Tech Support Scam Leaves Retired Lawyer $85,000 Out of Pocket; Bank Declines Refund

Background

A former attorney, now retired, fell victim to a sophisticated tech‑support scam that has been on the rise across the United States. The fraudsters convinced him that his computer was infected with malware and that immediate “remote assistance” was required.

The Scam in Detail

After the scammer gained access to his laptop, they persuaded the victim to grant them full control over his online banking portal. Within minutes, the criminals transferred $85,000 from his Citibank account to a series of offshore accounts. The retiree only realized the theft when he attempted to log in to check his balance the following day.

Bank’s Response

He promptly reported the incident to Citibank, hoping for a reversal of the unauthorized transactions. The bank’s representative told him, “Unfortunately, once the funds have been wired out of the account, we are unable to recover them.” As a result, Citibank refused to issue a refund, citing its policy that customers are responsible for safeguarding their login credentials.

Why Victims Are Vulnerable

Tech‑support scams exploit the trust people place in legitimate companies. Scammers often use spoofed phone numbers, official‑sounding language, and urgent threats to convince victims that immediate action is necessary. According to the Federal Trade Commission, complaints about these scams have increased by more than 30% in the past year.

What Experts Advise

Cyber‑security specialists recommend the following steps to avoid similar fraud:

• Never grant remote access to anyone who contacts you unsolicited.
• Verify the caller’s identity by hanging up and calling the official support line directly.
• Enable two‑factor authentication on all banking and financial accounts.
• Monitor account activity daily and report any suspicious transactions immediately.

Moving Forward

The retired lawyer is now pursuing legal counsel to explore possible civil action against the bank for what he perceives as inadequate protection of his funds. Meanwhile, consumer‑advocacy groups continue to lobby for stronger regulations that would require financial institutions to reimburse victims of confirmed tech‑support fraud.