning to the NMPD Facebook page on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The Police Department explained the scam in three parts.

1. Antivirus Software Scam
   A victim received an email about an expired antivirus software license, leading to a remote session with an individual posing as a McAfee representative. This scammer, believed to be a hacker, manipulated the victim into sending a significant sum of money through third-party platforms like Coinbase and through cash withdrawals.

2. Microsoft Support Fraud
   A victim encountered a pop-up on their computer screen prompting them to contact Microsoft support. This led to a phone call with a person pretending to be a Wells Fargo bank representative. The scammer convinced the victim to hand over a large amount of cash to an individual who visited their home to collect the money.

3. Online Romance Scam
   A local resident, seeking companionship, met someone online who claimed to be a contractor working on a construction project overseas. Over several months, the scammer persuaded the victim to transfer significant sums of money, including purchasing Bitcoin and wiring funds to accounts under the scammer’s control.

New Milford Police also shared tips to help protect yourself from these complex and realistic scams.

• Reputable companies rarely contact you unexpectedly about expired licenses or ask for remote access to your computer.
• Never share personal or financial details with someone you don’t know and trust.
• Be cautious of payment requests via unconventional methods, such as cryptocurrency or gift cards.

NMPD says if you receive any suspicious emails or phone calls, do not engage with them. Instead, verify the communication's authenticity by contacting the company directly through their official website or phone number. If you have any concerns, please reach out to the New Milford Police Department to speak with an officer in person or by phone.

To the rat bastard criminals out there: I've said it before, but I feel I need to keep saying it, regular jobs are not as much work as these scams seem to involve. I realize stealing from people is probably more profitable in the short-term but think of what you could gain from earning an honest living. You won't have to constantly look over your shoulder and you might actually gain some respect in the community. Food for thought chew it weirdo.