By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR — A 72-year-old Taylor woman reported Feb. 10 that she was swindled out of $8,000 by an online con artist who used a fake Paypal account message to initiate the fraud.
The initial message alleged fraudulent activity on her account. The victim then found a supposed phone number for Paypal online, and was connected to another con artist, who convinced her to let him access her bank records electronically.
The huckster transferred $3,000 out of her account, then contacted her again on Feb. 9, saying “something went wrong.” He convinced her to purchase gift cards totaling $5,000 and to provide him with the gift card numbers.
On Feb. 10, the woman became remorseful and suspicious and contacted her financial institution, then filed a police report.
On Feb. 14, she filed a second police report after two unsuccessful withdrawals, for $994 and $594, were attempted from her Paypal account. Both transactions were successfully blocked.