SECURITY ALERT

Beware this Telephone scam is not going away.

This telephone scam has become pretty serious now they contacted me recently.

The scammers have also upped their game - they now have websites and telephone numbers. They are making a concerted effort in the UK.

I have had calls from 4 of my customers who have been contacted by these scammers; all were pensioners and were taken in by the slick talk.

The scam always starts the same way: the phone rings, and the caller – usually with an Indian accent – asks for the householder, quoting their name and address before saying "I'm calling for Microsoft. We've had a report from your internet service provider of serious virus problems from your computer."

You are then told that if the problem is not solved, your broadband will be cut off and the computer will become unusable.

Next you are told to go to your computer, and they ask you to open a program called "Windows Event Viewer". Its contents are, to the average user, worrying: they look like a long list of errors, some labelled "critical". "Yes, that's it," says the caller. "Now let me guide you through the steps to fixing it."

They then direct you to a website and tell you to download a program and enter a code which hands over remote control of your computer, the caller then "installs" various "fixes" for the problem.

Then it's time to pay a fee: £185 for a "subscription" to the "repair service".

If the payment has been made on a debit card, then there is no hope of reversing the payment.

The only catch: there was never anything wrong with your computer, the caller is not working for Microsoft or your internet service provider, and you have given a complete stranger access to every piece of data on your PC.

DO NOT under any circumstances listen to these people or let them on your computer.

If you have already fallen victim to one of these scams and allowed them access to your computer, don't panic, DISCONNECT FROM THE INTERNET AND CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY and we'll make sure your computer is secure.