Union County Sheriff Warns Residents Not to Call Numbers in Computer Pop-Up Alerts

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents not to call phone numbers that appear in pop-up messages claiming a computer, tablet or other device has been infected, hacked or compromised.

The office said the alerts often look convincing and urge people to call a listed number immediately for technical support. Officials said those messages are a common tactic used by scammers.

Legitimate technology companies generally do not use random pop-ups to demand an immediate phone call, the sheriff’s office said.

Once a person calls, the scammer may pose as a representative of Microsoft, Apple, an internet provider or another well-known company. Authorities said the caller may then try to gain remote access to the device, steal passwords or other personal information, obtain banking or credit card details, sell unnecessary software or services, claim money is owed to fix the computer, or install malicious software.

The sheriff’s office advised residents not to call the number shown in the pop-up, not to give anyone unsolicited remote access to a device, and not to provide passwords, Social Security numbers, bank information or payment details to someone who contacted them unexpectedly.

If a pop-up cannot be closed normally, officials said users should close the browser or restart the computer and avoid clicking suspicious links or buttons inside the warning.

Anyone who is concerned about a possible infection should contact the company directly using a phone number or website known to be legitimate, not the contact information in the pop-up, the office said.

Officials also urged residents to share the warning with family and friends, noting that scammers often target older adults and people who are less familiar with technology.

“A scary message on your screen does not mean there is an emergency,” the sheriff’s office said. “Scammers use urgency and fear to get you to act before you have time to think.”

The office’s message: Stop, do not call the number and do not give anyone access to the device.

Residents who want to report a suspected scam or confirm whether a contact is legitimate can call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 706-439-6066.