Information Technology

A team of people learning about cyber security.

In support of our vision - Digital Innovation through Collaboration – the Information Technology team partners with the city’s departments to identify operational gaps and deliver technical solutions that will help the city and community thrive. Additionally, we are chartered to protect the city’s data and systems through education and security infrastructure management, as well as focused on providing exceptional technical support and managing and evolving the city’s technology and radio communications infrastructure. Our team is organized into two divisions - Business Transformation and IT Operations - and an Information Security Office, with skill sets to ensure that technology-focused initiatives, data, and systems are supported throughout their respective lifecycles.

Concerns over the spread of the coronavirus have resulted in scammers using fake websites about cures, counterfeit products, phishing emails and false online fundraisers to get their hands on people's money and personal information. Here are some tips to help you keep the scammers at bay:  

  • Don’t click on links or open attachments from unknown sources – this can allow malware, viruses and other threats to infect your computer. 
  • Watch out for emails and social media posts claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus. They could be phishing emails to get your information or looking to infect your computer.
  • Beware of fake COVID-19 map that looks like John Hopkins’ dashboard – this map is designed to steal data from everyone who visits. There are a lot of sites out there that look legitimate. Be sure that you are visiting coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html and no other site.
  • For the most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus visit known and reputable websites - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 
  • Ignore online offers for vaccinations. There currently are no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) — online or in stores. 
  • Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it!

Stay safe health wist and technology wise. Do your research and don't get fooled. 

 

Have you ever gotten an email from someone claiming to be royalty? In their email they tell you that they will inherit millions of dollars, but need your money and bank details to get access to that inheritance. You know this email isn’t legitimate, so you delete it, yet there are many more scams being perpetrated by criminals that sound more believable and aren’t as easy to spot. Learning to identify and avoid these scams is the first step in protecting yourself from these schemes. Senior Citizens are often particularly vulnerable to some of these fraud campaigns. The world today is full of cybercriminals launching both phishing emails, and the tried and true phone scams that never fell out of fashion. Protecting not only your finances, but also your data from these scams is more important now than ever. 

Phone Scams 

Scammers who operate by phone can seem legitimate and are typically very persuasive! To draw you in to their scam, they might: 

  • Sound friendly, call you by your first name, and make small talk to get to know you 

  • Claim to work for a company or organization you trust such as: a bank, a software or other vendor you use, the police department, or a government agency 

  • Threaten you with fines or charges that must be paid immediately  

  • Mention exaggerated or fake prizes, products, or services such as credit and loans, extended car warranties, charitable causes, or computer support 

  • Ask for login credentials or personal sensitive information 

  • Request payments to be made using odd methods, like gift cards 

  • Use prerecorded messages, or robocalls 

If you receive a suspicious phone call or robocall, the easiest solution is to hang up. You can then block the caller’s phone number and register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry (https://www.ftc.gov/donotcall).

 Email Scams 

Phishing emails are convincing and trick many people into providing personal data. These emails tend to be written versions of the scam phone calls described above. Some signs of phishing emails are: 

  • Imploring you to act immediately, offering something that sounds too good to be true, or asking for personal or financial information 

  • Emails appearing to be from executive leadership you work with requesting information about you or colleagues that they usually do not request (for example, W2s) 

  • Unexpected emails appearing to be from people, organizations, or companies you trust that will ask you to click on a link and then disclose personal information. Always hover your mouse over the link to see if it will direct you to a legitimate website  

  • Typos, vague and general wording, and nonspecific greetings like “Dear customer”

Beware that many scam and phishing emails look legitimate! An email pretending to be a company might contain pictures or text mimicking the company’s real emails. If you’re unsure about an email you received, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself: 

  • Do not click links or open attachments in emails you were not expecting

  • Do not enter any personal, login, or financial information when prompted by an unsolicited email 

  • Do not respond to or forward emails you suspect to be a scam

  • If in doubt, contact the person or organization the email claims to have been sent by using contact information you find for yourself on their official website 

If you get scam phone calls or phishing emails at home, hang up or delete the emails. If you get scam phone calls or phishing emails at work, let your organization’s security or Information Technology team know so they can help protect others from these scams! Additionally, please educate your parents and grandparents on these scams, as they are becoming only more and more common. 

Resources: 

We're excited to share that recently all patrol agents were equipped with new mobile digital computers (MDCs). These laptops help provide the agents with vital information on calls and ultimately helps them serve the community better! To find out more, check out the City of Lakewood's YouTube page!