03/04/2026
P***c Service Announcement!
Attention Highlands County residents and businesses, recently we have seen a large increase in scam emails claiming you have a ACH payment waiting and telling you to click the attachment to see the pending payment. We have also seen the same kind of emails except saying its from the SSA (Social Security Administration) and telling you to click the attachment to see your statement. When you click on those attachments, it "Ghost installs" a remote connect software on your computer allowing whomever is on the other end to remote access your computer without you knowing. "Ghost install" means it will install the software without any user input and without any visible conformation. So you have no idea the remote connect software was ever installed on your computer. (unless you look in your Downloads folder in Windows Explorer where you should see the executable file that claimed to be a document)
Once the scammer is remote logged into your computer, they potentially have access to your online banking, emails, passwords for other sensitive websites such as credit cards, etc.
One way to know if the email is a scam is to pay close attention of the actual senders' email address. It will be something completely random and not from ssa.gov or from your bank for example. If you question it (and you should) call the U.S. Social Security Administration or your bank if the email you received claimed to be from one of those.
Please be very vigilant now days while online or checking your email. The Scammers are getting much craftier. In the past two weeks alone, we have helped 7 client's remove the remote connect software from their computers and showed them what to look for in the said email they received.
If you have any questions, please call us at 863-385-2843
