POLICE have warned vulnerable North-East community members that conmen are still cold calling residents in the region in a bid to access personal information.

The callers have been known to pose as Talk Talk or Microsoft representatives, often telling their would-be victim that their router is faulty or that their computer has a virus and needs to be updated.

The fraudsters then instruct the person they’ve called to download specific software or to access their online banking account in order to pay for their computer to be fixed.

DC Jonathan Stoker, a Durham Police Cyber Crime Team member, said: “Don’t be worried about hanging up – the promise of compensation is just a trick to try and make the customer take risks at the thought of receiving money, usually £300.

"It’s like someone turning up at the front door of a house and asking to look through the cupboards and drawers because they think something is broken.

“To reduce the risk of computer equipment getting a virus always install updates for Windows and Mac OS, use anti-virus software, and there is plenty of good, free antivirus software.

“Make sure your privacy settings are correct on social media sites.”

For more information, visit getsafeonline.org/durham, or any suspicious activity can be reported to auctionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300-1232040.