Internet Safety Month

DATE & TIME: June 2019

LOCATION: Gage County/Beatrice

OFFENSE: Internet Safety Month

CASE #: 2019-2853

Sheriff Gustafson and the Gage County Sheriff’s Office are partnering with Kinetic/Windstream in support of Internet Safety Month during June 2019. National and local representatives from Windstream contacted the sheriff and proposed a partnership to promote Internet Safety Month. This comprehensive program’s goal is to increase public awareness of the dangers of Internet use, from scams, frauds, and thefts, to juvenile related safety, as well as issues that are present for all ages.

A press conference kicking off the program was held at the Beatrice Public Library on Monday, June 3, 2019. The Gage County Sheriff’s Office representative at the press conference was Investigator Tim Hanson. 

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to use caution when making online decisions, whether they be financial, personal, or romantic.  The anonymity of the Internet allows people with nefarious intentions to lie, swindle, and threaten without fear of being caught.  Be safe, be cautious, be vigilant.  Parents should closely monitor the online and social media activities of their children.

Some red flag warnings you are being scammed or about to be defrauded or some other chicanery:

1. Unsolicited contacts/offers. If you did not enter a contest, you will not be contacted to collect winnings.

2. Requiring secrecy or some type of penetralia.

3. Threatening to have you arrested or a warrant has already been issued.

4. Requiring payment in non-traditional business methods, i.e. getting gift cards and providing the redemption information to the suspect.

5. Federal agencies contacting you, i.e. the Social Security Administration or IRS (Internal Revenue Service) warning you about something and requesting your personal/confidential information. Federal agencies do not have your phone number associated with your social security number.  They will contact you via mail or contact the sheriff’s office and have us contact you.

6. Having to pay fees or reimbursements in order to collect a prize.

Contact a family member, friend, or financial advisor, such as your bank or accountant, or call the Gage County Sheriff’s Office before providing confidential information or making payments or providing confidential or personal information.

Although June is Internet Safety Month, these actions occur year-round and Gage County residents are regularly targeted by suspects, swindlers, charlatans, and other mountebanks.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310