Roanoke, Virginia – Roanoke Valley has witnessed a surge in cybercrime throughout 2022. According to the FBI, cybertheft incidents have jumped by 49% this year when set against the 2021 statistics. A noticeable trend has emerged with more residents falling prey to computer-centric scams, with phishing scams being particularly prevalent.
Victims of these deceptive tactics are sometimes duped into transferring significant sums, occasionally as hefty as $308,000. Local IT expert Chris Duncan has been actively shedding light on these schemes. Such scams typically manifest as emails, social media interactions, or sudden web pop-ups.
Duncan urges the community to maintain a heightened sense of awareness. He highlights certain warning signs, such as unsolicited emails and abrupt shifts in computer operations. Furthermore, Duncan emphasizes that individuals should abstain from replying to contact details found in dubious messages and cautions against granting remote computer access. For financial uncertainties, he recommends direct communication with the respective banking institutions.
To fortify oneself against malicious software, Duncan suggests a few protective measures. These encompass steering clear of interactive pop-up alerts, dismissing unsolicited calls from supposed tech support, and ensuring that antivirus programs are consistently current.
