Local Monmouth residents in attendance at the seminar. Photo by Dawsyn Wilson.
Midwest Bank and Illinois State Representative Dan Swanson hosted an anti-fraud seminar for Monmouth residents at the Warren County History Museum. Featured speaker Heather Calcara, the outreach liaison for the Illinois Attorney General’s office, addressed the issue and explained how to protect yourself.
Calcara discussed the various scams people can fall prey to, from phone calls to social media posts. “It’s so easy for these scammers to hide behind a screen,” Calcara said. “You don’t owe these people cordiality.”
When it comes to phone calls, be cautious of unknown numbers. “Your voicemail is the cheapest secretary out there,” she said. Scammers can steal your information from the first “hello.” To counter this, Calcara advised letting unknown calls go to voicemail.
They’ll blend into your social circle by creating social media accounts and
pretending to be your friends and family. If you’re unsure about an account, Calcara told the audience to always “go to the source.” Reach out to the person and double-check if the account is real.
“We’re a small town, we think it doesn’t happen, but it does,” said Sherrie Brooks, a BSA officer at Midwest Bank. Scammers will try anything to gain their target’s trust.
As email and text scams become increasingly popular, links attached to the messages may contain malware. “Stop and think before you click on the link,” Calcara said.
Calcara encouraged attendees to check their credit history if they believe their Social Security number has been stolen. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion provide free credit reports.
