Scam Alert: Houston County Sheriff warns about pop-ups

If you've been affected by a scam like this, call the Houston County Sheriff's Office at 478-542-2000.

HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Houston County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about a recent scam, according to Sheriff Cullen Talton.

According to Sheriff Talton, the scam looks like a scary pop-up message claiming your computer has been infected by a virus. Scammers may also try to get you to call them by posing as a tech company, like Microsoft, and threatening to cut off your internet access.

The scam can also appear in your inbox. Sheriff Talton says you should ignore those alerts. That includes loud, blaring warnings playing on repeat.

Talton also reminds residents, tech companies will never call you saying they found a problem and ask for remote access to your computer. As for email, delete the message and move on.

But what do you do if the alert doesn’t go away when you close your internet browser? The Houston County Sheriff says you can try restarting your computer. Hold the power button down for 20 seconds and let the device shut off completely. Then, turn it back on. If you still see an alert on your screen, reach out to a local computer service company.

If you’ve been affected by a scam like this, call the Houston County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 542-2000 to file a report.