Edmonds police are warning Washington residents about a scam that starts with a computer pop-up, escalates through fake Microsoft technicians and ends with a supposed Federal Trade Commission agent instructing victims to withdraw cash and hand it to a courier — a chain of impersonation the real FTC says it never uses.
According to the Edmonds Police Department, fraudsters contact victims through emails or on-screen alerts claiming bank accounts and identities are tied to serious crimes, including child exploitation and weapons trafficking. The messages include a phone number victims are told to call immediately to clear their names.
How the script unfolds
When victims dial the number, callers first pose as Microsoft support and remote into the computer or walk the victim through fake "security scans." The call is transferred again to someone claiming to be an FTC investigator who cites badge numbers and case files that do not exist.
Investigators say the impersonators then order large cash withdrawals from local branches. Victims are told to package the money, photograph the bundles, and send the images to the scammers before handing the cash to a person who meets them in a parking lot or other public place. Police say the criminals repeat the cycle across multiple withdrawals, telling victims not to tell family members because relatives could be implicated in the fictitious federal case.
Why the Microsoft angle matters
Tech-support scams have circulated for years, but pairing them with government impersonation is especially effective against older adults who trust both the Windows brand and federal law enforcement. The FTC's consumer guidance notes that scammers increasingly transfer victims from a fake technician to a fake agent who claims the victim's money is at risk and must be moved immediately.
Microsoft's own fraud portal stresses that the company does not send unsolicited pop-ups with phone numbers and will not call customers about license expirations. Legitimate security software may warn about threats, but it will not demand cash or threaten arrest.
What to do if you are targeted
If a pop-up locks your browser, close the tab or shut down the computer without calling the number on the screen. Run a scan with software you installed yourself, not a link the pop-up provides. If you already spoke with the scammers and withdrew cash, call local police immediately — Edmonds detectives ask victims to dial 911 rather than trying to negotiate with the courier.
File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov so investigators can tie your case to broader patterns. The FTC's impersonation rule, finalized after a surge in government scam complaints, gives the agency stronger tools to sue operators and seek refunds, but only if victims document what happened.
Share the warning with relatives who bank in person. These schemes succeed when isolation meets fear. A five-minute phone call confirming that the FTC does not collect cash at ATMs can break the script before the next withdrawal.