Shropshire computer users warned over ‘Virus’ scam
What's wrong with your computer? Probably nothing, but that's not what internet scammers will have you believe in order to get you to part with your cash.
West Mercia Police is warning people about unsolicited phone calls from companies who tell you that your computer has a virus and they need to access your system to fix it.
"If you get a call like this, just hang up immediately," says Ed Roberts from West Mercia Police's hi-tech crime unit. "Don't let them have remote access to your computer and under no circumstances should you give them any money."
"This scam has been around for a few years, but we have had a lot of reports recently from members of the public saying they have received these types of calls.
"Many have downloaded harmful software which allows the scammers to access their computers and actually installs viruses, rather than remove them. They have then had to pay reputable firms a lot of money to repair the damage caused to their computer.
"In the worst cases, people have paid up to £150 to these tricksters to pay them to fix a problem they didn't have in the first place."
The scam operates by householders being called by someone claiming to be from ‘Microsoft' or a company working on their behalf. They say your computer has a serious virus problem and if it is not fixed now, then all sorts of bad things will happen to your computer.
To gain your trust, the scammer will direct you to the Event Viewer in Windows. The Event Viewer is always full of messages, but the caller will try and convince you that these are signs of a serious problem.
Once your trust has been gained, the caller will ask you to go to a website and download a program which lets them access your computer remotely. You will then see the caller moving the mouse around, opening folders and showing you where the ‘problem' is. The caller will then ask for credit card details for payment to fix the ‘problem'.
"Unfortunately, it is often the most vulnerable in our communities who are taken in by these scams," says Ed Roberts. "The elderly for instance - who are often not as computer savvy as the younger generation - may be grateful for any technical help on offer.
"Microsoft does not make these kinds of calls and I urge anyone who receives an unsolicited call of this nature to hang up straight away and not to give the scammer the time of day."
