You are sitting at home when the phone rings. The caller says they are from Microsoft, BT or your broadband provider. They tell you your computer has been hacked, is sending out viruses or has been compromised. They need remote access to fix it immediately.
This is one of the most common scams in the UK — and it is growing. Report Fraud receives thousands of reports every month. Elderly people are disproportionately targeted because scammers know their phone numbers and addresses from data broker websites.
This is one of the most commonly asked questions about computer scams. The reason is simple — gift cards are untraceable and irreversible. Once you read the card numbers to a scammer the money is gone forever. Banks can sometimes reverse bank transfers but gift card payments cannot be recovered.
A variation of this scam does not involve a phone call at all. Instead a convincing pop-up appears on your screen saying your computer is infected and providing a phone number to call. The pop-up may look like it is from Microsoft, Windows or your antivirus software.
Do not call the number. Close the browser tab. If you cannot close it restart your computer. Do not download anything the pop-up suggests.
Computer scammers do not call randomly. They purchase phone numbers and personal details from data broker websites — companies that legally collect and sell personal information. Your name, phone number and home address may be listed on dozens of these sites right now.
By removing your data from these sites you significantly reduce the number of scam calls you receive. Silent Erase automatically sends removal requests to 500+ data broker sites under your UK GDPR rights.
1. Disconnect from the internet immediately — Turn off your WiFi or unplug your ethernet cable to stop them accessing your computer.
2. Change all your passwords — From a different device, change passwords for your email, banking and any other accounts immediately.
3. Contact your bank — If you gave them any financial details or they had access while you were logged into banking, contact your bank immediately.
4. Run a full antivirus scan — Use a reputable antivirus program to scan for malware they may have installed.
5. Report to Report Fraud — Call 0300 123 2040 or visit reportfraud.police.uk.
6. Tell your phone provider — Report the scam number to your phone provider so they can block it.
Remove your phone number from data broker sites and check suspicious numbers for free
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