Online fraud: OPP says eastern Ontario woman lost money after receiving pop-up alert on computer [Video]

Ontario Provincial Police are issuing a warning to be on guard against fraudsters, after an 84-year-old eastern Ontario woman had money removed from her bank account in an alleged online fraud.

On Sept. 12, the woman living in the Marmora and Lake Township area received a pop-up alert on her computer and all her computer functions were locked, according to police.

“The pop-up message included a voice saying that the computer had been compromised and not to turn it off,” the OPP said on X. “The on-screen message included an official-looking Microsoft logo and a ‘tech support’ phone number.”

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Police say when the woman called, “a supposed technician” kept her on the phone for hours.

“During this time, the fraudster directed the woman to log into her online banking and then told her to walk …