AN ELDERLY woman from Dorchester has been scammed out of more than £700 by fraudsters.

Police say conmen are now using phones to break in to computers.

Officers say the fraudster claims to be a computer technician associated with well-known companies like Microsoft.

They say that they have detected viruses or other malware on the computer to trick victims into giving them remote access or paying for software they don’t need.

A spokesman from Dorchester Police said: “These scammers take advantage of your reasonable concerns about viruses and other threats.

“They know that computer users have heard time and again that it’s important to install security software. But the purpose behind their elaborate scheme isn’t to protect your computer; it’s to make money.

“Do not give your personal details such as your bank account and pin in any circumstances.”