Herefordshire News
Computer virus scam warning
4:44pm Thursday 9th February 2012
PEOPLE in Herefordshire are being warned about unsolicited phone calls from companies claiming that your computer has got a virus and that they need access to fix it.
West Mercia Police say that they have received a number of reports recently from the public saying that they have received these type of calls and urged people to be vigilant.
“Many have downloaded harmful software which allows the scammers to access their computers and actually install viruses, rather than remove them,” said Ed Roberts, from West Mercia Police’s hi-tech crime unit.
“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.”
Anyone who receives similar calls should call police on 0300 333 3000.