Internet Fraud Frequency

More and more people are falling victim to fraud schemes involving the Internet.

And police departments are doing what they can to combat the growing criminal trend.

But first and foremost, people need to protect themselves by being cautious.

Scam artists are using the Internet and the phone as tools to trick people into giving them personal information.

And authorities say some can be very convincing.

Marquette County Sheriff Mike Lovelace says Internet crimes have become so prevalent that many police departments are creating squads devoted solely to stopping computer crime.

Area detectives are currently receiving specialized training to deal with cyber-crimes.

Police say it’s easy to fall victim to these schemes, especially for those over 65.

If you suspect fraudulent activity in your bank account or in your e–mail, contact your local police department immediately.