Phone scamsters pose as IT experts

Sep 30 2011 by Johnathon Menzies, Stirling Observer Friday

POLICE in rural Stirlingshire have again issued advice to locals worried about telephone fraud.

They have issued a string of alerts in recent weeks, urging locals to be on the look-out for cold call scams involving bank details, computer software and shoddy workmanship.

Stirling Council and local trading standards officials have joined repeated appeals to residents to be on their guard.

Despite this, Balfron-based PC David McNally said: “A number of residents of Killearn have recently reported receiving telephone calls from an organisation named Windows Technical Department, suggesting a link with Microsoft.

“The caller suggests that Microsoft is aware the victim has been encountering recent problems with their computer hardware and that their firm has been authorised and is able to resolve the issue.

“On a number of occasions the victims of this crime have given over enough information for the perpetrators to remotely access the victims’ home computer, often while they have been watching their monitor at home themselves.

“The caller is then said to advise that the so-called problem can be rectified by purchasing anti-virus software and will ask for bank or credit card details in order to facilitate the purchase.

“People who have given up their bank or credit card details often end up becoming victims of fraud.”

PC McNally urged householders not to be duped by the scammers’ bluster and to contact the police on 01786 456000 if they become suspicious.