Fixin' the Little Things

Friday, August 28, 2026

Thursday, May 14, 2026

State and Federal RESOURCES/GENERAL

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Utah State and Federal RESOURCES/GENERAL:

(Last updated 5.12.26)

(Search for Housing, Jobs, Food, Baby Items, Military, Transportation, Medical, Shelter, Pets/Vets, etc.)

(Credit for compiling goes to Ewa W. on Next Door)

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Thursday, May 7, 2026

Stop and think, Don't click that link

(For best viewing, open in your external Browser)

"Stop and think, Don't click that link" is a core cybersecurity philosophy championed by tech expert Kim Komando to combat the rise in phishing scams and malicious links. The primary goal is to slow down, recognize urgent or suspicious requests, and avoid falling for tricks that steal personal information or install malware. [1, 2]

Here are key takeaways based on Komando’s warnings as of 2026:

Top "Don't Click" Scams (2025–2026)

The Fake "Unsubscribe" Trap: Clicking "unsubscribe" on junk mail can make you a bigger target, as scammers use this to confirm your email address is active, says Komando.com. (Hint: Mark it as Spam)
SMS/WhatsApp "Is This You?" Photo: A common tactic where a random number sends a picture with a fake "Is this you?" message. Clicking or opening this can download malware and grab personal data.
Fake Bank/Government Alerts: Text messages regarding "frozen accounts," "USPS package delays," or "tax refunds" that demand you click a link and login, as described by the Hawthorne Police.
"Mentoring" Scams: Scammers on WhatsApp or Telegram offering fake investment opportunities, often targeting users to make initial payments. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

How to Stay Safe

Use Built-in Unsubscribe: Use your email app's official "Spam" or "Block" button rather than a link in the email itself.
Hover Before You Click: On a computer, hover your mouse over a link to see the actual URL before clicking, advises Facebook.
Go Directly to the Source: If a message claims to be from a bank or service, close the message and open the company’s official app or website directly. (If you decide you want to call, go to the company’s official website and use the number from there and not the email.)
Check for Urgency: If a message creates intense panic ("Act now or your account is closed!"), it is almost certainly a scam. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Cell Phone Calls: When you get a call from a number not in your contacts list, hold down the power button till it stops rings and the call will be sent to your voicemail. Check to see if they leave a message. If they do not, mark the number to BLOCK. Avoid talking to them if it is not about something you need or expected and block the number. (bh)
Cell Phone Texts Message: If you get a TEXT message from a number not in your contacts list, and obviously a spam sales call, mark the number to BLOCK. (bh)
Be aware that spam callers may call back from a different number, So block them again until they give up. This applies to email too. (bh)

If you receive a suspicious text, report it to your carrier by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM) and delete it immediately, according to Komando.com. [1, 2]

Make sure your number is on The National Do Not Call Registry. After you register, other types of organizations may still call you, such as charities, political groups, debt collectors and surveys. (bh)

Example of a Android Spam call screenshot and the button at the bottom to block the number

My thanks to Kim Komando for compiling the above information and consider signing up to her weekly Newsletter Email (She won't sell your contacts.) Use my special referral link to give me extra credits on her occasional prize give-a-ways.

thecurrent.komando.com/subscribe?ref=GiH1MbK7RW

(bh)