Telephone computer 'scam' alert

Police warn of computer \'tune-up\' phone calls

Police are warning Isle of Man residents of a possible computer scam that is currently doing the rounds.

In a recent case, a household was telephoned by a business offering an online computer ‘tune up’ for £ 75.00. Unwittingly, the person allowed remote access to their personal computer. Suspicions were raised when the promised performance improvements failed to materialise.

Police advise that if your computer is performing slowly, approach one of the local firms to remedy that for you. Upgrades can be performed remotely online, but should only ever be done by a service provider you know and trust, as otherwise there is a risk of importing viruses and bugs, as well as a stranger being able to access all files on the hard drive.

As with any cold call, the best position is to tread very warily and never give access to your computer or provide any other identification details.