MONROE - The Monroe Police Department has received multiple reports of citizens getting calls from a company claiming to be Microsoft asking them to allow remote access to private computers, and the calls have been determined to be a scam.

Police Chief Fred Kelley warned in a news release that unless a person has already contacted a tech service for problems with a computer, do not allow anyone to solicit access to their computer.

All reported cases have not given access to the caller and a few of them did not own a computer. If a scammer were to gain access to a computer they could peruse confidential files and personal information like bank accounts or a Social Security number from your computer.

Kelley also cautions citizens that no company such as Microsoft, or any anti-virus company, would randomly contact persons seeking access unless previously contacted to do so.

This scam is no different than ones claiming a victim has won an international lottery or are contacted by a foreign government, and Kelley said to not provide any personal information unless the person calling is known to you or you have contacted the company beforehand.

Kelley encourages anyone who has had similar suspect calls to contact local law enforcement.