As a follow up to the recent presentation on Scams and Frauds, The Rotary Club of Murphy welcomed Isaiah Peterson, cybersecurity specialist from Nerd for Hire.

He was educating Rotary of Murphy members on protecting themselves from the growing threat of internet fraud and hacking schemes.

Mr. Peterson delivered a comprehensive presentation highlighting common scams that target individuals and businesses in the community. He focused on prevalent threats, including phishing emails, urgent messages requesting funds, and account closure threats designed to create panic and force hasty decisions.

"These scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their approaches," Peterson explained. "They're now customizing their attacks to target our local community."

The presentation included examples of social media scams and impersonation tactics, such as fake friend requests and duplicate accounts on platforms like Facebook. Peterson shared several examples of local scam emails, including a recent scheme targeting Clay County residents. In this particularly troubling case, scammers contacted individuals who had recently experienced a death in the family, sending fraudulent payment requests that appeared to come from a funeral home.

Peterson provided practical cybersecurity recommendations for attendees:

• Keep all devices and software updated with the latest security patches

• Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software

• Use strong, unique passwords for each online account

• Consider implementing a password manager for better security

• Change passwords every 6-12 months

• Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible

Club members expressed their appreciation for local experts like Isaiah Peterson, who are willing to share this critical information with our organization. As these scams become more targeted to our local area, education becomes the best defense. 

The Rotary Club of Murphy continues its commitment to community education and awareness through its regular meeting program featuring experts on topics relevant to community well-being and safety.