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28 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JUNE 2024 At our April meeting, Doug Tani from Waste Management presented our program about how to correctly dispose of general waste, recyclables, and green waste. In addition, Siomara Giroux and Susan Foxworth from Beaumont Wastewater Management provided us with useful information on the proper disposal of food products in our drains. In May, we scheduled the CAL FIRE to provide us with wildfire prevention guidelines as we approach the hot and dry summer months. In June, we have scheduled Guillermo Soriano, San Gorgonio Hospital Stroke Coordinator, to provide us with important information on stroke prevention and management. DON'T GO "PHISHING" IN UNCHARTED WATERS! HCN Bank, from their continuing CyberSmart Series, has provided the following information on protecting us from SMS phishing or smishing scams. Beware of Smishing Scams SMS phishing, or smishing, leverages the widespread use of smartphones and text messaging to exploit unsuspecting victims. It is becoming a prevalent tactic among cybercriminals, targeting individuals through text messages. Smishing attempts to trick recipients into revealing personal information or downloading malicious soware via links in seemingly legitimate text messages. Here's What You Need to Know Smishing messages oen mimic notifications from trusted entities, such as banks, government agencies, or popular retailers, claiming issues with your account, prizes won, or urgent actions required. e goal is to prompt you into clicking on a link or providing sensitive information, leading to fraud or identity the. ese messages can be convincingly craed, making them sometimes hard to distinguish from legitimate communications. Our Recommendations: Verify Before You Trust: Always verify the source of a text message before taking any action. Contact the company using official channels if you are unsure. Do Not Click on Suspicious Links: Clicking on links in unsolicited text messages can install malware on your device or direct you to phishing websites. If in doubt, don't click. Guard Your Personal Information: Never share personal, financial, or log in information in response to a text message. Legitimate organizations will not request sensitive information via text. Enable Spam Filters: Many phones offer features or apps that can filter or block potential spam messages. Enabling these can reduce the number of unsolicited texts you receive. Report Smishing Attempts: Forward suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) to report them to your mobile carrier and notify relevant authorities like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help combat these fraudulent activities. Protecting yourself from smishing attacks requires vigilance and an understanding of the risks and methods used by thieves. By following these recommendations, you can significantly lower your chances of becoming a victim. Remember, "If you see something, say something." We would like to thank our block captains and Community Awareness Committee members for all they do to help keep our community safe. ~ Frank Hilberg, hilbergfrank@gmail.com Community Awareness

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