An elderly woman lost $146,000 in an overseas wire transfer scam that spanned about four months.
The Greenwood woman received an audio message on her computer in November, saying her computer security was compromised and she needed to call the number on the screen, said Jim Ison, Greenwood police chief.
When she called the number, she was asked to wire money to Singapore to fix the security problem. A few weeks later she received another call, and was asked to send more money. The scammers called a third time with another security breach claim, and she sent money again.
By the fourth call, she had sent $146,000 overseas, and her bank stepped in before she could make another transfer. A police report was filed Tuesday, Ison said.
Greenwood detectives are investigating, but there is not much that can be done once money is sent overseas, Ison said. The case will likely be forwarded to the Indiana Attorney General’s office.
“Unfortunately, once the money goes overseas, it’s pretty much a done deal,” Ison said.
