SCAMMERS have been hacking into computers and emptying bank accounts, prompting one victim to speak out.
When Jennifer Edgington, of Hunnyhill, Newport, turned on her laptop last week, a message appeared on the screen saying she had been hacked and her computer had a virus, with a phone number to call for help.
The 44-year-old IW Foodbank volunteer said: “The laptop was totally frozen. It’s not like getting an e-mail you can just delete, I couldn’t do anything except call the number.
“The guy gave me instructions and took control of my computer and it was only when he asked for money I realised what had happened.”
Jennifer changed her passwords and called her bank to prevent the scammers from emptying her accounts.
Others weren’t so lucky.
“I took my laptop the PC World, they said they had been inundated with calls about the same thing. One man, a doctor, apparently had his bank account cleaned out,” she said.
“It sounds like quite a few people have been targeted, so I wanted to warn people about it.
“I felt so stupid for falling for it. I have seen all the scam warnings and I’d never give out my personal or bank details but this really looked like it was genuine.”