Councillor warns against high-tech scammers wanting access to computers
HI-TECH scammers are still targeting local people.
Trading Standards officers issued a warning earlier this year in response to reports of cold callers, claiming to be from Microsoft, attempting to take remote control of residents' home computers.
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WARNING: Councillor David Bolton.
Now, five months on, the scammers continue to attempt to make money through this illegal ruse – but now they also claim to be from Virgin Media, BT and Sky.
Typically, the scammers contact a resident and tell them that there is a problem with their computer, which can be fixed. The scammer persuades the victim to install on their machine a remote access programme, which then allows the caller to take control of the machine.
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Once this has happened, the victim is asked for their bank details for a payment to be made to fix the problem.
Councillor David Bolton, the council's portfolio holder for community safety and neighbourhoods, said: "Putting a total stop to this type of scam is very difficult because the perpetrators are often overseas.
"However, if people spread the message that these types of calls are bogus and illegal, other potential victims won't be duped – they will have the confidence to put the phone down without giving away any money or sensitive personal information."
A Virgin Media spokesman said: "Virgin Media follow a strict data protection policy and would never discuss account details with customers without verifying that they are the account holder.
"If a customer is unsure about the legitimacy of a caller, we would recommend they terminate the call immediately and contact the company the caller claims to represent, in the same way they would ask for identification from anyone who came to your door.
"Virgin Media works closely with law enforcement on these issues and customers can report suspicious calls or e-mails at www.virginmedia. com/netreport"
Microsoft also provides advice on safety at www.microsoft.com/protect.
Anyone who believes they have been contacted by a bogus computer technician should contact Citizens' Advice on 08454 04 05 06.
Comments
by amicrazy
Saturday, June 30 2012, 8:41PM
“wow this happened to me today, but because im not technical i passed the phone to my bro who put the phone down .i was told my windows had some sort of virus x close shave if my bro wasnt in i ay have fell for it”
by reaper_grim
Saturday, June 30 2012, 5:27PM
“the scammers are sooooo dopey, whenever they ring me and tell me 'there is a problem with my computer.......', I say excitedly glad you've phoned because I have this error message I don't understand, so I'll spell it to you:
G O O D B Y E
and as thick as you can get, they say it back, so you say goodbye and put the phone down!
Self taught on computers, as had a Spectrum 16, thus know that a secure website is ONLY secure if the url reads https, not just http - its expensive to get an encrypted site, an expense scammmers don't want to bear!”
by Davex66
Saturday, June 30 2012, 2:19PM
“This has been going on for years and our council have just found out about it!
Maybe this news should have come from the portfolio holder for recycling
This is NELC, and GT at their best!!!”
by Gy_Pete
Thursday, June 28 2012, 5:11PM
“I had one recently and cottoned on, so I reverted the call to try selling him 2nd hand carpet tiles, he gave up LOL”
by p_k252
Thursday, June 28 2012, 1:45PM
“I had someone call me up, sounded Asian, I asked all the questions and he hung up. There was nothing up with my PC and he didn't know anything about me.
If they ask security questions, I always ask them some myself for them to verify who they are.
Best thing hang up, if they are not scammers they'll call back with some answers other wise, tell them to write to you and don't give them your address, if they are real they will have all the details anyway.
Very True about the Sheriff of Nottingham councils robbing us all regardless of income. Robber of the worst type.”
by p_k252
Thursday, June 28 2012, 1:40PM
“,”
by Cynicismrules
Thursday, June 28 2012, 1:07PM
“If someone calls like this then take their name and number and say you'll call them back. Then check them out.”
by smoker
Thursday, June 28 2012, 10:02AM
“A friend of mine had great fun telling scammers that he had poor hearing and getting them to repeat everything three or four times. They soon got fed up and gave up. :-)”
by biggirl001
Thursday, June 28 2012, 9:05AM
“I just tell them I haven't got a computer and put the phone down or you can just put your phone on the side and let them run up their bill until they put the phone down. On a serious note friends of mine fell for the Virgin Media scam and it caused them lots of problems. They didn't even imagine it was a scam because they are Virgin Media customers. I don't know how these people sleep at night knowing they are paid to commit fraud.”