Reports often circulate about individuals receiving a telephone call alerting them that a virus has attacked their computer and the caller can resolve the problem for a fee.

Don’t fall for the sales pitch. Hang up the phone.

On April 11, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department interviewed a 82-year-old Fountain Hills resident who transferred $3,956 in money orders to an address in India after being misled on the phone by unknown suspects.

The victim was told by a caller with a heavy Indian accent that his computer needed maintenance and the caller would provide life-time service for $1,960.

The individual later called to say that the money order transfer had not been executed properly so it would have to be repeated. The victim did despite a warning from a clerk that it might be a scam.

Deputies said numerous cases of fraudulent tech companies in India have conducted money scams since 2001.

Another common practice is to gain access to a victim’s computer for bank information or to transfer funds.

Fraud investigators have found that all phone numbers are untraceable. When the number is called, a standard recorded message says the number was disconnected.