U.S. Attorney Joshua D. Hurwit | U.S. Department of Justice
During the holiday season, online scams targeting Idaho residents have prompted a joint initiative titled "Don't Click December" by the U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI, and several local law enforcement agencies. The campaign aims to educate the public about the risks of unsolicited digital communications.
The initiative advises skepticism towards unknown emails, texts, or pop-ups. Authorities emphasize: “Don’t Click It” if there is any uncertainty regarding a link or message.
Throughout December, weekly public service announcements will highlight common scams affecting Idahoans. These include QR code scams that lead to bogus websites, cryptocurrency investment fraud known as "pig butchering," and tech support scams where criminals impersonate officials to gain access to personal information.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit noted the financial impact on victims: “We have witnessed many Idahoans lose their hard-earned money or their entire retirement savings to online scams." He stressed collaboration in reducing these risks and encouraged reporting incidents promptly.
FBI Special Agent Shohini Sinha highlighted losses exceeding $33 million last year due to such crimes in Idaho alone. Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei advised caution: “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”
AARP Idaho State Director Lupe Wissel emphasized the challenge posed by technological advances and criminal complexity but saw value in community education through this campaign.
The campaign also addresses stigma around victimization from online schemes and encourages reporting fraud incidents for investigation by authorities.
For more information on these threats and reporting procedures, visit FBI.gov or use IC3.gov for complaints.