Sponsored by
Computer scam warning
PEOPLE are being urged to beware of a scam in which bogus callers trick people into paying money to repair a non-existent fault on their computer.
Angus Council trading standards are warning the public have issued a warning after officers were contacted by a member of the public who received a telephone call from an unknown person claiming to be from Microsoft. The bogus caller claimed the member of the public’s computer was infected by viruses and advised this was causing problems for Microsoft.
A trading standards spokesperson said: “The consumer was asked to turn on his computer and log in, but luckily he was already aware of the scam and refused to do so, but other consumers, not aware of the scam, might do so.
“The bogus caller claims to show the consumer a list of errors, offers to resolve them and takes over the consumer’s laptop. This usually only takes a couple of minutes but the consumer then feels pressurised to pay a large amount of money for the service.”
Trading standards confirmed that this scam has been in circulation since 2008.
Microsoft has stated that they do not undertake unsolicited telephone calls, so anyone in any part of Angus receiving an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft should treat it as a hoax.
For further advice, contact trading standards through the council’s ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Arbroath
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 2 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South west
