A scammer-hunter, known as "Critical Alert from Michael," deliberately allowed scammers to access his computer to reverse the connection and gain access to the scammer's PC. He discovered a group of scammers in Kolkata, India, who were operating a refund scam, stealing Best Buy gift cards from victims. The scammer-hunter obtained the gift card numbers and used them to purchase a MacBook Pro on the Best Buy website to prevent the scammers from using them. He then contacted Best Buy's customer service and, with the help of a representative named Kristen, was able to freeze the gift cards and create new ones for the victim. The scammer-hunter also uncovered the scammers' location and personal details, including their names, email addresses, and home addresses, which he passed on to the police in Kolkata.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Scammers use gift cards as their preferred currency.
2. The narrator deliberately gives scammers access to his computer to reverse the connection and gain access to the scammer's PC.
3. The scammer's operation was based in Kolkata, India.
4. The scammer's operation consisted of two PCs and a few Android mobile phones.
5. The scammer's target victim had four Best Buy gift cards, each with a value of $500.
6. The narrator used the gift cards to buy a MacBook Pro on the Best Buy website.
7. The narrator chose the "store pick-up" option to prevent the scammers from using the gift cards.
8. If an item is not picked up within two weeks, the original gift cards are refunded.
9. The narrator contacted Best Buy customer service, and a representative named Kristen helped him cancel the order and freeze the gift cards.
10. Kristen claimed that the customer who owned the gift cards had called her just minutes before the narrator, which was a coincidence.
11. The narrator used wireless network information from the scammer's PC to pinpoint their location in Kolkata within 150 meters.
12. The narrator found an application form for a scholarship that included the scammer's email address, mobile number, and street address.
13. The scammer's home address was just streets away from the detected wireless network location.
14. The narrator passed on the information to the police in Kolkata but doubts they will take action.