Written by: Jeff Harrelson, Manager of Broadband Services

If an email showed up in your inbox with that said,"Send me your money," what would you do with it?  Of course, you would delete it.  But, what if that request was hidden?  Would you know what to do?  Would you even know it was the same request?  “So,” you ask, “how can someone disguise that statement?”

Well, they can and they do.  And every day people fall for it.  This is a very common scam known as PHISHING.  It is like fishing where some bait is thrown out in the hope that something bites.  In this case it is a practice of electronically requesting personal information such as address, passwords, birthdates, credit card information, social security numbers, or any other information that can identify you.   This information can then be used to steal your identity.   With this information the perpetrator can cause you all kinds of grief.  For example: 

• They may use your email address for spam.  You could lose your email address, lose your internet service and/or unwillingly spread viruses all over the world.
• They may be able, with surprisingly little information, to access your bank records, medical records, credit card, or other accounts that can cause you substantial financial loss.
• They may use your identity as a front for criminal activity so that once the authorities begin to investigate, you appear to be the criminal and the real criminals are able to vanish into the thin air of technology.

Now that we have touched on the disgust, let’s get back to the disguise.  You are being phished if you get an email that appears to be from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) that says:

“You are nearing the size limits of your account.  Click here to upgrade now.”
Or
“This email account will be deactivated shortly.  Verify your information here.”

Once you click on the link, you will be taken to an official looking form that will ask you “for security” to confirm your password, account number or some other form of identification. 

You are also being phished if you get an official looking email that appears to be from your bank, e-bay or other similar online account – yes it will have the logo and everything – and it warns:

“Update to online account information required.  Complete activation here.”

Or

“Security alert.  Unauthorized access to your account.  Click here for details.”

If you click on a legitimate looking link in the email you will go to a website that is set up to look like official but is designed specifically to extract your personal information. 

If you get strange requests about your social media account – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., that you didn’t expect, request or otherwise authorize, you are probably being phished.

Websites like FraudWatch International  actually publish the exact known messages that are circulating on the internet.   But, the best way to avoid being scammed is to educate yourself.    Check out the anti-phishing website http://www.apwg.org/resources/overview/avoid-phishing-scams  or even the FBI website on common fraud schemes http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud.

And just remember a few tips:

• If you didn’t request something, it is suspect.
• Your ISP, bank, credit card company, etc. will NEVER, EVER ask for personal information or passwords in an email.
• If there seems to be typing, spelling, and syntax errors in the message, it shouldn’t be trusted.
• Always call the company that appears to be making the request if you get something that is suspicious.
• If you don’t know what it is – DON’T click on it. 
• Keep your virus/malware protection up-to-date
• This scam is not limited to emails – be aware of similar requests by phone, cell phone and regular mail.

This makes us smile, and we hope it does you, too! Sand Prairie Wireless provided more than 500 seed packets for students at area schools this spring. We just received this heartwarming photo from Ms. Amber Smith at Milledgeville Elementary with a thank you. 

Milledgeville Elementary, you are very welcome! Thanks for sending this great picture.

Grow with us!
Proud of our roots, Sand Prairie Wireless—a service of Jo-Carroll Energy—continues the mission the company was founded upon, bringing services to enhance the quality of life to rural areas.

Congratulations to Keith Kouzmanoff, our March "What's Poppin'" Winner!

Keith's prize: a $25 gift card to the Co-op Connections member of his choice. And how fitting that Keith chose a $25 gift card to the Great American Popcorn Company in Galena, Illinois!

How can you be a What's Poppin' winner, too?
Enjoy popcorn at your favorite local high school sporting event. Look for the logo (see above) and scan the QR code with your smart phone OR visit www.jocarroll.com/whatspoppin to see what news, events and great discounts we have to share with you! On the page, be sure to enter to win. It's that easy. Every time you visit the page, you have a chance to win $25 from the Co-op Connections member of your choice. Drawings are held monthly.

Sand Prairie Wireless and Jo-Carroll Energy are proud to support the communities they serve. Popcorn bags were donated to area high schools in the Sand Prairie Wireless and Jo-Carroll Energy service area.

Learn more about how you can save at local businesses—check out our Co-op Connections page and support our members!

How are you celebrating Earth Day? Sand Prairie Wireless has made seed packets available to area elementary school teachers to celebrate Earth Day. We've already given away more than 500 packets.

The card that offers discounts at over sixty local merchants, has saved members more than $182,000 thusfar on prescriptions and provides significant savings on dental, vision and chiropractic care is in route to every Jo-Carroll Energy and Sand Prairie Wireless member’s mailbox.

Jo-Carroll Energy and Sand Prairie Wireless members will receive a new Co-op Connections^® Card with their monthly statement between April 12 and May 14, 2013. For members participating in e-Bill, a card will be mailed to the address listed on the member’s account. These new cards are also available at all three Jo-Carroll Energy offices in Elizabeth, Savanna and Geneseo, Ill.

Healthy Savings, recently added to the growing list of Co-op Connections^® Card benefits, includes 20 to 40 percent off a range of dental care services, 10 to 60 percent off eyeglasses, contact lenses and eye exams, and 30 percent off chiropractic treatments at participating providers.

To locate participating providers in the Healthy Savings program, call 1 (800) 800-7616 with your Co-op Connections^® Card handy or visit www.connections.coop.  Detailed information on these savings and how to take advantage of the entire Co-op Connections^® program, including pharmacy and local discounts, is posted online as well.

Co-op Connections^® is a member benefit of Jo-Carroll Energy and Sand Prairie Wireless, your Touchstone Energy cooperative. 

For more information, visit the cooperative’s website at www.jocarroll.com. 
For more information about Sand Prairie Wireless products and services visit www.connectSP.com.      

As a Sand Prairie Wireless subscriber, you are a member of the Jo-Carroll Energy Cooperative. Attend the Annual Meeting on April 13, meet your team and learn more about your benefits!

2013 Annual Meeting of Members
Saturday, April 13, 2013
7-9:30 am—Breakfast / Elizabeth Community Building
10 am—Annual Meeting / Highland Community College West Gymnasium, Elizabeth

While attending your favorite high school sporting event, enjoy the popcorn BUT, more so, be sure to check out the bag!

Jo-Carroll Energy and Sand Prairie Wireless have donated popcorn bags to schools in our service area—Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties. But there's more than just fresh, warm, buttery goodness... 

On the popcorn bag, you'll find a web address and a QR code that can be scanned with a smart phone. Type or click the link to take you to jocarroll.com/whatspoppin, fun tidbits of interest PLUS a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to a Co-op Connections business in your community!

Don't delay--click to find out what it's all about.
{We'll give you this one without buying the popcorn!}

Proud to be supporting our communities.
Sand Prairie Wireless, a service of Jo-Carroll Energy

Budget Travel is sponsoring a “Coolest Small Town in America” contest, and our very own Mt. Carroll, Illinois is in the top 15! Online voting continues through midnight on February 15.

To cast your vote, click here.  

You might also enjoy the article published by the Mirror Democrat.

 

Welcome to the NEW Sand Prairie Wireless website!

Jeff Harrelson, Manager of Broadband Services

We are glad you have taken the time to visit. Our intent is to make this site very useful for you so you will come back often. 

We have always tried to provide local content within our site. Our new focus will take this commitment to community even further. As we build the site, we will be featuring input from area schools, community organizations and you, our site users. We know you have many places to get news and information. What we want to provide is that place where you can share some of your news, information, pictures, recipes and so much more.  This is just one more way that we can be “More than just Internet.”