BOISE, Idaho – The holiday season is a time for joy, giving, and spending time with loved ones. But for many Idahoans, it’s also a time for online scams and fraud schemes.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, online criminals are increasingly targeting Idahoans through online scams and fraud schemes during the holiday season. To combat this, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the FBI, the Fort Hall Police Department, the Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices, the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Pocatello Police Department, released a fourth and final PSA as part of their joint ‘Don’t Click December’ Consumer Protection Campaign.
The campaign advises members of the public to exercise skepticism and caution when receiving unsolicited online, email, pop-up, or text communications from unknown or unverified sources. If there is any doubt about a link, message, or attachment, law enforcement cautions: "Don’t Click It."
In the fourth PSA, available here, Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei, Bonneville County Sheriff Samuel Hulse, and U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit warn the public about the "Tech Support" scam and explain some of the ways in which individuals can protect themselves.
In this scam, criminals impersonate technology, banking, or government officials to convince victims to share personal information. You could get a pop-up on your computer indicating your accounts have been hacked and to call a number. But that number goes to the scammer who tries to manipulate you to gain access to your computer or accounts and takes your money to fix a non-existent problem. If you get such a request, "Don’t Click It." Government entities and legitimate businesses will never call you or send unsolicited pop-up messages to ask for access to your computer.
Unfortunately, these are not the only schemes affecting the public, and new schemes arise all the time. Law enforcement hopes that the ‘Don’t Click December’ Consumer Protection Campaign will raise public awareness and encourage individuals to talk to their friends and relatives about not clicking suspicious links, texts, messages, pop-ups, or attachments.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit stated, "Through the Don’t Click December campaign, we recognize that any Idahoan with a smartphone, tablet, or computer is likely to be targeted by online criminals at some point. But we are not helpless. By being aware of common schemes and by talking to loved ones about the red flags of online fraud, every Idahoan can make a difference in this fight."
Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI added, "As technology continues to evolve and scammers become more aggressive and creative in their tactics, the public should be more vigilant than ever. The FBI is committed to prevention and awareness efforts during the holiday season and throughout the year. Anyone who believes they are a victim of a scam should call their bank, report the crime to law enforcement, and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.
Related Federal Cases
- Christopher Panagiotou-Scigliano, Wire Fraud, Idaho 2022 · Washington
- Kevin Space, North Korea Hack Scheme, Cheyenne WY, 2024 · Michigan
- Kevin Space, North Korea Hack Scheme, Wyoming 2024 · Wyoming
- Luis Angel Naranjo Rodriguez, Gas Station Skimming Scheme, Boston MA, 2020 · Pennsylvania
- Edward John Kay, Cyberstalking, Massachusetts 2025 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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