NATCHEZ — The Mississippi Better Business Bureau is warning residents to be aware of two recent scams that have been reported to the bureau.

With Publishers Clearing House scheduled to announce its grand-prize winner on June 30, scammers are using that opportunity to contact people via regular mail or e-mail and attempt to swindle them out of money.

The scammer reportedly tells the person that he or she has won the prize but has to pay a fee to receive the prize. Publishers Clearing House informs its grand-prize winners by a personal visit to the winner’s house and does not charge winners to collect the money.

Scammers are also posing as Microsoft employees, informing a consumer that his or her computer has a virus and offering to help fix the problem.

The scammers reportedly ask for credit card payment information for their services or attempt to gain remote access to a consumer’s computer to steal their identity.

Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls to consumers to fix computer problems.

The Better Business Bureau recommends that consumers go directly to their service provider for any computer problems and do not give out personal information over the phone to an unknown person.