PCSO Emphasizing Cyber Security During Holidays

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office asks residents to be mindful of online security ahead of the holiday weekend.

Sheriff Eddie Farris says online scams tend to become more prevalent as people shop online during this time of year.

“Most of it is common sense and most people sort of catch it on their own because something doesn’t seem right,” Farris says. “As we get closer and closer to the holiday season, people do more buying, and things get to a faster pace, we just want to make everybody aware and remind them of some things.”

Farris says it can be difficult for law enforcement to track down and investigate scammers when issues arise.

“Not that we don’t know what’s occurring, but most of the time the people that are operating these scams and different kinds of websites… they’re not even in the United States,” Farris says. “They’re in another country and using the internet to retrieve personal information.”

Farris recommends people update the anti-virus software on computers and phones to help prevent the risk of losing personal information.

“The high-quality stores, websites, and all the different places we order from, they have their software in place and they’re very professional and good at what they do,” Farris says. “When we get asked to do something or it takes us to a different websites, or starts asking different types of questions, that’s a clue and means something is going on.”

Nearly all online retailers and shopping sites will not ask for personal information via email or dialog box, such as passwords or social security numbers, to complete purchases.

The PCSO advises consumers to track their holiday spending to make sure they haven’t been scammed by suspicious websites.

Those who come across potential scams can report them to the Better Business Bureau or Federal Trade Commission.