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Tech & Democracy: Safety Tips



March’s HamCo Connect focused on Tech & Democracy, and we had a fantastic presentation from Indiana’s own Dana Black. Dana walked us through the politics of the day, gave a helpful ActBlue explainer, and answered questions from the audience about how the platform works.


The biggest takeaway? No, ActBlue does not sell your data.


Because the conversation was so engaging, we unfortunately ran out of time to hear from Zach Phillips about internet safety tips. An incredibly important topic and a good reminder for all of us.


As I mentioned during the meeting, everyone should be practicing internet safety. Some people in the room have access to party data, and some of y’all… well, I just don’t want you getting scammed out of $200,000.


After the meeting, Zach sent a fake “spam” email to attendees as a demonstration. It was fairly obvious that it was fake, but these are the same tools scammers use every day to get people to click links through email, social media, and text messages. Did you notice something was off?


Please remember, we’re all connected. If you click on a malware link, it can potentially spread through your network, including people you know through HamCo Dems.


So here are a few reminders to keep in mind.


Email and Text Safety Tips


Things to Watch For

Sender Name

Check the sender carefully. Does something look off?

Example: Westfie|d instead of Westfield.


Sender Email Address

Look closely at the domain name.

Example:

Whatever appears directly before .com, .org, or .me is the actual domain name. Scammers rely on this trick to confuse people.


Hover Over Links (Don’t Click)

Before clicking a link, hover over it and check where it actually goes. Give this link a try. Where is this link actually leading to? Hamcodemsin.org


*Hint: If you're using a Chrome browser it will show the actual link in the bottom left corner.


Watch for “Funky” Letter Substitutions

Scammers will swap letters with numbers or symbols that look similar.


Suspicious Requests

Be cautious if:

  • An old friend suddenly asks you to vote for them in a contest

  • Someone you haven’t heard from in years sends a random link

  • A company asks you to become a “brand ambassador” out of the blue


When in Doubt

Stop what you're doing.

Hover over the link and check the domain name.

For example, does it actually say hamcodemsin.com?

If you’re unsure, don’t click it.


Social Media

Most social platforms will send in-app notifications if there’s an issue with your account. This is different from a direct message.


Example:

If Instagram says you need to update your password, open the Instagram app directly and check for an official message there.Meta apps do not send direct messages asking you to change your password.


Email Safety

Even if an email makes it past your spam filter, you should still verify the sender before clicking links or downloading attachments.


What To Do If Something Looks Suspicious

If it's related to HamCo Dems

If you're using a HamCo Dems asset (our email system, a city account, or a party platform) and you receive a suspicious email—or accidentally click a questionable link—please contact us immediately at:

support@hamcodemsin.org or hello@hamcodemsin.org


You can send a screenshot of the message and we’ll help investigate.


If it's a Personal Account

If you're worried that you've clicked a bad link or shared information: Do not hide it.


Scammers succeed when people panic and stay quiet.


Instead:

  1. Stop

  2. Take a breath

  3. Contact a trusted person (family, friend, financial advisor)


Ask for help walking through the steps to secure your account(s) and stop the attack.


You are not the first person this has happened to, and you won’t be the last. The important thing is acting quickly but not to panic.


We're all in this together—and staying safe online helps protect our entire community.


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