SCAMwatch and Telstra are warning customers to hang up the phone if they receive a call out of the blue from someone claiming there is a problem with their internet connection or computer.

Recent months have seen a surge in reports of scammers calling people at home and raising a false alarm that they are at risk of their internet being disconnected immediately, as their computer has been hacked or infected with malware and is threatening Telstra’s internet infrastructure.

Riverina Police District released the following guidelines to protecting yourself over the phone:

The caller claims that they are able to fix the problem on the spot, however a fee for this service will need to be paid and the person will also need to download software that will allow the caller remote access to their computer.

If you receive a phone call out of the blue from someone claiming to be a representative of Telstra and their call relates to a problem with your internet connection, just hang up.

If you have doubts about the identity of any caller who claims to represent a business, organisation or government department, contact the body directly.

IMPORTANT - Don’t rely on contact details provided by the person – find the business through an independent source such as a phone book or online search.

Never give your personal, credit card or online bank account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.

Never give a stranger remote access to your computer, download programs, click on email links even if they claim to be from a reputable business.

If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.