Police are warning against a phone scam, where Wellington residents have reported receiving a phone call from a person claiming to be a Microsoft employee, willing to help them fix a virus on their computer.

The scam has already been reported to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs through its Scam Watch website, however the Police Central Communications call centre received around 50 phone calls about the scam yesterday and Wellington Police have received another 10 more today, from residents of Wellington city, Hutt Valley and Kapiti.

The caller claims to work for Microsoft and offers assistance to help get rid of a virus, by disclosing computer passwords. Police warn anyone who receives a call of this nature to hang up immediately.

For more information, please go to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs Scam Watch website:

http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/scam-news/scam-alert-28