A national IT support company is warning people to be on their guard from fraudsters who could potentially con computer users into revealing their bank details.

The PC Support Group, which has its head office in Liverpool, revealed victims are receiving calls from companies claiming to be their Internet Service Provider (ISP) and suggesting there is a virus on the consumer’s PC.

The criminal then takes the victim through steps to fix the ‘problem’ which ends with them allowing remote access to their PCs.

This can then be used to access financial details and security settings such as passwords, enabling them to gain access to their computers and important private information such as bank accounts.

Phil Bird, managing director of The PC Support Group, advised people to be extra vigilant when receiving calls about their PCs.

He said: “We have received a number of calls from irate computer users who had money fraudulently taken from their accounts.  They had received calls from someone claiming to be their Internet Service Provider.

“They then offered what they called essential IT support services and gained access to their financial information. Within days these people found money had been withdrawn from their bank accounts without their agreement.

“Anyone receiving a call about IT support needs to show extreme caution. Listen to what the caller has to say and then politely say that you will call them back.

“You can then use your normal contact numbers or email addresses to get in touch with your ISP to check whether they have really called about a problem.

“The PC Support Group never makes cold calls to consumers and we don’t believe any reputable company would, so if you receive such a call there is a high probability that it is a scam.”

In 2010, the Merseyside Innovation Awards enter their 15th year.  Throughout this time, there have been many different examples of business innovation, giving the sponsors an increasingly difficult job to identify the best in Merseyside.

We start our search for the next winners on 28th January 2010 at 4pm at Liverpool Science Park’s second facility Innovation Centre 2. Here you will be able to meet some of the early contenders for the awards and finalists from previous years.

We do hope you will be able to join us.  Please RSVP by visiting the Science Park Website here.

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

WHEN: Thursday 28th January 2010 4 - 6pm

WHERE: Innovation Centre 2 (ic2), 146 Brownlow Hill, L3 5RF

COST: Free to attend

Refreshments will be provided

If you are interested in applying for the awards then please go to www.merseysideinnovationawards.co.uk for details.

In 2010, Merseyside Innovation Awards enter their 15th year. Throughout this time, there have been many different examples of business innovation giving the sponsors a difficult job to identify the best on Merseyside.

The search for winners starts on the 28th January 2010 at 4pm at Liverpool Science Park’s second facility, Innovation Centre 2 where guests will be able to meet some of the early contenders for the awards and finalists from the previous year will be on hand to give an update on their progress.

Least Year’s winners were local environmental charity, Landlife which their double digging plough that enabled native wildflower meadows to be created by burying pernicious weeds.

Chairman of the Innovation awards panel, Brain McCann of Vanguard Corporate Finance commented: “The panel are looking forward to assessing the submissions from across the region, we are always amazed at the quality of the entries from companies with innovative products developed within Merseyside.”

The event is free to attend and refreshments are included. The event takes place between 4- 6pm at Innovation Centre 2, 146 Brownlow Hill, L3 5RF

Book your free place here

1pm, 5th November 2009
Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre
After Show Networking Party: PanAm, Albert Dock

Liverpool Software City International is taking place next month. The event is designed to showcase the region’s dynamic technology sector.

Now running in its third year, Software City attracts an international audience and is a unique opportunity for businesses and investors to make connections, explore ideas and hear from world class entrepreneurs. Every year the event is fully booked so reserve your place now to avoid missing out on one of the most important events in the North West business calendar.

If you are running a technology business now is the time to apply to pitch to Software City’s panel of entrepreneurs and investors. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote your business and access top class advice to help your business move to the next level. To apply to pitch visit www.softwarecityltd.com

Richard Farleigh of Dragon’s Den fame will be returning to Liverpool for the event and will be joined by Julie Meyer the BBC’s newly appointed online dragon. Julie co-founded First Tuesday and is the CEO of Ariadne Capital.

This year Software City is taking place alongside ‘Develop in Liverpool’ the UK’s leading conference for the gaming community.

The after show networking party will be held at the PanAm bar where guests will have a chance to meet Richard Farleigh and Julie Meyer.

Register now at www.softwarecityltd.com

Wednesday September 16 2009

Liverpool Science Park are relaunching their free Knowlege Economy Business Breakfasts after the summer break:

Welcome back to the first KEBB after the summer break.  We hope you are all well rested and raring to go.

We are excited to confirm that the main speaker will be Guy Cooper who will be sharing his experiences as CEO at Qire.  Qire is a leading expert in Interactive Voice Messaging (IVM) technology, providing hosted, reliable and secure applications using real speech to communicate with customers.  We will also be hearing from our two competition winners, John McDonald from Team Logic Systems and Eric Hearn from Business-scene.

Breakfast will be served at 8.30am in ic2, next to John Moores University’s Art & Design Academy on Brownlow Hill. A location map is available to download here.

As always there will be an update from Liverpool Science Park and Liverpool Vision about events and opportunities, so you are up-to-date on how we can benefit your business.  If your company has had some good news or success recently we’d like to give you the chance to share them with KEBB delegates so if you would like your good news story to be included please send information to jaime.platt@liverpoolsciencepark.co.uk 

This event is brought by Liverpool Science Park and Liverpool Vision with sponsorship from University of Liverpool, O2, Blackberry, Kirwans Solicitors, Business Link and Astbury Wren.

To book your free place please email events@liverpoolsciencepark.co.uk

The b.TWEEN 09 Interactive Digital Media Forum is just around the corner (11/12 June at FACT in Liverpool). It’s a chance to hear some of the most influential individuals from across the media industries - from advertising, branding, broadcast, social media, tech, mobile, gaming and web

Featuring a superb array of speakers from Spotify, Orange, Ogilvy, Channel 4, Penguin, Aegis Media, Bebo, New Media Age, Sellaband, Endemol, Mint Digital, Tate Media, Holler, Culture 24 and Emmy award winners RAW TV

b.TWEEN is at the intersection of the new creative economy… can you afford to miss it?

You can find out the latest at http://btween.co.uk and you can book tickets here: http://www.btween.co.uk/pages/book-now

b.TWEEN forum is now in it’s 5th year,  and remains the only event of its kind where delegates have total access to the panelists, and can take part in the discussion in real time via live web chats and Twitter.

At b.TWEEN you will make connections and collaborations, engage with the minds shaping the future of digital media and seed the deals to bring in business for the coming year.

The full programme can be viewed here: Thursday 11 June / Friday 12 June

Just announced is the chance to Present at b.TWEEN 09! Tell us about yourself and what makes you tick - pitch to speakers and delegate. Submit your idea here: http://www.btween.co.uk/quickfire

b.TWEEN 09 Sessions include Brand Grenades, Sacred Cows with Morgan Holt (HUGE), Mike Bayler (Strategy Review), Thomas Benski (Pulse Films) & Jamie Conygham (Dojo Media). Exploring the myths about Brands as content commissioners, this session will ask what branded content is, what success looks like and how to start conversations with Brands.

The Case Against Advertising featuring Steve Taylor (Aegis Media) & Jonathan MacDonald (JMA) exploring the new consumer sees straight through advertising dishonesty: they expect integrity, not a glossy film of glitter. What can agencies do to create real consumer value and enable conversations? This passionate session presents two sides of the same coin, exploring what the industry might look like once the dust settles

Boom & Bust 2.0? With panelist Jon Mitchell (Spotify), Mike Nutley (new media age), William Owen (made by many) & Giles Rhys-Jones (Ogilvy). Online success has its cost. Social networks raise revenue from their communities in a number of ways, but do they really turn page impressions into enough hard cash to cover mounting costs?

What is the end game? Are we careering towards the next boom and bust?

Book now
www.btween.co.uk