Survey ranks Indiana No. 2 for ‘phishing' victims
WXIN/WTTV — A new survey ranks Indiana number two in the nation for phishing scam victims.
Fullstack Academy, which is like a training bootcamp for IT careers, surveyed people in all 50 states about their experiences with phishing scams. The results show 40% of Hoosiers say they've been a victim, the second-highest rate in the nation. The survey also shows 69% of Hoosiers say they are not very confident they can spot a phishing scam.
Phishing scams involve someone who impersonates a real company, organization or individual to get you to give up sensitive information, often by having you click a link that takes you to a malicious website. While the attacks have evolved to include text messaging, social media and A.I., your email inbox is still the most popular 'phishing hole' for the bad guys.
The survey also revealed the most common lures used by phishing scammers. In 25 states, including Indiana, fake package delays and delivery issues are the most common ways scammers get people to click on dangerous links. That likely explains why Amazon, the U.S. Postal Service, and UPS are the names scammers impersonate the most, followed closely by PayPal and FedEx.
Although Gen-Z is becoming a more popular target for some scams, Gen-X is still receiving the most phishing emails. More than half of Gen-Xers report getting a phishing attack either weekly or daily.
These days, experts say it's hardly safe to trust any unsolicited email or text message you receive, even if it appears to come from a company you do business with.
Instead of clicking a link or calling a number in one of those messages, go to the company's website or look up their phone number on your own to check on whatever issue the message was about. That way, you know exactly who you're dealing with.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Legislative immunity is an old concept gaining new notoriety
The National Conference of State Legislatures said most state constitutions contain similar immunity from arrest provisions. (Photo from Indiana State Archives) Many Hoosiers recently learned that Indiana has an immunity statute that protects lawmakers from some arrests during the legislative session. The reaction has been surprise and frustration. One social media user posted, 'How have we gotten to the point in this state where our elected leaders are above the law? This is pure insanity & would NEVER be acceptable for the average citizen.' Another reader responded, 'Are they immune from common sense too?' So, I thought I would delve into the provision and explain why it exists and how often it's used. State Sen. Mike Bohacek was pulled over for suspected drunk driving in January and recorded a blood-alcohol content of 0.238%. But the Michiana Shores Republican wasn't charged until this week due to the legislative immunity provision. The first important fact is that no modern-day lawmaker created this exemption, and it basically mirrors a similar provision for federal lawmakers. The National Conference of State Legislatures said most state constitutions contain similar provisions. The state's prohibition is found in Article 4, Section 8 of the Indiana Constitution. 'Senators and Representatives, in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, shall be privileged from arrest, during the session of the General Assembly, and in going to and returning from the same; and shall not be subject to any civil process, during the session of the General Assembly, nor during the fifteen days next before the commencement thereof.' Indiana's current Constitution was adopted in 1851 with numerous amendments since then. But this portion goes back as far as the state's 1816 constitution before Indiana became a state. Then it was under Article 3. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE For a long time, there was no definition of breach of the peace in Indiana code but lawmakers in 2021 added one: 'breaking or disturbing the public peace, order, or decorum by any riotous, forcible, or unlawful proceedings, including fighting or tumultuous conduct.' The federal immunity provision is almost exact. Some historical texts indicate the language was created so that lawmakers weren't blocked from being able to vote on a matter or otherwise participate in proceedings. In his Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story said this: 'When a representative is withdrawn from his seat by a summons, the people whom he represents, lose their voice in debate and vote, as they do in his voluntary absence. When a senator is withdrawn by summons, his state loses half its voice in debate and vote, as it does in his voluntary absence. The enormous disparity of the evil admits of no comparison. The privilege, indeed, is deemed not merely the privilege of the member, or his constituents, but the privilege of the house also.' The Supreme Court of the United States has interpreted the provision to apply to all crimes, but Indiana has generally seen it used in cases of misdemeanors. Bohacek's case is almost identical to one from 1992 when then-Rep. Keith Bulen was pulled over for drunk driving in January. Police also didn't arrest him due to the immunity clause and he was charged weeks later after session ended. Similar to Bohacek, Bulen refused the breathalyzer test and said a prescribed medicine made him groggy. But Bulen's incident resulted in him hitting an off-duty police officer's car. Bulen's case, though, was not hidden from public view at the time. He was eventually acquitted. In 2002, two northwest Indiana lawmakers — Reps. Charlie Brown and Vernon Smith — used the provision to contest their criminal case. The Gary Post Tribune reported the pair was arrested June 18 on traffic and related offenses. They protested the action and claimed they were shown a lack of respect as elected officials and residents. The legislature was in special session in Indianapolis, although the men were in Gary. They were arrested immediately but the chief of police quickly apologized. The men were charged with obstructing traffic later that year by a special prosecutor. Smith was acquitted but Brown was found guilty. If Hoosiers want to change the constitutional provision they will have to convince lawmakers to start that years-long process because Indiana doesn't allow citizen-initiated constitutional amendments or referendums. It remains to be seen what will happen to Bohacek, including any punishment by leaders of the Senate. Voters have the ultimate say on consequences at the ballot box, but they will have to wait a long time. Bohacek isn't up for election again until 2028. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
More former Indiana players allege sexual misconduct by physician
Field Level Media More than 15 former Indiana men's basketball players allege improper sexual conduct by a former team physician, and they claim that university officials — including the late coach Bobby Knight — knew of the doctor's behavior. Two former Hoosiers sued the school last fall, but the number of complainants has grown to five with another 10 expecting to also pursue litigation, according to ESPN on Tuesday. In the existing lawsuit, former players allege that Dr. Bradford Bomba, who died last month at the age of 89, regularly performed rectal exams on male athletes during physicals despite the fact that medical guidance did not recommend them for college-age men. The lawsuit argued that this amounted to sexual misconduct, and it claimed university officials were aware of this behavior, yet failed to stop it. The players said that they raised complaints, with some even requesting a different physician. However, the athletes alleged that Knight, who died in 2023, and head athletic trainer Tim Garl instructed players to continue seeing Bomba. Garl, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, was the head athletic trainer from 1981 until this year, when Indiana said it would not renew his contract. Garl's attorneys, emphasizing that the trainer did not supervise Bomba, noted that rectal exams were a normal part of a physical. During his initial deposition a year ago, Bomba refused to answer 45 questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Last month, Indiana commissioned an investigation that found Bomba's digital rectal exams were performed in a 'clinically appropriate manner,' adding that there was 'no evidence to suggest that Dr. Bomba achieved sexual gratification.' However, Michelle Simpson Tuegel — representing the group of 10 players who are preparing to file suit — said two of her clients contradict that finding. One individual said Bomba 'fondled his genitalia' during a physical. Some medical experts indicated that it was uncommon for a physician to perform a rectal exam without any concerning history or symptoms. These procedures are generally used to screen for prostate and other cancers. In the 1990s, the American Cancer Society recommended them for men who were 50 and older. An Indiana University spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Don't fall for the latest text messaging scam claiming you have unpaid traffic fines
No, the Indiana Department of Vehicles won't text you to demand you pay your traffic tickets. In fact, there is no "Indiana DMV." In Indiana, drivers instead have the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, or BMV. But they aren't sending you these texts, either. A recent text message scam across multiple states is now targeting Hoosiers. It's yet another smishing, or SMS phishing scam, and recipients should not go to the link in the text. The scam is similar to recent fraudulent texts and emails about unpaid tolls. The messages may claim if unpaid traffic fines aren't paid right away, drivers' will be added to a violation database;' their vehicle registrations or licenses will be suspended; they'll face an additional service fee; they'll be prosecuted; and their credit scores will be affected. "Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes," one text message received Wednesday reads. It gives a link that is not for a government website. Scam texts: Indianapolis is one of the top cities receiving toll road scam texts in the United States Don't follow the instructions in the text. You can report the fraudulent texts to the Federal Trade Commission at
