Phone scam warning in Wellington

File photo / NZH

Police are warning of a new phone scam targeting Wellingtonians, with someone claiming to be a Microsoft employee calling victims willing to help fix a virus on their computer.

The Police Central Communications Centre received nearly 40 phone calls from Wellington residents last night who had received a phone call from a bogus Microsoft employee.

This followed around 50 similar calls to Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kapiti residents on Wednesday and Thursday last week.

The caller claims to work for Microsoft and offers assistance to help get rid of a virus, by disclosing computer passwords.

Police advised anyone who received a call of this nature to hang up immediately.

The scam has been reported to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs through its Scam Watch website.

- NZHERALD STAFF