Be More Careful Of Scammers Amid Pandemic, County Prosecutor Says

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — It’s been two months since Gov. Phil Murphy issued his stay-at-home order, leaving New Jersey residents with little more than social media as an avenue to communicate with their family and friends.

While online networks can provide a sense of community, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office warns the sudden increase in posting can also provide an opportunity for scammers.

“In the first weeks of quarantine, it was normal for people to try to limit their online time and social media usage,” Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer said. “As time goes on, we’re seeing people let their guards down a little bit. That leads to more posts, which in turn means more of your information is out there.”

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Even before the outbreak of the coronavirus, social media photos were often posed or planned, giving a small snapshot into someone’s daily life. To ease anxiety and stay connected, the photos have become more candid, but detectives said that candidness is what could give a scammer information they need to steal your identity.

“One of the trends now is to post your high school graduation photo with the name of the school you graduated from,” Mayer said. “While it may seem fun to share this information, you should think about how that personal information could be used against you.”

Investigators said that information can be one of the answers to the security questions asked when trying to change a password, and giving scammers easy access your accounts.

Online quizzes and challenges can be a fun way to pass time, but they can also list a lot of personal information, the prosecutor’s office warned. Users should always make sure to check the photo for any papers containing an address, account number, or other data. Even if it only takes a minute to publish a photo, it only takes scammers a few moments to steal important information.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know