Police chief warns of scams during holiday season
As the holiday season nears, I just want everyone to be vigilant about their safety and not become a victim. During these difficult times, I have seen an increase of fraudulent crime. Criminals are always looking for a new scam to get your money or identity.
A popular scam is called phishing, and that is when someone uses fake emails or texts to get you to share personal information like your Social Security number, passwords, or login ID. This allows them to steal your identity or your money. If you click on a link, they can install ransomware or other programs that can lock you out of your data. While some emails appear to be legitimate, make sure you take a close look at the grammar. If you see misspellings, do not open it and check it out first. Also, if an email is asking you to confirm personal information, or the email is written in attempt to make you panic, again I would not open it. If it looks suspicious, delete it.
Scammers are notorious for using a phone. If you get a call and someone is telling you that you won a car, money, inheritance, or the Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes and they want you to wire them money, send them a cashier’s check, cash, or gift card, don’t do it. If the caller tells you they are the IRS and you owe taxes and if you do not pay right then, that you will go to jail, do not send them money. Call a trusted family member or friend first and discuss it with them. You can even call your local law enforcement agency and they will gladly assist you with your concerns.
Remember, no company or financial institution will ever call you and ask you to
divulge sensitive personal or financial information, so do not give any information over the phone.
So, what can you do to protect yourself? My first suggestion is what my mother has always told me since I was a child, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is [too good to be true].” Also don’t believe every email or text message you receive, and never give out your personal and banking details in an email, text message, or to an unsolicited caller. When in doubt, phone the company that is requesting the information. Also, check your online bank and credit card accounts frequently and set up purchase alerts if they are avail
able. Change your passwords frequently and don’t use the same password for your email as you do on other accounts. Always use secure passwords that have capital letters, numbers, and special characters.
It is unfortunate with these times of uncertainty, but the COVID-19 pandemic opens up new opportunities for scammers to take advantage of fear, so be cautious with emails, phone calls, or text messages from people promising to protect you against COVID-19, or anyone asking you to pay money so they can help you get your stimulus check.
If you feel like you have fallen victim of a scam, then contact your local authorities. The truth of the matter is that fraud affects people of any age, so stay vigilant.