An 18-year-old Ferguson Township, Centre County man was the victim of an email scam on Oct. 18, according to Philipsburg state police.
Matthew Weaver, whose address is listed as Warriors Mark, responded to an email update of his personal information relative to his E-Bay account. However, the computer site was not a legitimate E-bay site and the unknown perpetrators obtained the victim’s credit card information and withdrew almost $400 cash from an ATM machine located in Romania.
Police said the computer scam is known as “phishing.” In the scam, the victim receives an email from a well-known business such as E-Bay asking you to click on a URL to update your account information.
Police explained the site you are taken to is an official looking version, however it is not real. The thieves then obtain your credit or debit card information and illegally access your accounts.
Authorities advise computer users never to respond to any emails asking for your account information.
