This month is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which makes it a good time for Alva and Hopeton banks to join in presenting information about cyber-crime. There are 3 free presentations on Tuesday, Oct. 25, that offer a wealth of information about the types of scams local people are experiencing and ways to protect ourselves.
The first presentation, Lunch and Learn, will be at the Woods County Senior Citizens Center in Alva where participants can enjoy lunch and the program from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Those attending will hear topics geared toward scams targeting our older citizens. Magen Lehr from Alva State Bank asked me to emphasize that the younger generation is encouraged to join in because they often have the opportunity to protect elderly relatives, parents and grandparents from the bad guys.
An afternoon session from 3 to 4 p.m. called Small Business Snack and Share will be held at the Northwest Technology Center in Alva. This presentation will focus on how to protect your business email from being compromised, the importance of backups and other topics geared toward businesses.
The final Dine and Discuss program will be held at the Merchant’s Building at the Woods County Fairgrounds in Alva with a meal included from 5:00-8:00pm. This will be a more general presentation.
Remember, all the programs are free. You just need to pick up tickets at one of the five local banks participating or the Alva Chamber office. The banks will have tech experts available to speak and answer questions. These financial institutions see a surprising number of scam attempts, and they want to get the information out to protect local citizens.
No matter what your age, you can be taken in by tricky criminals. I encourage you to take advantage of the free programs (and food) provided by local banks on Oct. 25. Don’t forget to pick up your tickets!