October is Crime Prevention Month. As scammers get more sophisticated and technology evolves, we must be more alert than ever. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Crime Prevention and Community Awareness (CPCA) Unit is dedicated to educating the public about ways they can keep themselves and their finances safe. CPCA runs the Neighborhood Watch program and presents information about safety to groups all around the county. They’ve been seeing several new scams that take advantage of changing technology.
You’ve probably used your phone to scan a QR code, those black and white squares that usually link you to a website. They’re a great way for companies to share information, but recently scammers discovered that it is simple to make their own QR code and stick it over the real one in places such as signs for paid parking. Instead of taking you to the actual parking app, it brings you to a malicious site that will either infect your phone or harvest your information. Any time you scan a QR code, make sure it takes you to the right link. Or search for the site or app yourself without scanning the code.
Artificial intelligence is another technology that is giving scammers greater scope for deception. AI can be used to create pictures or even videos of things that aren’t real. That could be used to make you think a company is legitimate, or that a loved one is in danger. AI technology can even recreate someone’s voice from a brief audio sample. Do your family members ever post videos on social media that include them speaking? Then their voice can be cloned by AI. A scammer may use the cloned voice of a family member to pretend they are in danger, maybe arrested overseas, and can only be saved if you send them money. If you hear your “niece” crying you may be tempted to send money (or gift cards, or crypto) fast, but as with all scams, slow down and fact check.
When you’re looking for work, the stress about your next paycheck might make you more vulnerable to scammers. One of the most common recent scams is for criminals to text you a job offer out of the blue. Just click the link and accept the offer…but the link takes you to a malicious site. Or they might gather all of your sensitive information as part of their fictitious hiring, including your social security and bank account information. They might
even send you a check to purchase office supplies, which makes them seem legitimate. Except the check is fraudulent, and the “store” they direct you to is also fake. The check bounces, and you send your own money to the scammer.
There are some common denominators to protect yourself from all scams. Don’t click on links. Don’t act fast when you feel pressured. Don’t pay with things like gift cards, crypto, or digital payment services like Venmo or Zelle. If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam, call the PCSO non-emergency line at
727-582-6200.
Let PCSO help you stay safe. If you don’t already have a Neighborhood Watch in your area, consider establishing one. You can get guidance from our CPCA deputies and stay on top of all scams and dangers. If your community group, church, or business would like a presentation about safety, scams, or crime prevention, reach out to CPCA at 727-582-2222.