Fake Geek Squad Email Costs Illinois Woman More Than $92,000

A Northbrook, Illinois woman lost $92,240 after an email that looked like it came from Geek Squad. She called the number in the email, let a stranger put an app on her phone, and sent money for a refund that was never real. She reported it to police on Oct. 29.

How the scam worked

According to the Northbrook Police Department, the email was about an annual subscription. She called the listed number and asked for a refund. She also agreed to download an app onto her phone at the caller's request.

The caller then made it look as if the refund was too large. He asked her to send back the difference. After several calls, she sent $92,240. When the caller asked for more, she went to her bank. Bank employees told her it was a scam.

Other scams in the same report

The weekly police report listed several similar cases. Most began with a message or call that seemed to come from a trusted name.

• A woman lost $11,108.96 after an email that seemed to be from PayPal. The caller told her to move her bank money to protect it.
• A woman gave her bank login and passwords to a caller posing as bank fraud staff. She later found $2,000 missing.
• Another woman downloaded banking apps at a caller's urging. The caller tried to send $2,000 to Pakistan. She spotted the scam and closed her account.
• A man paid $2,310.15 in money orders for a vehicle advertising offer. The $3,200 check he got back bounced.

A seller on Facebook Marketplace also handed over a hat after the buyer showed a fake Zelle payment receipt. No money ever arrived.

What is not known

The report does not say whether the Greenview Road woman can get any of her money back. It also does not say who sent the email. In the PayPal case, the woman was working with her bank and an internet crime reporting center to try to recover funds.

What to do

• Do not call a phone number that came in an email or text.
• Look up the company's real number yourself, on its website or your card.
• Never let a caller install an app on your phone.
• Never share bank passwords, even with someone who says they work for your bank.
• Be wary of any caller who asks you to send money back or move your money to protect it.

If you have already sent money, call your bank right away. In this case, bank staff were the ones who finally said it was a scam.