FRAUDSTERS impersonating computer experts from Microsoft, BT, Talk-Talk and similar IT companies are increasingly targeting North Yorkshire residents, the county’s trading standards officers are warning.

They urge if residents receive a call claiming that the resident’s email or wifi router is malfunctioning, they should hang up immediately.

The fraudsters trick residents into downloading software which enables the caller hack into the victim’s computer and stop it working properly.

The conmen then demand a fee for putting the computer back into proper working order.