Lee County Scam Alert: Beware of Fake Deputy Calls
No one ever likes to hear about a Lee County scam. Let’s face it. Scammers are the worst. My Aunt had one of these crooks get to her once. They claimed to be the police and that she needed to pay a fine… With a gift card. I know. Would actually fall for that? Unfortunately, yes she did. But you or someone you know doesn’t have too.
According to NBC2, there’s a Lee County scam everyone should know about. The Lee County Sheriffs Office is warning people about scammers targeting the our community. These scammers are pretending to be deputies and pressuring people to hand over money for making deals or to have their court cases settled.
It’s important to know that the sheriff’s office would never ask for money in this way. If something seems suspicious, it probably is. Now, here’s another tip, they won’t ever ask you to pay for a fine or anything, for that matter, with a gift card! Please don’t fall for that kind of Lee County scam.
Lee County Scam Calls:
If you happen to come into contact with a Lee County scam, here’s what to do. If you receive a call, just hang up! Don’t engage with these evildoers. Instead, if you have questions, reach out to the clerk of courts or your own lawyer, for guidance. Save the gift cards for yourself! You deserve to go out and have some fun. Just be vigilant when it comes to scammers. They are everywhere.
But if you’ve already fallen victim to these scammers, don’t panic. Sure you may feel silly or maybe even stupid. Especially after you paid for a parking ticket with a $500 gift card to Applebee’s. Just remember that you can stop them from making someone else their victim by calling the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239 477 1000. Report what happened!
Top Mistakes That Can Get You Hacked
Reusing Passwords
Many of us are still using the same password across many different accounts. While it’s pretty common, it’s not a good habit to have. If you’re reusing passwords for multiple websites and accounts, a hacker could potentially use that password to log into those accounts. Nobody wants to have to remember a 16-digit password for every single one of their accounts, especially when getting locked out of a computer or platform at the most inconvenient time. But if a security breach were to happen, that’s one less problem to worry about. Like, remembering which accounts are at risk of a threat.
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Oversharing On Social Media
Personal data exposure is really a thing. When you share personal information on social media, you expose yourself to the risk of identity theft and fraud. According to the New York Institute of Technology, Cybercriminals can use the information you share, such as your full name, date of birth, and location, to impersonate you or launch targeted attacks. Most people know that sharing sensitive information such as your car information, address, work history, or phone numbers can make you vulnerable. But some people forget that this information can also be identified through pictures and innocent as sharing your new car photo or your child’s first day of school photo.
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Using Unsecure Wi-Fi
Hackers can use unsecured Wi-Fi connections to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer. Free public Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere at places like restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and even retail outlets. But public wi-fi comes with risks. “Hackers can also use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer,” said Kaspersky, a tech company. Some people highly recommended looking into a VPN to encrypt internet traffic and keep your data hidden.
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Clicking Suspicious Links
Clicking on a suspicious link or phishing link can sometimes set off a malware download that often contains malicious files. According to Aura, a credit monitoring platform, these links are capable of collecting information stored on your device. Hackers can steal credit card numbers, bank account numbers, usernames and passwords, and other personal information. If you’ve clicked on a phishing link, Cyber Tec Security suggest completely disconnecting from the internet.
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Out-Of-Date Software
The last thing many of us want to do is update our software. But there are many reasons why it’s important to do so. Software updates not only fix and improve problems with your software it also helps you avoid hackers. According to the University of Idaho, software updates often include patches that fix vulnerabilities or bugs that hackers can exploit to access your system or data. “By installing the latest updates, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your personal and business information,” they said.
Ralf Hahn/ Getty ImagesNot Using Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the most effective things you can do to protect your online accounts is turning on multi-factor, or two-factor, authentication for as many of your accounts as possible. This method often uses a piece of information such as a code generated by an app or sent to your phone alongside a password. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process. According to Tech Target, using multi-factor authentication makes it harder for attackers to gain access to a person’s devices or online accounts. Most companies have this in place for their employers but it’s something you can use for personal emails too.
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