It's a popular thing to do right now, as many people are working from home, or possibly having been laid off or furloughed recently, filling out social media posts/lists. These social media posts have the user fill out their favorite colors, graduation year, high school mascot, etc, etc. One Minnesota Sheriff, Scott Rose of Dodge County, is asking you to be careful with what you share online, as you might be helping hackers and identity thieves out by providing that information willingly online.

The post from Sheriff Rose states that these types of posts are called social engineering posts.

"Social engineering is the art of manipulating, influencing, or deceiving you in order to gain control over your computer system. The hacker might use the phone, email, snail mail or direct contact to gain illegal access. Phishing, spear phishing, and CEO Fraud are all examples.”

So by you filling out these types of posts you might be putting your identity and or credit score/bank account in jeopardy.

While social media can bring families/friends separated by distance closer during times like these, it can also be a treasure trove of information for those people who want to take advantage of you or a relative.

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