Bondarenko warns club about cybercrime, other topics

• Bondarenko

Prescott Police Chief Mike R. Bondarenko talked to Prescott Kiwanis Thursday about the dangers of internet crime and other topics. -- Photo by Jason Schulte

Talk about it

PRESCOTT--The Prescott Kiwanis Club turned to a recognizable face for its guest speaker Thursday.

Its president and Prescott Police Chief Mike R. Bondarenko talked to the club about three current law enforcement topics making news: internet crime, Wisconsin’s Castle Doctrine and drug drinking.

Bondarenko said Cyber Monday sales were up 17 percent from last year.

“Money attracts criminals,” he said, touching on the fact 20 percent of their crimes revolve around the internet.

Therefore, he stressed, for small businesses, have their computers, laptops, etc… checked regularly to prevent their systems from being vulnerable. He also advised not to let their employees take home their information on laptops, and also make passwords alphabet soup and change them frequently.

“Internet crimes are more sophisticated than ever before,” he said, later adding, “If it is too good to be true, it is.”

He then talked about smart phones.

“Internet use is down at our library because people are using smart phones,” he said. “If you think tracking an IP is hard, a cell phone number is even harder. Don’t let someone use your phone or use it for financial transactions.”

For more please read the Dec. 12 print version of the Herald.

Tags: news, crime, prescott, wisconsin