WNC Help Desk · Community education
Scams can catch anyone off guard. Learn the warning signs and find a clear next step—without confusing jargon or judgment.
Reviewed September 24, 2026 · Sources from the past 12 months
Start with what happened
Stop responding to the suspicious contact. Choose the situation below for practical next steps.
Contact your bank, card issuer, gift-card issuer, or payment provider immediately using a trusted number or app. Explain the fraud and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. Keep receipts and messages. Recovery is not guaranteed.
Use a trusted device to change the affected password and any reused passwords. Turn on two-factor authentication. If you cannot sign in, use the provider’s official account-recovery process.
Disconnect the affected device from the internet to interrupt ongoing access. From a different trusted device, secure your accounts and contact your financial institutions if needed. Get trusted help to remove unwanted remote-access software and scan for malware.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. If information was exposed but you are unsure it has been used, visit its data-breach guidance.
Based on the FTC’s June 2026 response guide and June 8, 2026 malware alert. For threats or immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Recognize the pattern
Pressure, secrecy, unexpected links, and requests for access deserve a pause. Open a card’s advice to learn what to do.
Fake tech support
A caller or pop-up claims your computer or account is in danger and pushes you to call a support number or allow remote access.
Stop the conversation. Contact a company you already trust using its known website or number. Do not give an unexpected caller control of your device.
DMV text messages
A fake unpaid-ticket notice demands immediate payment and threatens to suspend your license or cancel your registration.
Do not use the message’s link. Verify directly with the NCDMV through its official contact information. Report the text, then block the sender.
Email invitations
A message appears to be an event invitation but sends you to a page designed to steal your email login.
Check with the host by phone or text before opening an unexpected invitation. Do not provide your email password or verification code to view it.
Fake security checks
A fake CAPTCHA asks you to open a command window or paste and run commands on your computer.
Stop and close the page. A real CAPTCHA does not require you to run commands. If you already did, use the response checklist below.
Government impersonators
Someone claims to be an official, threatens arrest, and insists you pay immediately or keep the conversation secret. Names and caller ID can be copied.
Hang up. Contact the agency using an independently found official number. Do not send money or personal information to prove your innocence.
QR codes
Scammers can place their own QR sticker over a legitimate parking-payment code to send you to a fake website.
Inspect the sticker and preview the destination before proceeding. If unsure, find the official payment method independently.
Social media ads
An attractive deal or familiar brand appears in your feed. Being advertised on a platform does not mean the seller has been thoroughly checked.
Research the company before buying. Look for its name alongside “scam” or “complaint,” and verify the seller independently.
Payment pressure
Someone demands gift cards, cryptocurrency, or another hard-to-reverse payment to fix an urgent problem or claim a prize.
Pause and verify the request independently. If you already paid, contact your payment provider immediately and ask whether it can stop or reverse the transaction.
Watch & learn
Videos selected from recent publisher resources. Press play to load YouTube, or use the direct viewing links.
FBI + LinkedIn
Learn the warning signs of a suspicious online job offer.
Featured by the FBI July 8, 2026. Source publication date; original YouTube upload date not independently confirmed.
Watch on YouTube ↗ · Publisher’s page ↗Federal Trade Commission
Learn how callers impersonate banks to request account details and passwords. Useful for military families and anyone receiving a suspicious bank call.
Published December 9, 2025.
Watch on YouTube ↗ · Publisher’s page ↗Videos load only when you choose play. YouTube’s privacy terms apply. External videos and availability are controlled by their publishers.
Your next step matters
Save relevant messages, dates, receipts, and transaction details. Reporting does not guarantee money recovery.
Friendly, local support
WNC Help Desk can help with device checks and account-security setup. If money is at risk, contact your financial institution first.
Independent educational resources from WNC Help Desk. Linked organizations do not endorse this business. Source dates are shown so you can assess recency; this page is reviewed manually, not updated automatically.
