SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S OCTOBER 2025 FRAUD ALERT: DON’T “FALL” FOR FRAUD
As October brings seasonal activities and preparations for the holidays, scammers and fraudsters ramp up their efforts to take advantage of unsuspecting residents. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind everyone to stay alert and protect themselves from common scams that often spike this time of year. Watch Out for These Scams: Phishing and […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S SEPTEMBER 2025 FRAUD ALERT: QUESTION EVERYTHING YOU SEE ONLINE
Criminals, many who live on the other side of our planet, are coming for us. Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a significant impact and basically upping the scam or con game for these people. So, how do we sift through the fake madness when celebrity and business impersonation scams are bigger than ever? Right now, deep […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S AUGUST 2025 FRAUD ALERT: FAKE SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL SCAMS
For all intents and purposes, the majority of Americans are involved in a variety of subscriptions. Be it Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Ipsy, The Farmer’s Dog, etc., we pay monthly fees to subscribe to streaming networks, magazines, weight-loss programs, pet food…you name it. As our dependence upon subscriptions grows, opportunities to defraud us grow, as well. […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S JULY 2025 FRAUD ALERT: TEXAS FLOODS CREATE A FLOOD OF SCAMS
The devastating damage and loss created by the flooding in Texas and around the nation is practically inconceivable. The loss of life…especially young lives…is staggering and horrific beyond description. While following news coverage of the Texas Hill Country, we have seen communities, neighbors and agencies roll up their sleeves and help in any way possible. […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S MAY 2025 FRAUD ALERT: SEXTORTION AND OUR CHILDREN
It often begins in a friendly manner. Your child/teen meets someone online and the conversation begins. The meeting can occur in a messaging platform, through online video games, a text…virtually anywhere. The child believes that she/he is communicating with a peer, perhaps someone interested in developing a relationship, and begins to develop a bond with […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S APRIL 2025 FRAUD ALERT: “WRONG NUMBER TEXT SCAMS”
They’re becoming more prevalent and many of us have received them. “I’m running late…be there in 15 minutes.” “They mistakenly left your package on my doorstep.” “I can’t believe she did that to us!” “Is this Robert?” The texts come from unfamiliar numbers. Out of confusion and/or kindness, many recipients respond to these messages. By […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S MARCH 2025 FRAUD ALERT: NEVER-ENDING TOLL SCAMS
They seemingly arrive daily. “You have unpaid tolls.” Many of us are now aware of this fraudulent message, but have questions regarding the content. We presented some questions to Joshua Hanchey, Senior Technology Specialist at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Question: “Is merely visiting the listed web site damaging in any way?” Answer: “If you […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S FEBRUARY 2025 FRAUD ALERT: TRIANGULATION FRAUD
In years past, the concept of making purchases via the internet was somewhat new and online shoppers carefully scrutinized websites and social media sites prior to providing personal information. Online shopping has become the norm and many consumers have become somewhat lackadaisical when making online purchases. With the introduction of technology associated with artificial intelligence, […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S JANUARY 2025 FRAUD ALERT: L.A. FIRE RELIEF SCAMS
Currently, the fires raging in California have claimed the lives of a minimum of 27 people, have burned approximately 40,000 acres of land and have caused unimaginable suffering and loss. With an ominous forecast for increased Santa Ana winds, the worst is far from over. Before all else, it is paramount that we recognize the […]
SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S DECEMBER 2024 FRAUD ALERT: “GONE PHISHING”
The number of text and email messages indicating that you missed a delivery, that the postal service is holding a parcel addressed to you, that one of your streaming service accounts has been violated or that a financial account, belonging to you, has had “unusual activity” are growing on a daily basis. They arrive with […]