The Waynesboro Police Department has recently investigated two similar computer refund scams involving local residents. In one case, the victim suffered a significant financial loss. In the second case, the victim recognized the scam before any money was lost.

The scam begins when a pop-up appears on a computer claiming to be from Microsoft 365 or another well-known company and prompts the user to call a phone number for assistance. After calling, the victim is told that an accidental refund of a large amount of money has been deposited into their bank account.

The caller then attempts to convince the victim to:
• Remain on the phone at all times.
• Visit one or more bank locations to withdraw large amounts of cash.
• Package the money for pickup.
• Meet a "courier" at a public location to hand over the cash.

Scammers use urgency, fear, and deception to pressure victims into acting quickly without verifying the information.

⚠️ Protect Yourself:
• Legitimate companies such as Microsoft will not contact you through pop-up windows demanding money.
• No legitimate business or bank will send a courier to collect cash from you.
• Never withdraw cash, send money, or purchase gift cards at the direction of someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
• Do not allow unknown individuals remote access to your computer.
• If someone claims they accidentally deposited money into your account and demands repayment, stop communication immediately and contact your bank directly using a verified phone number.

If you receive a suspicious pop-up, phone call, email, or text message requesting money or personal information, do not engage. Close the message, hang up, and contact your local police department for guidance.

Please share this information with family, friends, and especially older adults who are often targeted by these scams. Awareness is one of the best tools we have to prevent others from becoming victims.