Suspect in Norfolk murder arrested in Sioux City

On July 24, information was obtained that 28-year-old Deshawn Gleaton of Norfolk Neb. who was wanted for a murder that had occurred that day was at an apartment complex in the 2600 block of S. Rustin St.

With the assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service, Iowa State Patrol, and the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was served for the apartment he was in during the early morning hours of July 26 and Gleaton was taken into custody without incident.

He was taken to Woodbury County Jail to await extradition.

Fatality accident on Vets Bridge leaves one man dean

Updated July 27 at 10:00 am

The name of the victim who died as a result of injuries sustained during an accident on Veterans Memorial Bridge on July 25 is 26-year-old Tyler Big Bow of Sioux City.

We want to express our sympathy to his family for their loss.

The accident remains under investigation.

ORIGINAL RELEASE on July 25 at 6:00 am

On 07-25-2020 Officers of the Sioux City Police Department responded to the Veteran's Memorial Bridge for a report of a single vehicle crash. The vehicle was driven by a 26 year old male. A female passenger and a male passenger were present in the vehicle as well. The driver was transported by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center where he was declared deceased due to the injuries sustained in the collision. Both passengers were also transported by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center; the female passenger for serious injuries and the male passenger for non life-threatening injuries.

The vehicle involved was a blue 2015 Chevy Equinox that was northbound on Veteran's Memorial Bridge. The driver lost control of the vehicle which then collided with a concrete barrier on the roadside, causing significant damage to the vehicle.

The names of the persons involved are not being released at this time. The incident continues to be under investigation.

Two men arrested for Near Northside home burglary

On July 23 at approximately 3:32 PM, officers of the Sioux City Police Department were dispatched to the 1600 block of Ingelside Ave for two males kicking in the back door of a residence.

Two males gained entry into the residence and threaten to injure an adult male and female. Both males fled on foot and were apprehended by SCPD three blocks away from the scene.

Trey RedOwl (28 years old) of Sioux City, IA was charged with Burglary 2nd, carrying a weapon, simple eluding, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael Thomas Jr (28 years old) of Sioux City, IA was charged with Burglary 2nd and simple eluding.

The victims received no injuries during the encounter.

Man charged for setting numerous fires in Sioux City

The Sioux City Police Department has charged 45-year-old Howard Wanned of Sioux City with four counts of 3rd degree Arson and Ongoing Criminal Conduct after he set several fires along Interstate 29 between the Floyd River and Ravine Park Dr. on July 22 at around 1:00 pm.

A passerby reported one of the fires and several more were discovered by officers that responded. Detectives with the department that responded located Wanned walking away from a fire in the area of Ravine Park Dr. and S. Lewis Blvd.

On July 19 at about 2:52 pm, Wanned was arrested for setting a trash can on fire and also a pallet that he had leaned against shed at Pulaski Park, 2400 Vine Ave.

On that date, Wanned was also charged with 2nd degree Arson and 1st degree Criminal Mischief for a fire set on July 12 at 4607 Peters Ave after he lit the unoccupied house on fire causing damage to the house and a car parked in the garage.

Wanned was out on bail for previous charges when today’s incident occurred.

Members of Sioux City Fire and Rescue spray water on a fire set by Howard Wanned on July 22 along Interstate 29. Wanned was charged with Arson after setting several fires.

Iowa-Nebraska NAACP & Iowa Police Chiefs Association announce statewide law enforcement Equity Task Force

Iowa City, Iowa…On May 25, 2020, we watched in horror as George Floyd tragically lost his life while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers. The callousness and disregard shown for Mr. Floyd is sickening and leaves everyone, including police officers across this nation, shocked, appalled, and infuriated. The tactics demonstrated by this officer were reprehensible. The Iowa Police Chiefs Association joins our nation in condemning the actions of these officers.

Since the death of Mr. Floyd, law enforcement has observed many protests, both non-violent and violent, and we have witnessed regrettable confrontations between citizens and law enforcement officers.

The Iowa Police Chiefs Association strongly supports freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest. Although difficult to recognize right now, Iowa policing has made significant advancements in recent years. Police leaders across our nation have acknowledged the misdeeds of the past and have sought out community partners to build a better future. The Iowa Police Chiefs Association is renewing those efforts by forming a Law Enforcement Vision for Equality Task Force. IPCA President Rob Burdess, Newton Police Chief, and the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Area Conference of Branches President Betty C. Andrews are announcing the formation of this task force to create a common ground to develop proposals for necessary change, as well as to provide a communication mechanism to improve relations between law enforcement and all community members equally. The purpose of this task force is to allow for open communication between various groups about concerns or recommendations related to improving law enforcement procedures and relations with diverse stakeholders. This open exchange will allow for all parties to have their voice heard with an open mind towards understanding what is currently happening in our communities, why it is happening, and what we can collaboratively do to improve on it. This effort will allow the various groups to get familiar with each other and to develop trusting relationships that will allow for an open exchange of ideas.

“Despite the advances that Iowa law enforcement has made in recent years, there is clearly more work ahead. Iowa’s police executives, and the officers they lead, must embrace the concerns and criticism being voiced and re-examine their policies and approach” states President Burdess. “At the same time, while policing is the focus, community members and elected officials must realize they play a crucial role in moving constructive efforts forward.”

“It is undeniable that now is the time for improving law enforcement and community relationships. Those relationships are authenticated by transparent practices and engaged citizens.” Said Betty C. Andrews, President of the Iowa Nebraska NAACP. “Through establishing this statewide Law Enforcement Equity Task Force, the Iowa Police Chiefs Association is poised to ensure unbiased policing in our state. This includes building on recent improvements and also addressing racial profiling, hiring practices, citizens review boards, officers living in the communities they police, and a number of other challenging topics” She said.

Past IPCA President, Chief Jeremy Logan, Oelwein Police Department, and Iowa City NAACP President Kevin Sanders will chair the task force of stakeholders.

Members of the Law Enforcement Vision for Equality Task Force are:

Kevin Sanders President, Iowa City NAACP, Co-Chair, State Criminal Justice Committee

Chief Jeremy Logan Oelwein Police Department

Chief Tim Carmody Council Bluffs Police Chief-ILEA Council Member

Chief Rex Mueller Sioux City Police Department

Chief Daniel Banks Hudson Police Department

Sheriff Lonnie Pulkrabek Johnson County Sheriff

Sheriff Tony Thompson Black Hawk County

Sheriff Sheriff Jason Sandholt Marion County Sheriff

Comm. Stephen Bayens Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner

Lt. Ryan Doty Des Moines Police Department

Brian Guy Retired Clinton Police Department Chief – Form Chair of the ILEA Council

Joe Gonzalez Retired Des Moines Police Department Lieutenant

Ike Rayford President, Sioux City NAACP

Monique Scarlett Unity in the Community Founder

About the NAACP Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities and monitor equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. The Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Conference of Branches was founded in 1939.

Independence Day is right around the corner

REMINDER, as the Fourth of July is fast approaching:

Fireworks are not legal to discharge until July 3 through July 4 from the hours of 1:00 P.M. until 11:00 P.M.

SAFETY TIPS to consider when celebrating Independence Day:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks complete their burning, soak the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

***Sioux City Code and Violations***

19.20.030 Fireworks - Discharging General Requirements.

1. No person under the age 18 shall possess or discharge a consumer firework without parental supervision.

2. A person shall only discharge a consumer fireworks device on real property they own or on property where written consent has been given. Discharge of consumer fireworks in a public park, on a city owned property, or on a public roadway, street, or alley is strictly prohibited. The possession of consumer fireworks in a public park is strictly prohibited. 

3. Consumer fireworks shall not be possessed or discharged by persons showing visible signs of, or determined to be, intoxicated or under the influence of a drug or narcotic.

4. Any person discharging a consumer fireworks device assumes all responsibility for its operation and the consequences thereof. No person shall discharge a consumer fireworks device in a reckless manner or manner likely to cause death, injury, fire, or property damage.

5. No person shall discharge a consumer fireworks device outside the following dates and hours:

   1.  July 3 through July 4 from the hours of 1:00 P.M. until 11:00 P.M.

   2.  December 31 from the hours of 1:00 P.M. until 12:30 A.M. on January 1.

6. It shall be unlawful to alter, remove, or discharge components of a consumer fireworks device from its intended method of discharging.

7. Sky lantern open flame devices are not permitted to be released within the city limits, except if tethered by a retrievable rope so long as the person discharging has control over the sky lantern.

8. The City may, upon application in writing, grant a permit for the display of display fireworks on public property by a City agency, fair associations, amusement parks and other organizations or groups of individuals approved by City authorities when such display fireworks display will be handled by a competent operator. No permit shall be granted hereunder unless the operator or sponsoring organization has filed with the City evidence of insurance as required under Iowa Code Section 727.2, this Title, and pursuant to the current fire code adopted by the City of Sioux City.

19.20.070 Violations.

All violations of any provisions of this Chapter are hereby declared simple misdemeanors as follows:

1. Anyone violating the provisions of Section 19.20.030(2) relating to discharge of consumer fireworks in a public park, on a city owned property, or on a public roadway, street, or alley, shall upon conviction be fined a minimum amount of not less than $500 and punished as further provided in Section 1.04.100 of the Sioux City Municipal Code and pursuant to Iowa Code Section 727.2.

2. Anyone violating the provisions of Section 19.20.030(2) relating to possession of consumer fireworks in a public park shall upon conviction be fined a minimum amount of not less than $500 and punished as further provided in Section 1.04.100 of the Sioux City Municipal Code and pursuant to Iowa Code Section 727.2.

3. Anyone violating all other provisions of this ordinance shall upon conviction be fined a minimum amount of not less than $250 and punished as further provided in Section 1.04.100 of the Sioux City Municipal Code and pursuant to Iowa Code Section 727.2.

4. Violations of this Chapter shall be reported to the state fire marshal.

SCPD teams up with mental health professionals to serve those in crisis

By Sgt. Jeremy McClure, Community Policing Sergeant

In the Safe Policing for Safe Communities Executive Order Signed by the President recently, direction for police departments to partner with mental health providers when responding to people dealing with mental health, homelessness, and addiction was included. For the Sioux City Police Department, partnering with mental health professionals is business as usual.

“We seek to make these types of partnerships that improve the quality of service we can provide to the people we serve,” said Dutler “We often find that we are leaders in national trends and ahead of other departments in implementing these types of programs.”

One of those partnerships is with the Mobile Crisis Assessment Team or MCAT. The unit is composed of mental health professionals provide by the Sioux Rivers Assessment Regional Health & Disability Center that can respond with law enforcement to the location of the individual in crisis.

In 2019, the Sioux City Police Department documented over 2,800 times in which officers checked the welfare of someone. In many cases, the person being checked on were experiencing a crisis and could benefit from the help of a mental health professional. Initially, Sioux City officers had little available options for helping someone in crisis. Often, the only available option was to take them to a hospital emergency room. The partnership with MCAT has changed that.

“We send out two people trained in mental health and crisis intervention,” said Nicole Eaton, program director for Sioux Rivers. “The assessment team can then determine the level of care the person needs.”

Officers sent to check on a person determine if the matter is a mental health issue. After ensuring the safety of the scene, they will contact the MCAT and request that they come to their location. When MCAT arrives and determines that officers are not needed, then officers leave the person in the care of the MCAT. The team will then assess the person’s need for a higher level of care and if needed, will transport that person to a care facility or make appropriate referrals. The MCAT is available 24 hours a day and will respond within 60 minutes.

The MCAT was developed as part of a mandate from the State of Iowa for mental health service providers to create mobile assessment teams. Sioux Rivers was contracted by Rolling Hills Community Services Region to provide MCAT services.

“We recognized early on that there needed to be a partnership between MCAT and emergency responders in order to make this program work correctly,” said Eaton.

Seeing the opportunity to improve services provided to people in crisis or with mental health problems, the Sioux City Police Department embraced the program and trained all officers to utilize it.

“The chief has been very supportive in implementing the program,” said Officer Andrew Dutler who represents the department on the MCAT committee. “We started working with Sioux Rivers in implementing the MCAT in early 2019 and began utilizing it in November of 2019.”

For years the department has provided training to officers to help people with mental health problems and to better respond to people in emotional crisis. Some officers received additional specialized training to help in its response to people with mental health problems.  

“Although our officers received training on helping people with mental health problems or that are in crisis, the MCAT provides a higher level of specialized care and relieves officers from a non-criminal matter,” added Dutler.

Since partnering with the MCAT, the department called them out 47 times according to statistics compiled by Sioux Rivers. In 26% of the call outs, the person was taken to higher level of care and the other 74% were referred to other resources and diverted from hospital emergency rooms.

“The goal of our program is to not only assess children and adults to help determine safety and whether they need a higher level of care, but to also provide resources and follow-up support so that we can intervene in a cycle in which individuals are continually in crisis without knowing what to do or how to get help,” explained Eaton.

The partnership between the Sioux City Police Department and the MCAT continues to grow. Now with more attention being paid to how law enforcement can better serve those in our community with mental health issues, this partnership will undoubted be looked to as a successful model.

“Recently, we discussed further that with police reform being at the forefront in the nation, that it will be an even more valuable tool for law enforcement to utilize when responding to mental health related calls,” added Eaton. “We are committed to working with SCPD to strengthen that bond and partnership that we have developed over the last year and continue to work together to service our mental health community.”

Arrests made in overnight protests

UPDATED JUNE 6 - Name of a party that was arrested was omitted and another party’s name was mistakenly reported twice.

On May 31 at about 5:00 pm, a few protesters convened in front of the Sioux City Police Department. During the evening, the size of the crowd grew and it was estimated that up to 400 people were outside of the station at one point.

The protest continued past midnight and a handful of people tried to instigate more violent demonstrations. Several times, other members of the protest worked to keep things peaceful.

Officers thorough out the evening took steps to deescalate any conflict by removing themselves from areas the protesters were at.   

After midnight, members of the crowd became more aggressive and attempted to provoke officers. When their attempts failed to provoke a reaction from officers, people began throwing rocks and other objects at officers and patrol cars. Rocks were also thrown at the police station causing damage to a window.

Due to the fact that the crowd was becoming more violent, it was deemed an unlawful assembly and ordered to disperse at around 3:00 am. Several people refused that order and officers moved in to disperse them. During their attempts to disperse the crowd, rocks were thrown at officers striking several officers. Officers were forced to use some O.C. powder and spray to continue dispersing the violent crowd.

The following people were arrested.

-          Khatija J. Mills, 19-years-old, Sioux City, 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief

-          Mauke R. Butler, 28-years-old, Sioux City, Failure to Disperse

-          Dieo D. Okamba-Onolenga, 19-years-old, Sioux City, Simple Assault

-          Zaire Dean, 22-years-old, Sioux City, Unlawful Assembly

-          Nolan J. Warchorn, 22-years-old, Sioux City, Unlawful Assembly

-          Alvreez L. James, 23-years-old, Sioux City, Assault on a Peace Officer, Eluding a Peace Officer, Fail to Disperse

-          Colin t. Kochevar, 25-years-old, Sioux City, Unlawful Assembly

-          Joseph R. Smith, 38-years-old, Lawton, Unlawful Assembly

-          Hayley M. Gibson, 22-years-old, Sioux City, Unlawful Assembly

-          Keegan A. Kinzie, 20-years-old, Sioux City, Assault on a Peace Officer, Fail to Obey a Peace Officer, Failure to Disperse, Interference with Official Acts, Possession of a Control Substance

-          Aaliah R. Cruz, 18-years-old, Sioux City, Unlawful Assembly

-          Jada R. Swanson, 19-years-old, Sioux City, Unlawful Assembly

-          Siera Johnson, 19-years-old, Sioux City, Unlawful Assembly

-          Two juveniles were also arrested for failing to obey officers’ orders to disperse.  

Five officers received minor injuries when they were struck with rocks and assaulted by protesters during arrests. Numerous patrol cars were also damaged by the violent crowd.

The Sioux City Police Department supports the public’s 1st Amendment right to assembly and to protest peacefully and have demonstrated our support of people exercising this right. We are saddened that last night’s demonstration that started peacefully degraded to violence. We are thankful no one involved tonight was seriously injured. We will continue working with community groups to strengthen our relationships with members of the community and provide fair and equitable law enforcement services.

Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office joint statement on the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Minnesota.

First, we are saddened by the tragic events that occurred in Minneapolis. We extend our deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd, as well as the community in the Minneapolis area who are struggling to deal with the aftermath of this incident. 

This event has sparked outrage and fear in our nation. We as a Siouxland Community must seize this opportunity for constructive dialogue that will foster healing and assurance. 

Sioux City area Law Enforcement officers and deputies work tirelessly to build trust and relationships with the community we serve. We see our role as public servants and protectors as a noble calling. It requires a deep dedication to fair and impartial professional law enforcement services. 

Our men and women enter this profession with a sincere desire to preserve and respect the sanctity of life. They are trained to understand the many different issues that confront our diverse community to better address the fears and concerns that come with being a person of color. 

Both the Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office have deeply invested our resources in community cultural outreach and agency transparency for many years. We welcome our residents to communicate with us to build stronger unions for the safety and well-being of all citizens. One innocent life lost is too many.

We give this community our solemn pledge that we will continue to offer our hand in friendship to build community partnerships, and maintain and environment of openness and respect for all that we serve. Our recovery as a community from tragic events such as this will be difficult, but we will do it together. In unity there is healing. 

Statement from Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller​                    Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew

SCPD STAFF AND COVID-19 UPDATE APRIL 21

Several members of the Sioux City Police Department were diagnosed positive for COVID-19. These employees have been recovering and the SCPD is seeing many of these individuals return to work following Public Health and physician approval. As a public safety agency, we thought it appropriate to release limited information in the interest of transparency.

Among the SCPD staff impacted were 9 individuals of various positions with the SCPD to include the police chief, a police captain, two police lieutenants, a police sergeant, police officer and 3 civilian staff members.

These employees worked in close proximity in two offices on 2nd floor of police headquarters and were not in positions that worked closely with the public. Most reported mild symptoms following their diagnosis with two having to seek medical treatment. Since the diagnosis of these individuals, no other officers or employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and the department continues to operate with full staffing to respond to 911 calls and provide essential services.

The department continues to employ policies and procedures to mitigate the exposure of officers and employees, as well as to mitigate any chance of spreading the virus. We are working to seek the highest level of caution and safety for our SCPD team as well as the citizens that we serve.

The SCPD also appreciates the outpouring of support and assistance from the community following the discovery of cases within our department. We were overwhelmed with the support of community members and their desire to provide resources to the officers and staff to assist them in staying healthy as they continued their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chief has spoken to several of the department’s members to gauge their interest in speaking to the media about their symptoms and experience with the virus. Because this is a privacy issue, we do not intend to mandate these employees speak publicly. Several have expressed willingness to speak out, and when a final group is determined, we will notify our partners in the media so that interviews can be arranged.

Updated April 21, 2020 at 1:20 pm

Arrest made in Morningside Murder

UPDATE - The name of the victim of the murder that occurred on April 14 at 3811 Peters Ave Apt. #5 is 55-year-old Lisa Belk of Sioux City.

We wish to express our deepest sympathies to her family for their loss.

The other victim was a 28-year-old female who was treated and released for injuries she sustained. She is the daughter of the Lisa Belk. Her name is not being released at this time out of respect for her privacy.

Paul Belk, who has been charged for this matter, is the son of Lisa Belk and a brother to the other adult victim.

This incident stemmed from some sort of disturbance between the involved parties. Detectives are still investigating the exact details as this is an on-going investigation.

ORIGINAL RELEASE - On 4/14/20 at 18:11 hours, Sioux City Police Department Officers were dispatched to 3811 Peters Ave #5 for a disturbance.  Upon arrival, officers located two victims with stab wounds.  Both of these parties were transported to MercyOne Medical Center.  One of the victims received serious injuries, and one of the victims died as a result of the wounds. 

The arrested party is, Paul Belk from Beaufort, South Carolina. 30 years old

He has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Willful Injury Class D.

No further information is being released at this time pending notification of family.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Pop-Up Scams

*Pop-up warning scams*

Pop-ups occur when you’re browsing the internet and sees a small graphic or ad appear on their screen. Pop-ups are usually related to the content being viewed and link to another website with similar content or merchandise.

Malicious pop-ups can be terribly intrusive, making it difficult for the user to close the pop-up window. These pop-ups may display a message stating that the computer is infected with malware and offer a phone number for help with removing the malware. Cybercriminals often make pop-ups look like they come from a trusted source, such Norton, or other anti-virus products to appear legitimate.

Protect yourself against pop-up scams:

• Examine the message closely. Look for obvious signs of fraud such as poor spelling and bad grammar.

• When in doubt, never click on a pop-up. Instead, open your antivirus software and run a system scan.

• Pop-ups from legitimate anti-virus sources will only appear within the interface of the security software you’ve purchased. Customer support from your anti-virus software will not send users unsolicited pop-ups stating that they will fix a user’s computer if given remote access.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Tech Support Scam Calls

We rely on our computers and electronic devices for our professional and personal day to day activity. These devices need to run fast and efficient, so what should you do when someone calls claiming your device has been compromised by a virus or malware?

*Tech support call scams*

Tech support cold calls are when a scammer calls a potential victim claiming to be from a reputable security company. They lie and say they found malware on the victim’s computer.

The criminal pretends to offer a solution by getting the user to install a type of remote desktop software. This allows the scammer access to the computer to install real malware. In addition to attempting to install malware on the machine, these scammers will often ask for a fee to “fix” the issue.

How to help protect yourself against tech support call scams:

• If a person calls claiming to work for a specific, well-known company, look up the phone number online before you take any further action.

• Never allow remote access to your computer or devices.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Vishing

As promised, here is another type of phishing scam known as “Vishing.” Equip yourself with the knowledge and power to protect you and your loved ones from scammers. As we’ve mentioned before, with continued advances and reliance on technology, scammers have several ways they attempt to gain access to our personal information, and here’s another:

*Vishing scams*

Vishing (voice or VoIP phishing) is the voice version of email phishing. “V” stands for voice, but otherwise, the scam attempt is the same. It is a phone scam in which individuals are tricked or scared into handing over valuable financial or personal information to scammers.

How to help protect yourself against vishing scams:

• Never give personal information over the phone. Hang up, look for the number of the company on their official website, and call them directly to confirm legitimacy. 

• Don’t return a call to the original number. When looking up the company website, make sure it is legitimate. Fake websites often contain misspellings and poor grammar.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Email Phishing

As the public is continually updated and inundated with information about the coronavirus, scammers have been upping their game to take advantage of folks during this vulnerable time. With continued advances and reliance on technology, scammers have several ways they attempt to gain access to our personal information.

*Email Phishing Scams*

An email phishing scam is a fraudulent email message that appears to be from a person or company known to the victim. It attempts to illegally gather personal and/or financial information from the recipient, which is the goal of most scams.

A phishing message typically includes at least one link to a fake website, designed to mimic the site of a legitimate business. The message entices the recipient to provide information that could be used for identity theft or online financial theft.

How to help PROTECT YOURSELF against email phishing scams:

• Do not click any links or download any attachments. Instead, open your web browser and go to the website in question to verify the legitimacy of the email/company.

• Be vigilant. Pay attention. Phishers have been known to use real company logos to make their communications seem legitimate. They also use spoofed email addresses, which are like the actual company’s address. However, the address may be misspelled slightly or come from a spoofed domain.