Tracy Harness, Area Family and Consumer Science Educator with Alcorn State University Extension Program, recently conducted a presentation titled ‘Protecting Your Identity’ at the Magee Public Library. Harness, who serves Simpson County and three other counties, educates on various topics including family and child development, nutrition, health and wellness, and financial management.
During the presentation, Harness defined a scam as ‘a dishonest or fraudulent scheme that attempts to take your money or your property, anything of value to you.’ She shared personal experiences, including her own and her mother’s, regarding bank information theft, both of which were resolved. Harness explained that scammers initially try to gain trust by forming a relationship with their victims, which could be done by one person, multiple individuals, or even a company.
Scammers use various methods to obtain information, including phone calls and emails. Harness provided attendees with a handout listing different types of scams, such as Covid-19, telephone, banking, census-related fraud, government grants, investment, lottery and sweepstakes, charity, event ticket sales, and pyramid schemes. Most of these scams share common red flags, such as requests for personal information like phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and physical addresses.
Harness advised against using public computers to access personal banking accounts and suggested pulling one’s credit report at least once a year to review for discrepancies. Some attendees shared their experiences with telephone scams, which is the most common form of scamming. Most participants reported rarely answering unrecognized phone numbers as they are often scams or telemarketing calls.
For additional information, Harness can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by calling 601-783-5321.
