Police are warning people to be wary of scam artists offering to fix computers over the phone.
Hastings police have received multiple calls from local residents reporting a scam. Callers typically told the people their computer had a virus and offered to fix the problem over the phone. The caller illicited
as many personal details as possible and asked for bank account details.
Reports claimed callers could be pushy or abusive when people refused to give details.
Hastings Senior Sergeant Ross Smith said police did not have the ability to close this scam down nor trace the callers as it appeared to be operating from overseas. He warned people not to pass on any details and suggested blowing on a whistle into the phone to get these callers off the line.
Two weeks ago a scam hit Central Hawke's Bay where callers claiming to be from Microsoft, with an Asian or Indian accent, offered to talk the caller through fixing a problem with their computer. Waipukurau Police Sergeant Ross Gilbert said the scammers most probably wanted remote access to computers to install a data-logging programme that granted access to passwords and bank account details. Hastings police said the two were most probably connected.
See www.scamwatch.govt.nz for more information about how to protect yourself from scams.
