All Virgin Media users placed on red alert - don't ignore this 'critical' advice

If you use Virgin Media's TV, broadband or phone services, then you must be wary if you suddenly get a call from the telecoms company. Virgin has just confirmed that its famous name is being used by scammers trying to trick consumers into handing over personal data, including passwords, bank details and more.

Explaining more about the worrying issue, Virgin said: "Every day, people receive calls that appear to be from us.

"Fraudsters are increasingly using spoofed numbers to impersonate Virgin Media and try to trick you. So even if the number calling you appears genuine, it’s critical to know the warning signs of a scam call."

With more of us smart about scam emails and texts, it seems calling people is now a popular choice for crooks trying to cash in.

What's making things worse is that criminals are even able to fool people by making it appear as if the number they are ringing from belongs to Virgin. It's a scary type of attack, and to help its users stay safe, Virgin has now issued 6 important rules to follow.

According to Virgin's new advice, the first this to watch out for is an unexpected call.

"Be cautious," Virgin said.

"If a call about your account or a service issue comes out of the blue and you weren’t expecting it, it could be a scam. Don’t feel pressured to continue and hang up.

"Scammers often rely on surprise to catch people off guard and pressure them into acting quickly."

Another top tip is to be wary if a call comes out of the blue and you are then asked for a full password or PIN number.

Virgin will never ask for this personal information to be disclosed, and you must never be tricked into revealing it.

Along with being on guard, it's also vital not to be pressured into revealing any personal data.

"Scammers often use urgency and fear to catch you off guard, for example, saying your service will be cut off or your account is compromised. These tactics are designed to pressure you into making hasty decisions or sharing personal information."

Other things to note include being asked for remote access to your device (this allows crooks to gain access to PCs), and if the person on the call sounds robotic, overly scripted or unprofessional.

Finally, whenever you receive a call from an unfamiliar number, always cross-reference them with trusted sources like Who-Called.co.uk.

This is where users report and review suspicious calls, or check discussions on our Community Forums, where people like you share their experiences.

If you follow these top tips and be wary you should be safe.