Lt. Thomas Kmetz vented his frustrations on the Hopatcong Police Department's Facebook page this week
HOPATCONG -- The borough's police spokesman has had it up to here with computer scams -- and with how people get conned by them.
"UGGGGGG. Come on people we know better than this!!!!!!!!!!" said Lt. Thomas Kmetz in a post on the Hopatcong Police Department Facebook page.
Kmetz said a resident recently reported a message appeared on his computer screen stating he had a virus, which then directed him to contact a representative.
"He admitted he was not computer savvy and clicked the link thinking there was really an issue with his computer," Kmetz said.
After a brief dialogue, he was contacted via phone by the number 1-844-324-3678, Kmetz said. The man on the other end of the line discussed an antivirus software to eradicate the virus and the resident paid for the software via a $199 check through his bank.
The check was then cashed but the problem was not corrected and the representative continued calling and asking for more money, he said.
The man then contacted his bank and closed his account because he felt he was being scammed, Kmetz said.
Despite closing his bank account, the man has continued to receive calls from a new number, 248-587-7828.
Kmetz, in a previous post, has warned residents not to open suspicious links or emails.
"So do not open e-mails that seem like you are getting something no one else has," Kmetz said. "You do not need anything more than you have at this moment. Delete it and smile when you see the mysterious (information technology) guys."
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.