New Phone Scam Emerges In Chester County, Sheriff Warns

A new phone scam has emerged in Chester County, the Sheriff's Office is warning residents.

The latest scam involves fake Microsoft or Google employees calling up and claiming your computer has a virus.

The Chester County Sheriff's Office describes the problem:

"The reasons for the call vary: A virus has infected your computer, hackers have stolen your identity, or malware has been traced to your accounts. The remedy is always similar: The caller needs remote access to your machine – NEVER allow that – or the potential victim is scared into paying for ongoing tech support that ultimately gives the crook access to your private information."

Purchases from stolen credit card data or selling personal data are among the worst outcomes of the scam, officials said.

Authorities advised residents to spread word of the scam, especially to individuals who might be most vulnerable to these sorts of tactics.

If you ever doubt the authenticity of a caller, let the Sheriff's Office know at 610-344-6860.