Similiar scams have seen people in Australia ripped off for $210,000 in the past month and $1.4 million in 2016.

The man, who asked that he not be named, said callers from a company called Ridhima Enterprises based in India, told him last week they needed to access his computer to fix it and then demanded $US300.

“I was cleverly conned into parting with an amount of money [$412 including a currency exchange fee] in order that my computer would be protected,” he said.

“If I refused I was told my IP address would be cancelled. I have since found out that this was a load of rubbish. They are not able to do that.”

He said he constantly questioned the callers but in the end handed the money over through an online transaction after they kept demanding he pay up.

“I am so angry and embarrassed with myself for what I had done.”

The man said he had since tried to get his bank to stop the money being paid, but they said it could not be stopped.

“It’s my fault, I should have been more careful,” he said.

“It’s easy to be wise after the event.

“My message to all internet users is be careful.

“If you get any calls, just hang up – period.”

A spokesman for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch said scammers were highly organised in randomly calling people demanding access to their computer to “fix a problem.”

He said some claimed to be reputable telecommunciations companies.

Scamwatch warns that you should never give a random caller remote access to your computer and never give out personal, credit card or banking details over the phone to anyone you don’t trust. 

“If you receive a phone call out of the blue about your computer and remote acess is requested – hang up.”

Scamwatch figures show that his particular scam, known as a remote access scam, has seen 504 Australians being conned out of about $210,000 this year alone.

Most victims were over 65 years old and 55 per cent of them were women.

Last year about 6300 victims were conned out of $1.4 million.

Where to get help if you are being scammed: