MARION – The Marion Police Department recently received a report of senior citizens falling victim to an internet scam.

Police say the victims were defrauded of $40,000 in a single day. This scam began with the victims receiving a pop-up from McAfee Security saying their computer was infected with multiple viruses and they needed to call the 1-800 number that was attached. After the victim called the 1-800 number, they were advised that they were speaking with a Federal Agent, and they were told their computer and phones were compromised.

The victims were later directed to withdraw $40,000 from their bank account and deposit it into a local Bitcoin kiosk. When the kiosk reached the daily limit, the victim was told to purchase multiple different gift cards with the remaining funds.

The Marion Police Department would like to urge the public not to provide your personal information, money, or computer access to anyone that you did not initiate the original contact with and know for sure they are official. Unsolicited contact from an email or pop-up on your computer is likely a scam and local or federal authorities will not demand money from you by telephone or email. There is also no circumstance that any local or federal agent would request payment from you via Bitcoin, or gift card.

If you are a victim of a scam or know someone that is, please contact local law enforcement. If you have received a pop-up ad or email from a company that you may normally associate with, please call or email them directly from the email or phone number listed on your account and not the number on the pop-up or email.