Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is issuing a warning that scam artists posing as Microsoft representatives are targeting New Yorkers for credit card information.

The thieves contact people by phone and try to talk them into giving remote access to their computers, claiming that they have a virus. Victims are then asked for credit card, bank or PayPal account information.

On Tuesday Schneiderman’s office said victims who allow the remote access but don’t comply with payment demands have their computer disabled and files deleted. According to the press release the scammers usually speak with a foreign accent and appear to be working overseas.

The thieves may change the name that appears on Caller ID to say “Windows Support.” They are also posing as organizations affiliated with Microsoft, such as P.C. Solutions.

(AP)