DEVON and Cornwall Police says it has received reports of businesses receiving scam telephone calls from callers purporting to be from internet/telephone providers.

The police said that callers have stated that they are from the “fraud department” and given instructions to follow to download an app. 

A police spokesperson said: “Please be wary of scam calls that may ask you to download an app, ask for passwords by accessing your computer remotely or ask for bank details for payments to fix the problem.

“Please hang up on any similar calls, do not give any information and do not follow out any instructions.

“If by some coincidence you are experiencing problems with internet etc, use the official phone numbers/contacts from your service provider and be sure the phone line is clear before making another call.

“If you have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime please contact your bank/building society immediately and then report this to Action Fraud: www.actionfraud.police.uk  or telephone 0300 123 2040.”

For more advice on how to improve your business' cyber security in an affordable and practical way, the advice is to please see the National Cyber Security Centre's small business guide: Small & medium sized organisations - NCSC.GOV.UK .

If you have any concerns please contact the police via the 101 number or make contact via the Devon and Cornwall Police website: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk .

The police also asked that this information be passed on to staff and colleagues at businesses.