09/19/2026
Yesterday, we covered internet safety with the students, so today, we're covering internet safety for everyone else!
Scammers are constantly finding new ways to target your phone, email, social media, and personal information. A scam may look like a legitimate message from a bank, government agency, delivery company, friend, or even a local business—but here are some tips to help protect yourselves from getting scammed:
🔒 Never share passwords, PINs, Social Security Numbers, banking information, or verification codes with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. If THEY call YOU (even if the number seems legit), you should NOT give them any information.
📲 Be cautious with unexpected calls, texts, emails, and social media messages—especially those creating a sense of urgency.
💻 Do not click suspicious links or open unexpected attachments. Instead, contact the organization directly using a phone number or website that you know is legitimate.
💰Never send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers to someone that you don't know, or the person is demanding it with urgency. We promise you, you cannot pay court fines or your family member's bond with Apple gift cards.
🥸 Be skeptical of callers threatening arrest, account closures, or other serious consequences if you don't pay, including those trying to collect bond money for a family member--these are scammers using information that was publically available to try to scare you into sending money. Always call the legitimate phone number for the business/bank/agency to check on this.
🔑 Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your important accounts, whenever possible, use password managers, and/or change your passwords. You should also never use the same password for everything.
🧐 Review your bank and credit-card accounts regularly, as well as your credit report, and report suspicious activity immediately.
Remember: Caller ID and email addresses can be spoofed. Seeing a familiar name or number does not necessarily mean the contact is legitimate.
⚠️ If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify. Scammers often rely on panic, pressure, and secrecy to keep you from thinking too much about their demands.
If you believe you have been scammed, contact your financial institution immediately, preserve messages/emails and other evidence, and report the incident to your local law enforcement agency.
When in doubt- Stop, Verify, and Protect Your Information!
