News / BT phone scam warning
SCAMMERS claiming to be calling from BT’s technical department appear to be targeting the islands at the moment, according to the SIC’s trading standards team.
The callers are telling people that their line is “infected”, or someone has got access to their computer, and that they need to provide information so that this can be fixed.
Council trading standards team leader David Marsh said: “These callers are very persuasive, and they say that your line will be disconnected if you fail to carry out their instructions.”
The calls appear to be coming from the north of England, which has made a number of people initially believe that it was BT calling them. This has led some folk to partially following the callers’ instructions before realising it is a scam.
Mr Marsh advised: “If you have given the scammers access to your computer, and/or given bank details, unplug your router and contact your bank to let them know what has happened. Then get your computer checked to ensure that its security has not been compromised.”
You can report such scams using the online tool at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phone on 0300 123 2040, or by contacting the SIC’s trading standards team on (01595) 744887.
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