As more residents turn toward the internet in pursuit of holiday deals and savings, the Guilford Police Department (GPD) is warning shoppers to exercise caution. The department posted a warning to its Facebook page on Cyber Monday, Dec. 2, alerting residents to be aware of a seemingly normal-looking "Warning: Virus Detected" pop-up screen on their devices.

"This is malware," GPD said in its post.

According to GPD, malware is malicious software or code designed to disrupt or damage a computer's normal functioning. Cybercriminals create malware to steal data, damage computers, or gain control of a device.

"Anytime this warning pops up, you can bet it is a spam malware virus. Do not click it. Close your browser, disconnect your internet connection, delete your browsing history and cookies," GPD said. "If you have clicked it, disconnect from the internet and contact a reputable computer repair store to have your computer checked before reconnecting."

According to the department, there has been an uptick in cybercrimes over the last few weeks. Many of those cases started off with an alert that a virus had been detected.

"In the last few weeks, Guilford and surrounding towns have had numerous victims fall for this malware, some losing thousands of victims of dollars. The cases all started off with an alert flashing on their screen like this, some with a loud noise and a phone number to 'fix' the issue. When victims call that number, a scammer impersonates either a representative of a company or a law enforcement agency," the GPD shared on Facebook.

In many of the reported cases, the scammer will attempt to convince the victim that there is a problem on their machine, including a virus, illicit photos, or law enforcement violations. The scammer will request to remote into the victim's computer with the intention to access bank account information. In other instances, the scammer may request payment through gift cards.

"These scammers have become more aggressive as of late and have sent people to the victim’s house to collect large sums of money. The money is being exchanged through money couriers and frequently leaves the United States quickly, making it difficult to recover," according to the GPD's post.

GPD stressed that neither legitimate companies nor law enforcement officials will make contact through a pop-up on a computer.

"If someone mentions a gift card…. It is a scam. Never let anyone remote into your electronics if you do not know who they are," GPD warned. "Never save passwords in your login screens for your email, banking, or social media."

To report a crime, including a cyberscam, call Guilford Police at 203-453-8061.