The St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Department is warning the public of a computer scam that is spreading throughout St, Lawrence County and nearby communities.

The scam begins with a phone call from an individual stating they are with Microsoft Global Company and that they have discovered viruses on your computer, deputies said

Deputies were informed that when a victim answers, a personal identifying themselves as a representative of Microsoft starts giving them a serial number that they match to the victim's computer.

The caller then asks them to press certain keys on their computer which somehow allows the caller to take control of the computer and causes it to freeze, deputies said.

According to deputies, once that is done the caller demands payment to get the computer running again

Deputies advise that you should never provide credit card information, bank account information, or personal information over the telephone without being absolutely certain of the identity of the person requesting the information and the legitimacy of the company they claim to represent.

Deputies are asking that anyone who receives similar phone calls to gain as much information as they can from the caller and then contact your local law enforcement.