Police have issued another warning about fraudsters getting personal information through phone calls and e-mails.

Residents have reported telephone calls from unknown persons claiming to represent global technology companies such as Microsoft and Apple, as well as local communications companies Logic and North Rock.

The deceptive calls are not genuine and are believed to come from overseas.

A police spokesman said: “The intent of the unknown callers is to convince contacted persons to provide remote access to their computer — using the excuse that the computer has some type of problem, which the caller states they will fix — in order to log in to the unsuspecting resident’s electronic banking, where funds are eventually stolen.

“In the event an unknown caller’s computer access request is challenged or refused, the fraudster is known to make threats — including suggesting that the contacted person could be sent to jail for not co-operating.

“If you are unsure whether or not a local business is contacting you for legitimate reasons, hang up on the unknown caller and then call the business in question to verify.

“But in general, it is strongly recommended that such unsolicited phone calls or e-mails be ignored.”

The spokesman added personal information, including access details of home computers, should never be relayed over the internet or phone to unknown persons.

Suspected internet fraud should be reported to the Financial Crime Unit on 247-1757 or via fraud2@bps.bm.