Benton County, Oregon – A tech support scam impersonating Microsoft software is prompting a warning after a local resident was targeted this week.
According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, a resident reported clicking a link that appeared to be a Microsoft Defender antivirus alert. The link allegedly directed the victim to call a phone number claiming to be Microsoft support.
Authorities said the resident experienced a computer system glitch and spoke with an individual identifying himself as “Alex,” who claimed the computer was infected with what he called the “Clampy Virus.” The scammer allegedly accessed the computer remotely and ran so-called diagnostics for approximately four to five hours.
Investigators said the caller then attempted to obtain financial information and instructed the victim to go to a bank to withdraw money using a bank card. The victim was allegedly told they would meet the caller at the bank later that day. After becoming suspicious, the resident shut down their electronic devices, contacted their financial institution, and reported the incident to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office said this scam follows a common pattern in which scammers pretend to represent trusted companies, claim an urgent problem, and pressure victims to act immediately. Officials emphasized that legitimate technology companies do not request payments, bank withdrawals, or in-person meetings.
Residents who believe they may have been targeted are urged to immediately cease contact with scammers, notify their bank or credit card provider, and file a police report. Officials also recommend submitting complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov or the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
The alert is especially relevant for students, remote workers, and others who rely heavily on personal computers for daily tasks.
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