Scammers continue to prey on unwary computer owners

Computer owners in the county should be on the look out for telephone scammers claiming to be from Microsoft.

The caller informs their victim that elements of their Microsoft Windows operating system have not been activated, or are about to be deactivated. To prevent future costs, he then tries to talk the owner into paying an activation fee.

The scammers are very convincing, in at least one case attempting to reassure his victim of his authenticity by quoting an employee number, names, phone numbers and addresses. However, the telephone number supplied is fake and diverts to a holiday company in England.

Similar schemes in the past have seen scammers claim they have detected errors on the computer and offering to remedy them – sometimes at a price and other times free of charge.

OIC trading standards manager, Gary Foubister, said: “It is worth noting that Microsoft never makes unsolicited calls to consumers offering to fix their computer problems or to ask for payment details.”

Anyone targeted by this scam can contact trading standards on 873535 or by email to trading.standards@orkney.gov.uk