It's an old concept with a new front, but with the same goal of stealing your personal information.

"Basically consumers are receiving calls from people who (claim) to be tech support engineers from prominent companies like Microsoft or Cisco," said Shelley Johnson, Deputy Communications Director for the Kentucky Attorney General's Office.

The so-called tech support expert tells the potential victim that they have received an email saying their home computer has a virus.
Then the caller guides the person through a series of steps and offers to install what they call anti-virus software, that ultimately gives them control over the victim's computer.

"These are scam artists who are really trying to get personal information and ultimately steal your identity," said Johnson.

She said reports have come in of people receiving emails as well. with numbers attached for the recipient to call. She says those are also part of the scam, and not to call the numbers soliciting for the anti-virus software.

"Make sure you do not provide any personal information to the caller on the other end," said Johnson.

Johnson says so far, they have received twenty to twenty-five calls from all around the state, adding that it's not in any particular area.
She says in one case, the scam victim actually noticed the tech-expert taking over his computer while he was on the phone with them.

Investigators say another thing you should know, legitimate companies will not call you to offer tech support or anti-virus software.