INTERNET SCAMS:  Just like the phone scams the Fraudulent Spam Email’s otherwise known as PHISHING sent to you claim they are from your bank, the IRS, or even Pay Pal.  They state they need some of your pertinent banking information.  They ask you to verify your Account #s (including credit and debit) and PIN # and SOS #s.  This has actually been an international crime that the FBI have been investigating and have just busted a global ring.  They have made several arrests in several different countries, but they warn you that they have only busted this one group and there are more out there.  Don’t give out any of your personal or banking information to unsolicited emails, even if they appear to be from your banking institution.  They advise you to delete them before you open any attachments and then empty the deleted items folder.  

 

1.    One other one I want to address is “HOT SPOTS” for HACKERS.  Watch out for airports, coffee shops, hotels, bookstores, etc… where wi-fi (wireless internet) is available.  Although some locations have a secure network some do not!  Just be aware that there could be hackers lurking about waiting to tap into your computer and get your user id, password, personal, banking and credit card, information without you ever knowing.

 

 The FBI recommends making sure your security and firewall software are up to date, don’t do financial transactions, change the default setting so you have to manually select the wi-fi network, and turn off the computer when not in use.