What a fantastic and informative evening we shared at our April dinner meeting! There’s nothing quite like good food and great company, especially when paired with such vital information for our community.

Empowering Our Community Against Cyber Crime
We would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to Detectives Benbow & Garner from the Fort Collins Police Services Cyber Crimes Unit. They delivered an outstanding presentation on the most common forms of identity theft circulating today.

While the topic can be daunting, our guest speakers focused on empowerment—sharing practical, actionable steps we can all take to avoid being taken advantage of. They informed us on the scams hitting our community hardest right now, including:

• Identity Theft & Account Takeovers
• Romance & Investment (Cryptocurrency) Scams
• Impersonation Calls (IRS, Social Security, etc.)
• Phishing Emails and Computer “Cleaning” Scams

Simple Habits for Stronger Security
Many of the tips shared might sound familiar, but in a world that moves this fast, they are always worth repeating. The Cyber Crimes Unit reminded us that government agencies will never call, text, or email you out of the blue demanding payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

The golden rule? Pause. If something feels off, don’t share your details. Hang up or stop responding and independently verify the source using a trusted website or phone number.

Pro Tip: Before clicking a link in an email, hover your mouse over it. Check for misspellings or odd domains. When in doubt, bypass the email entirely and go directly to the organization’s official website in a new browser window.

Bringing the Message to You
The Cyber Crimes Unit is on a mission to protect as many people as possible. If your workplace, or community group could benefit from this eye-opening presentation, we highly encourage you to reach out. You can contact the Fort Collins Police Department at 970-416-2180 to learn more about scheduling a session.

Celebrating Our “Super Star Quotations”
To wrap up our wonderful evening, Quota President Kim M. took a moment to recognize a very special group of people: our “Super Star Quotations.” These are the dedicated spouses and significant others who volunteer their time behind the scenes. Whether they are moving furniture, fixing equipment, or “schlepping” supplies, they are a part of the backbone of our logistics. To all our Quotations: please know how much we truly appreciate everything you do to support our mission!

It was a night of learning, gratitude, and community strength. We can’t wait to see you at the next one!