Loading ...ONE of the more enduring computer scams, the “remote access scam”, is once again making the rounds in the Glenelg Shire.
Martin Heppenstall, owner and manager of Martin’s Computers and Office Equipment, said he has once again been receiving calls and enquiries from Portlanders about scammers who claim to be from Microsoft — and he even received a call himself recently.
“We’ve had about 25 or 30 people call about it in the last 10 days,” Mr Heppenstall said on Thursday.
This international scam involves the scammer cold-calling people, claiming their computer is sending out viruses. The computer owner is then asked to log into a website so ‘Microsoft’ can gain remote access to the computer to rectify the problem.
After making some minor adjustments or installing free anti-virus software, the scammers then demand payment.
Mr Heppenstall said the scammers are now asking for $280 and, if the person refuses to pay, the scammers are locking them out of their own computers.
Read more in Monday’s edition of the Portland Observer.
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