Scam alert · Waynesville Computer Services

TECH SCAM ALERT FOR WAYNESVILLE & HAYWOOD COUNTY

The computer, phone and text scams hitting people around here, how to spot them, and exactly what to do if you already clicked, called or paid. I add new alerts as they come out.

From Ben, Waynesville Computer Services · Updated November 2026

ALREADY GAVE THEM ACCESS OR MONEY? START HERE

Hang up and disconnect the computer from the internet (unplug the cable or turn off Wi-Fi). If a pop-up won't close, hold the power button until it shuts off.
Call your bank or card company with the number on the back of your card, never a number the caller or text gave you.
Change your passwords, email and banking first, from a phone or computer the scammer didn't touch.
Report it to local police (numbers below) and the NC Department of Justice at 1-877-566-7226 (1-877-5-NO-SCAM), even if you didn't lose money.

Then follow the full checklist ↓. Embarrassed? Don't be: these are professional criminals, and police say embarrassment is why many people never report it.

LATEST ALERTS

Warnings from local police, the state and local news, newest first.

Sept 8, 2026 · Waynesville
Waynesville police warned about fake bank texts ("Did you attempt a transaction for $862?"). Answer it and a fake fraud department calls to "protect" your money. A detective said one Waynesville resident lost more than $100,000, and some victims were told to hand cash to a driver sent to their home. WLOS
May 8, 2026 · North Carolina
Another wave of fake NC DMV texts demanding payment for unpaid tickets. The DMV doesn't collect fines or fees by text. NC Department of Justice
Mar 25, 2026 · North Carolina
Fake parking-violation texts with a QR code and a made-up case number, court date and judge. NC Department of Justice
June 13, 2025 · Waynesville
Callers on private numbers asked homes about power outages, then called back demanding payment to turn the power on. The town's Utility Office never asks for payment over the phone. Town of Waynesville
Apr 14, 2025 · Haywood County
At the Historic Haywood County Courthouse, the NC Attorney General and local law enforcement warned about fake calls from "deputies" asking for fees (sometimes showing the real sheriff's office number), Helene contractor fraud, and fake toll and ticket texts. The Sheriff's Office won't call you asking for money. Smoky Mountain News
Mar 12, 2025 · North Carolina
A surge of fake NC Quick Pass "unpaid toll" texts, sent at random, even to people who never drove a toll road. NCDOT
Oct 4, 2024 · Western NC
After Hurricane Helene: storm-repair scams and "now or never" door-to-door offers. Get more than one bid and a written contract, and don't pay everything up front. NC Department of Justice
Sept 13, 2024 · Haywood County
Fake letters claiming a large Haywood County tax bill and threatening to seize property. Real county letters carry the official logo and contact information. 828newsNOW
May 21, 2024 · Asheville
Computers froze with a "contact Microsoft" pop-up, then fake "Microsoft employees" came to victims' homes to collect money. Two residents lost about $50,000 combined. 828newsNOW

Scams like these aren't new here: in January 2020 the Haywood County Sheriff's Office reported a woman who bought nearly $10,000 in gift cards after a fake Microsoft warning.

7 SCAMS TO KNOW (AND THE RED FLAGS)

1. The fake virus pop-up

A warning fills the screen, says your computer is infected or locked, and gives a phone number to call.
It may be stuck in full screen and play a loud voice telling you not to turn the computer off.
Real Microsoft and Apple warnings never include a phone number. Microsoft won't call you to offer tech support unless you contacted them first.
Fake "support" numbers also show up in search results and ads.

Do this: don't call. Close the browser; if it won't close, hold the power button to shut the computer off, then turn it back on. A pop-up alone doesn't mean your computer is infected: run a scan with the security software you already trust. If you downloaded something or let someone connect, have it checked.

2. The fake renewal or refund email

An email or text says you were charged hundreds of dollars for Geek Squad, Norton, McAfee or similar, and to call within 24 hours to cancel.
On the call they want to connect to your computer to "process the refund", then ask you to log in to your bank.
Then they say they refunded too much by mistake and you have to pay the difference back, by gift card, wire, crypto or payment app.

Do this: check your real bank or card statement. No charge there? It's a scam. If you're worried, call the company with a number you already know, not the one in the message.

3. The fake bank text

A text "from your bank" asks if you made a purchase and to reply YES or NO.
A "fraud department" calls and says your money is at risk and has to be moved to a "safe" account, or taken out as cash, gold or crypto.
They tell you to stay on the phone at the bank, or to lie to the teller about why you're withdrawing.
They offer to send a driver or courier to your house to pick up the cash.

Do this: don't reply to the text. Call the number on the back of your card. No real bank asks you to move your money to protect it, and no one legitimate sends a courier for cash.

4. Toll, DMV, parking and package texts

NC Quick Pass never asks for payment by text. Its real texts come only from the short code 696277, and real links go to ncquickpass.com.
The NC DMV doesn't collect fines, fees or tolls by text. Fake links can contain ".gov" and still be fake.
USPS doesn't text you unless you signed up for tracking, and those texts don't contain a link.
Threats like a "service fee", a court date or losing your license are there to rush you.

Do this: don't tap the link. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block it, then delete it. To check a toll, call NC Quick Pass at 877-769-7277.

5. The grandchild in trouble

A call says a grandchild or relative is in jail, in the hospital or stuck somewhere, and you're the only one who can help.
They ask you to keep it secret, and a "lawyer" or "officer" may get on the line.
The voice can be faked with AI from a short video clip online.
They want money by wire, gift card, payment app or crypto, fast.

Do this: hang up and call your relative (or another family member) on a number you already have. Ask a question only the real person would know.

6. Anyone who asks you to pay with gift cards

No real business or government agency will ever tell you to pay with a gift card.
They tell you which store and card to buy, stay on the phone while you buy it, and ask for the numbers or a photo of the back.
They may tell you what to say if the cashier asks questions.

Do this: stop. A request for gift cards, a wire transfer or crypto is the clearest sign of a scam there is.

7. "Let me connect to your computer"

Someone who contacted you asks you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Assist or another remote-control program.
Once they're in, they can make normal Windows screens look like problems.
Scammers often install a second program so they can get back in after the call ends.
TeamViewer says it doesn't provide remote support of any kind, and AnyDesk only answers support tickets you opened.

Do this: never install anything because a caller asked. If you already did, disconnect from the internet and have the computer checked: removing the program you saw isn't always enough.

ALREADY FELL FOR IT? DO THIS NOW

Stop and disconnect. Hang up, and take the computer off the internet.
Call your bank and card company using the number on your card. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment. For a wire transfer, ask for a recall right away: speed matters.
Change passwords for email and banking first, then any account that used the same password. Use a device the scammer never touched, and turn on two-step login.
Get what they installed off the computer. Uninstall anything they had you install, run a full virus scan, and install updates. If they had control of it, a reset or reinstall may be the safest fix, but it can erase your files: back up first, or get help.
Try to get the money back, by how you paid (table below).
Report it: local police, the NC Department of Justice and ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For online or wire fraud, also ic3.gov. Write down names, numbers, websites and where the money went.
Gave out your Social Security number? Get a free recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It's free to place and lift.
Watch for the second scam. If someone contacts you offering to get your money back for an upfront fee, that's another scam.

Getting money back, by how you paid

You paid with	Do this
Credit or debit card	Call the card company and dispute the charge.
Bank transfer or Zelle	Call your bank right away and ask them to reverse it.
Gift card	Call the number on the back of the card, say a scammer has it, and ask for a refund. Keep the card and receipt.
Wire (Western Union, MoneyGram)	Call the wire company and ask for a refund.
Payment app (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal)	Report it in the app and ask for a reversal.
Crypto	Contact the exchange or crypto ATM company. Crypto is very hard to get back.
Cash in the mail	Call the US Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. They may be able to stop the package.

Want someone to talk it through with? The AARP Fraud Watch Helpline is free at 877-908-3360 (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–8 PM). If you're 60 or older, the national Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 can help you file the reports.

WHO TO CALL

Report to the police where you live. In an emergency, or if someone is on the way to your house to pick up money, call 911.

Where	Number
Inside Waynesville town limits	Waynesville Police non-emergency: 828-456-5363
Outside town limits, and Clyde	Haywood County Sheriff's Office dispatch (24 hours): 828-452-6666
Canton	Canton Police: 828-648-2376
Maggie Valley	Maggie Valley Police: 828-926-0867

State and national

Who	How
NC Department of Justice	1-877-566-7226 (1-877-5-NO-SCAM) or file online
Federal Trade Commission	ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 1-877-382-4357
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center	ic3.gov
Identity theft	IdentityTheft.gov or 877-438-4338
Scam texts	Forward them to 7726

How I work: I don't do remote support, I'll never call you out of the blue about your computer, and I'll never ask you to install anything or pay with a gift card. If someone claiming to be Waynesville Computer Services does any of that, it isn't me.

THINK SOMEONE GOT INTO YOUR COMPUTER?

Bring it in. I'll remove the remote-control programs and malware, check for anything left behind, and show you what was changed. Virus & malware removal is $80 flat (plus tax). Drop-off is by appointment.

Book a Drop-Off Call (800) 292-8397

Checked against official and news sources in November 2026. Seen a new scam around here? Tell me at support@waynesvillecomputerservices.com so I can warn others.