AN angry and embarrassed Chard woman has issued a computer safety warning after falling foul to the tricks of online hackers.

The scam victim – who asked for her name not to be published – is urging computer users to think twice before they succumb to a similar con.

When the Chard resident picked up the phone to what she thought was a genuine caller from computer firm Microsoft, she had no idea she would end the day frozen out of her computer, losing all her photos, memories, passwords and needing to cancel her bank cards.

She told The News she feels stupid to have fallen for the scam and is scared to get back online.

She said: “Normally neither of us would be taken in by this kind of thing but we were particularly vulnerable last week after being involved in an accident and I was just answering all of their questions.

“Someone called up and said there was something wrong with our Microsoft – they said they were calling from California and it sounded genuine.

“They got me to enter some passwords and they took remote control of my computer – they told me they were looking for the hackers but all the time they were doing it themselves.

“They were doing it for about 30 minutes and then they told me to leave the computer on – and I went along with it all.

“I was totally taken in by it but then they called the next day and then the day after that – and eventually I got onto Action Fraud.

“My computer has just shut down and won’t work. I have lost all our photographs and memories, it’s gutting. I can’t believe I did it, I feel so stupid.

“They are so clever about how they do it. I would urge anybody who gets a phone call from anyone they don’t know or says they are from Microsoft to question them or for goodness sake just put the phone down.”

Action Fraud says hackers can often point PC users towards fake websites that steal data and personal information or trick them into downloading malicious software that collects and shares all the personal information stored on users’ computers.

The organisation urges users to remember the acronym S.A.F.E.

  •  Suspect anything or anyone you don’t know – no matter what or who they claim to be.
  •  Ask questions. Whatever a fraudster tries, you have the power to stay in control.
  •  Find out for certain who you are dealing with. Challenge anything that seems suspect.
  •  End situations that make you feel uncomfortable. If you feel threatened, contact the police.