A CRACKDOWN on fraudsters who are using phone calls to steal thousands from Wirral residents has been launched by TITAN.

The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit are urging residents to 'stay vigilant' with a new online tool which determines whether you are 'too smart to be scammed'.

Scammers have been using phone calls to target their victims and can pretend to be from a well-known brand.

The fraudsters will then con people into giving out personal information, or try to gain access to a computer by installing software or visiting a particular website where they ask the victim to input personal information.

Cyber protect officer at Titan Helen Williams said: "We've seen individuals lose thousands of pounds after falling for these scams.

"It's really important that you stop and think and hang up on the call.

"If you need further reassurance, you can always contact the firm directly to check by using phone numbers found on a legitimate source such as a contract."

Anyone who has lost money to a scam like this should report it to Action Fraud by calling them on 0300 123 2040.

To take an online fraud test to check if you are ‘Too smart to be scammed’ visit https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/takethetest/

Common scams include:

• Receiving a phone call from ‘Microsoft Tech Support’ to fix your computer

• Receiving unsolicited emails with attached security updates

• Being asked for your credit card information to ‘validate your copy of Windows’

• Being told you have won the ‘Microsoft Lottery’ In one incident in Cheshire an individual was asked to pay £550 plus VAT to get lifetime support after being tricked into believing their computer was hacked into.