A CASTLE PARK woman has urged computer users to be vigilant, after she was targeted by internet scammers.
Kathleen, who asked us not to use her surname, received the phone call on Wednesday from a man with a South Asian accent claiming to be from Microsoft, who requested remote access to her computer.
Aberdeenshire has been hit by a spate of similar i
ncidents, which appear to originate from the same source.
"It sounded very official," Kathleen told the Times. "He was polite, professional sounding and articulate. It would have been easy to be taken in by it.
"He said he was from Microsoft, and that he had been alerted to a high level of spam and virus infection on my computer. When I asked him how he knew this, he claimed that there was an automatic system which notified him of computers which were at risk and that mine was one of them. He wanted me to let him access it remotely, to perform a clean-up.
"Something just didn't sound quite right," she said. "I told him that I had anti-virus software and that it was doing a fine job, to which he replied that my anti-virus softwear was still letting viruses through.
I told him I wasn't comfortable with letting him access my computer."
Kathleen fears other For-martine residents, particularly the elderly or those with little knowledge of computers, could potentially be taken in by phone con artists.
"Although I don't use the computer very often, I know enough about fraud and scams to be wary of anyone phoning to get details from me," she said.
Detective Sergeant Colin Morrans of Grampian Police Specialist Fraud Unit, said: "Every week we see people falling victim to fraud – often parting with large sums of money believing they are entering into a transaction to purchase goods or believing they are giving money to someone to help them out.
"I'd urge people never to part with money or give out their bank details on the strength of a phone call or an email. Always question the authenticity of the person you are in contact with and never give out personal information.
"Remember; if an offer sounds too good to be true, then it's almost certainly not true."
A spokesman for Aberdeen-shire Council said Trading Standards had received four complaints from consumers who received similar calls.
"They were all in relation to Microsoft and offering 'health checks' on PC's or alleging Windows wasn't working properly and attempting to gain access to PC's. So far the council has not been informed of anyone who has lost money to the scam.
The spokesman said: "Unsolicited phone calls are received allegedly from Microsoft or BT, offering free 'health checks' on PCs or suggesting a fault has been identified. Users are then directed to a website or asked to download software which may give the caller remote access to their PC. The conman then asks for credit or debit card details and makes a charge for resolving the fictitious fault.
"Microsoft will only call you if you have logged a fault with the company and remember never to provide your credit or debit card details in these circumstances."
Wilma Urquhart, trading standards manager said: "Microsoft will only call you if you have logged a fault with the company, and remember never to provide your credit or debit card details in these circumstances.
"If you have received such a call please report it to Consumer Direct
on 08454 040506."
