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Idaho State News

U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, Along with Tribal and Local Law Enforcement Officials, Release Second “Don’t Click December” PSA

December 9, 2024

(Idaho State) During the holiday season, online criminals increasingly target Idahoans through online  scams and fraud schemes. Today, 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 second PSA as part of their joint “Don’t Click December” Consumer  Protection Campaign. The AARP is also participating in the announcement and the awareness  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 second PSA, available here, Bannock County Prosecutor Stephen Herzog, Idaho Falls Police  Chief Bryce Johnson, and U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit warn the public about the “QR Code” scam and  explain some of the ways in which individuals can protect themselves. 

This scam targets individuals through corrupt or fictitious QR codes. Often the scammer will email or  text a scam QR code in an attempt to trick you. They may even cover up legitimate QR code with their  own corrupted code with the goal getting you to visit a bogus website that can steal your information  if you log in. Always verify with the restaurant or business if you suspect a QR code is suspicious. 

As part of the ongoing campaign, two additional PSAs are planned to be released in the weeks leading  up to Christmas in an effort to alert the public to common online fraud schemes that Idaho law  enforcement has seen affect Idahoans.  

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. 

“We have witnessed many Idahoans lose their hard-earned money or their entire retirement savings to  online scams. And, sadly, this type of crime tends to spike during the holiday season,” said U.S.  Attorney Hurwit. “But, together, we can reduce the risks by talking with each other about how to avoid  such scams, and I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners and the AARP for joining us in the Don’t  Click December campaign. We also encourage Idahoans to report any scams as soon as possible so  that law enforcement can investigate and we can bring these vicious online criminals to justice.” 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners recognize that we all must work to  eliminate the stigma individuals may experience if they are victimized. There is no shame to falling 

victim to an online scheme, which are often designed by professional criminals, sophisticated, and  tested repeatedly across the country.  

For this reason, the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign also publicizes ways to  report scams and incidents of fraud to the FBI and local law enforcement. 

To learn more about these and other scams targeting Americans visit FBI.gov, and if you believe you  have been victimized, take-action by reporting it to FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or by contacting your local law enforcement agency.

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