An online scam earlier this week left an 83-year-old Lula man nearly $3,000 poorer, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
“The man had fallen victim to a phishing scam that originated as an email from PayPal,” sheriff’s office spokesman Derreck Booth said Friday. “The email claimed the victim had purchased a smart watch, which he did not, and it gave a phone number to call to cancel the purchase, which he did.”
“During the course of the conversation, the suspect instructed the victim to download an app to his computer, which enabled the suspect to gain access to the computer, including passwords to his bank account,” Booth added. “Ultimately, the victim lost $2,800 before he realized he was being scammed.”
Booth said the case The remains under investigation.