Elderly man scammed of life savings

Frilich, a local resident, recently reported a sophisticated scam that left him $5,000 poorer and his life savings at risk. The incident began when he was allegedly contacted by a fraudster claiming to be from Xfinity, who manipulated him into believing his computer had been hacked. Over the course of five months, Frilich was convinced to withdraw significant amounts of money, which he was told needed to be placed in a "secure wallet" in Washington, D.C., to resolve the supposed hacking issue. The scammer employed psychological tactics, claiming that agents were monitoring Frilich's activities and instructing him on how to manage his finances. Despite his background in security, Frilich found himself increasingly drawn into the scheme, even as he attempted to verify the legitimacy of the claims. The fraudster's instructions led him to send money via UPS to an "agent" at a CVS store, which raised his suspicions but ultimately did not prevent the loss. Concord Police Lt. Mark Robison noted that while the case remains open, the likelihood of recovering the funds is slim. He emphasized the deceptive nature of such scams, which can ensnare even the most cautious individuals. Fortunately, a clerk at the CVS recognized the signs of a potential scam, prompting Frilich to reconsider his actions. Reflecting on the ordeal, Frilich expressed relief that he was not more severely impacted, stating, "I'm just glad I didn't have a heart attack."