Madison County Sheriff Department Releases Tips on How to Protect Yourself from Scammers

EDWARDSVILLE - As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact the United States, phone scammers have seized the opportunity to prey on individuals.
The following are tips to help you protect yourself from scams, including coronavirus scams:

*Do not respond to calls or texts from unknown numbers, or any others that appear suspicious.

*Never share your personal or financial information via email, text messages, or over the phone.

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*Be cautious if you’re being pressured to share any information or make a payment immediately.

*Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering or responding. Remember that government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money.

*Do not click any links in a text message. If a friend sends you a text with a suspicious link that seems out of character, call them to make sure they weren't hacked.

*Always check on a charity (for example, by calling or looking at its actual website) before donating.

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