Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community,
I hope this message finds you well. Recently, we have become aware of sophisticated scams targeting members of our community. We are currently aware that at least two families have fallen victim to these deceitful schemes. Given the nature of these scams, we believe there will be more attempts to target our community and we are writing to bring this to your attention and help raise awareness to safeguard our community against similar threats.
Last week, a family fell victim to a scam that targeted their emotions and trust. They received a distressing call that used “deep fake” technology to emulate the voice of their son, claiming he was in urgent need of financial assistance due to a fabricated emergency. This artificial intelligence was able to respond to questions and dialog in their child’s natural voice. The call was so convincing that the couple believed their son was truly in danger and transferred money under false pretenses. The detective assigned to their case informed them that this was the second incident of this nature within 2 weeks.
This incident underscores the importance of remaining vigilant and informed about potential scams, especially those that prey on our concern for loved ones. While we strive to provide a safe and secure environment within our schools, it is crucial to extend this vigilance to our personal lives and interactions outside of school premises.
To help protect our community from falling victim to similar scams, we urge you to take the following precautions:
Verify Caller Identities: Always confirm the identity of the caller, especially if they claim to be a family member or acquaintance in distress. Ask questions only the true individual would know the answers to.
Stay Calm and Rational: Scammers often use urgency and emotional manipulation to coerce their targets into immediate action. Take a moment to assess the situation calmly and critically.
Never Rush Financial Transactions: Be cautious of requests for immediate payment, particularly through unconventional means such as wire transfers or gift cards. Always verify the legitimacy of the request through multiple channels.
Double-Check Information: Validate any information provided by the caller through independent sources. For example, if the caller claims to be a family member in trouble, try contacting them directly through their known phone number or social media. Additionally, reach out to other family members or friends who might be able to confirm the situation.
As a school district, we are committed to the safety and well-being of our entire community. By remaining vigilant and informed, we can work together to protect ourselves and each other from falling victim to scams.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your safety and security are of paramount importance to us.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Best regards,
Kevin Bruggink
Superintendent
Oostburg School District