People calling your home saying they are “tech support” are part of billion-dollar scam industry, the AARP Fraud Watch says.

The scam can occur either over the phone or online.

The goal of the scammer is to take control of your computer remotely, telling you that you have viruses that can be fixed for a fee. They then ask for your credit card number, enabling them to make fraudulent charges.

If you get a “tech support” call out of the blue, hang up, AARP says. Also, never click on pop-up notices on your computer that say you have a problem with your computer, it recommends.

If you are having issues with your computer, call your computer’s operating system tech support. AARP recommends reporting scams to local law enforcement.

For more information on fraud prevention, contact AARP’s Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.