COMPUTER owners have been warned to be alert for telephone scams after a Worcester man received a call claiming his PC had been infected with a virus.

Grant Viret from Magdala Court, off The Butts, was at home at about 10am on Friday, January 23 when he received a telephone call from a woman claiming to be from TV, internet and phone provider TalkTalk.

“She said my PC had downloaded some malicious files and she needed me to turn it on so she could fix it,” he said.

“I do have my home broadband with TalkTalk and she said this was how it had downloaded the software.

“She was quite persistent in telling me that I should go to my computer and switch it on but I ended the call.”

Although Mr Viret, aged 40, had correctly refused to follow the woman’s instructions, he said he was concerned more vulnerable people may be taken in by the scam.

“There was the background noise of being in a call centre so it sounded real,” he said.

“There are unknowing people out there and it’s important they know this is going on.

A spokesman from West Mercia Police said

“Any phone calls you receive from companies asking you to update your personal information should be treated with caution,” she said.

“The public should remain vigilant in recognising telephone scams and report any incidents via 101 or 999 in an emergency.

“Call the switchboard of the company in question, you can often find the number on statements and documents you have been sent previously, and ask to be put through to the person that called you.

“Remember also that banks will never ask you to reveal your account pin number.”

A spokesman from TalkTalk also confirmed the company would never call any of its customers asking for access to their computers.

Any suspected fraud can be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk.