Home / Crime and Justice / Elderly Woman Loses $135K in Microsoft Scam
Elderly Woman Loses $135K in Microsoft Scam
24 Jul
Summary
- Scammers used fake Microsoft warnings to defraud an elderly woman.
- The victim lost $135,200 through gift cards, Bitcoin, and cash.
- A man was arrested, but the scammer continued to call after his arrest.
An elderly woman in Wisconsin fell victim to a tech-support scam, losing $135,200 after a fake Microsoft security pop-up appeared on her computer in October 2024. The scam began with a caller impersonating a Microsoft employee, who then transferred her to someone posing as bank technical support.
Over nearly a month, the victim was instructed daily to make purchases and transfers. The con artists manipulated her into buying $9,200 in gift cards, $56,000 in Bitcoin, and handing over $70,000 in cash during two home visits. This emptied her savings accounts.
Authorities investigated after her retirement company flagged suspicious activity in November 2024. While Tao Wu was arrested during a scheduled cash pickup on November 18, 2024, the primary scammer continued to contact the victim even after Wu's arrest.
Wu pleaded no contest to felony theft in March 2026 and was sentenced to prison and extended supervision. A hearing is scheduled to determine restitution for the victim's significant financial loss. Microsoft warns that real security messages never include phone numbers or demand payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
