Cop calls: Georgetown woman loses $236,000 in drawn-out scam

The following information was provided to the Sun by the Georgetown Police Department on September 22 as a record of recent arrest and call reports in Georgetown. Anyone charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty.

Fraudsters reach victim through a computer pop-up message

A woman living in the 1000 block of Ash Street reported September 15 that she had lost $236,139.78 in a scam that began with a pop-up message on her computer.

She explained that, while online, she received the pop-up telling her she needed to contact Microsoft due to issues with her computer. The woman contacted the number provided and a man who answered directed her to contact the “Federal Trade Commission,” and also provided a phone number for her to do so.

The victim called the number and spoke to a man who said he was from Venezuela. This man said the woman’s bank account was compromised, and she needed to move funds to secure them. He told her to withdraw $9,000 from her bank account and deposit that money into a bitcoin machine. The victim did as instructed. The next day, the man called her back and told her to withdraw additional funds — $6,000 this time — and, again, deposit it in the bitcoin machine, which she did.

The suspect called again the following day and, “to protect her compromised bank account,” told the woman to purchase and send a cashier’s check totaling $40,000 from her bank account payable to “Topsound Speakers” at an address in New York.

Several days later, the suspect reached out to the victim again and instructed her to purchase gold in the amount of $86,838.75 from APMEX, a gold and silver dealer located in Oklahoma City and have it sent to her home address. She did as instructed.

A few days passed before the suspect again contacted the woman. This time, he told her to purchase an additional $94,200.03 in gold — and, again, to have it delivered to her residence. She did as instructed, and several days later, a young male — perhaps in his late teens, she said — arrived at her residence and collected all the gold she had purchased.

The victim later realized that her bank account had never actually been compromised, and she had lost $236,139.78.

Another pop-up scam message claims victim

A man reported a computer fraud September 16 that originated with a pop-up virus alert. The victim said he was working on his computer when a Microsoft virus alert popped up. He clicked on the notice, and it advised him to contact Microsoft and provided the telephone number for him to use.

The victim called this number and spoke with a “David Walker,” who said his checking account had been compromised. “David” claimed that “someone” had embezzled $21,000 from the man’s bank account and spent it to view online child pornography. The victim responded that he was never notified of the checking account compromise — or that $21,000 had been transferred from his account.

“David Walker” then transferred the victim to a “Sam Walker,” supposedly with his bank’s fraud department. “Sam” stated that the criminal charges could be reversed if the victim went to his bank, withdrew $21,000 and deposited it into a bitcoin machine. The victim did as instructed. The next day, “Sam” called the victim and said he needed an additional $15,000 to continue the investigation and clear the victim’s account. The victim did the same as the day prior — withdrew the $15,000, and put it into a bitcoin machine.

During the next few days, the victim received more phone calls from “Sam,” but he did not send additional money as requested. Instead, he asked “Sam” if his account had been cleared from the child porn investigation. “Sam” said he could not answer, and the victim asked for a different number to speak with someone who would know the supposed investigation’s outcome. “Sam” refused to provide any number, and the victim became suspicious that this had been a scam. He contacted his bank’s fraud department and learned there was no “Sam Walker” who worked for them. The victim lost $36,000 total to this scam.

Women charged in shoplifting

Two women, ages 58 and 45, were charged with the Class “B” misdemeanor offense of Theft-Shoplifting from a store in the 600 block of South Interstate 35 at 7 p.m. on September 18. Both women completed shopping and went to the self-checkout where they “skip-scanned” several items. Skip-scanning is a theft practice in which a perpetrator pretends to scan merchandise but actually does not. The store’s loss prevention personnel inventoried the items that were not scanned and determined the women had stolen $523.89 in merchandise, consisting of numerous food items.

Shirtless man charged with making terroristic threat

Officers arrested a 36-year-old shirtless man at 2 p.m., September 15, after he threatened to fight a man in a parking lot in the 200 block of West 11th Street. The victim contacted police and reported the shirtless man approached him in an aggressive manner with balled-up fists and had threatened to punch him. The victim, who had been walking to his vehicle, quickly retreated back into the business he had exited and locked its door.

Arriving officers found the shirtless man, who they recognized. They instructed him to come to them, but he responded, “I don’t give a **** what you said.” Officers told him he was detained and not free to go. The man replied, “No, I am not detained. I am free to walk wherever I want to. I am sovereign in this *****,” and he continued walking away. The officers grabbed the man who then resisted and had to be taken to the ground. After his arrest, he became dead weight and was carried to the police vehicle. He was charged with making a terroristic threat and evading arrest.

Road-rager with “nasty teeth” leaves scene

A woman reported a reckless driver/road rage incident at 5 p.m., September 15, in the 1000 block of West University Avenue. She told arriving officers that traffic was backed up and the stop light was flashing red. The caller waited for her turn to proceed when another driver pulled in front of her, cutting her off. She honked at the rude driver who then got out of his vehicle, began to yell and swear at her — and told her he would call “ICE” on her. The caller stated that she told him that she didn’t care, and that he needed to “fix his teeth.”

At this comment, the man became more irate and kicked the hood of her vehicle, leaving a large dent in it. The man then returned to his vehicle and left the scene. The woman was able to get his license plate and described the angry driver as having “nasty teeth.” The investigation is ongoing.

Man with ‘nowhere to go’ returned to jail for trespass

Officers, dispatched to the 700 block of North Austin Avenue at 8 a.m., September 19, arrested a 27-year-old man for criminal trespass. The store clerk had reported a man with facial tattoos had stolen a beer and drank it on site. Officers identified the man who said he had just been released from jail and had nowhere to go. The store clerk was unsure whether to pursue theft charges for the stolen beer. Officers, learning the man had been issued a criminal trespass warning for the location just two months earlier, charged him with criminal trespass and returned him to the Williamson County Jail.

Bicyclist charged with meth possession

A man riding a bicycle at midnight, September 16, in the 1400 block of South Interstate 35, was arrested for operating his bicycle in violation of the safety equipment law. After being searched, however, he was found to have  bagged methamphetamine in his pants pocket. The bag weighed approximately 2.4 grams. The 46-year-old man was then charged with the third degree felony of possession of a controlled substance in Penalty Group 1.

Coffee-drinker charged with criminal trespass

Officers dispatched to a theft call in the 900 block of West University Avenue at 10:40 a.m., September 15, found a man, described as “homeless,” who had reportedly stolen a cup of coffee. The 54-year-old man denied doing so and said, instead, he was on the property to buy the coffee. Checking, officers discovered the man had a criminal trespass warning for the address, issued in May 2023. He was arrested for the Class “B” Misdemeanor offense of Criminal Trespass.

Trespasser refuses to leave

A 34-year-old man was charged with criminal trespass after refusing to leave a business in the 100 block of West University Avenue at 1 p.m., September 18. Requesting police assistance, the caller from the business said the man was outside causing a disturbance — yelling and banging on the glass. Arriving officers identified the man, who explained he was upset about an issue with the store.

As requested by the business, the man was issued a criminal trespass warning. He repeatedly refused to leave and was subsequently arrested.