US man loses RM233,125 to scammers posing as Microsoft reps, blames his bank

To demonstrate he was really from Microsoft, the caller gave Harman the real Microsoft phone number and address and offered to install a new security system called “Advanced System Care,” which would fix and preserve the machine, Hartman said the representative told him. And he’d get a US$400 (RM1,865) ‘thank you bonus’ when the work was done. — Unsplash

Three years ago, Bob Hartman fell for a scam that cost him US$50,000 (RM233,125).

He’s still paying for it with US$400 (RM1,865) monthly payments on an interest-only home loan that the scammers pilfered as part of the fraud.