Michigan senior, 84, handed a courier $28K in cash after a virus pop-up turned into a fake porn threat. When the caller wanted more, police set a trap

According to reports, a courier collected the money, but the caller continued contacting the victim and demanding more. When an additional $28,000 was requested, the victim contacted police, who worked with them to arrange a meeting on Oct. 19. This time, detectives were ready.

Jay Pankajbhai Chavda, 23, originally from India, was arrested in connection with the alleged scheme and charged, according to the Portage Department of Public Safety.

How a fake virus warning turned into a $28,000 scam

It’s possible the pornography threat added another layer to the scam. Someone worried about being accused of a crime might be embarrassed to tell anyone what’s happening, which can leave them dealing with the caller on their own.

It began in late September, when the victim saw pop-ups warning that their computer had a virus or malware. The messages told them to call a number, and the person who answered claimed pornography and other inappropriate material had been found on the device.

According to local news reports, the caller warned the victim of possible legal consequences. A courier later collected the money.

The calls continued, and by mid-October the man had contacted the Portage Department of Public Safety. Detectives arranged another meeting for Oct. 19, when the caller was expecting a further payment. Police were waiting instead.

Chavda was arrested and charged with larceny by false pretenses involving more than $20,000 and using a computer to commit a crime.

A pop-up that tells you to call a number should be treated with suspicion, especially if the person who answers starts threatening you or demanding money. The same goes for anyone claiming to be from a government agency or law enforcement and insisting you need to pay to avoid legal trouble.

Don’t call the number on the screen or let an unsolicited caller take control of your computer. If you’re worried about a virus, contact a technician through a website or phone number you’ve looked up yourself. And if someone threatens you with legal consequences unless you hand over cash, talk to someone you trust before doing anything else.