removed any doubt, and Kate realized she had been the victim of a scam. Regrettably, her initial contacts with the police in Pennsylvania did not go well. Furthermore, she was unable to recover the funds she lost in the scam. However, she has found a way to move beyond the damage of her scam and now works to prevent future victimization, to support those that are victims, and to increase trust and understanding between victims and law enforcement through Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) and Hug Kits provided through the Unbreaking Project. Despite Mrs. Kleinert’s experience, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is committed to supporting our residents and helping to both prevent scams and support those impacted. If you are concerned you are being scammed or may have been the victim of a scam, DON’T DELAY. Scammers prey upon victims feeling embarrassed or afraid to contact authorities. Contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at (540) 672-1200 for assistance.
Following Mrs. Kleinert’s powerful story from the victim’s perspective (and lunch), Brett Johnson, the event’s keynote speaker, took the stage to share his experience... that of a professional cybercriminal. Convicted of dozens of felonies and previously featured on the United States Most Wanted list, Mr. Johnson helped create many of the tools that made cybercrime possible. Now, he speaks at events like the Triad Conference. Admitting that he could not undo the things he had done, he said his goal was to teach attendees how to “protect yourself from someone... like I used to be.” His message helped demystify the mindset of a scammer, and it intentionally aimed to help shake off any sympathetic notions the audience might have towards the scammer. He reinforced that scammers choose to victimize people, and that they “attack you on an emotional level.” Noting his personal experience, he said, “In order
OCI May 2026 Don’t forget! If you are concerned you are being scammed or may have been the victim of a scam, Contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at (540) 672-1200 for assistance. 18 Making sure you are using different passwords (passphrases are even better) for each login. That way, if a scammer/hacker gets access to one account through a phishing attempt or data breach, they may not get access to other, more damaging, accounts. Considering credit freezes to help protect against scammers using your credit to open fraudulent accounts. to defraud you, I have to get you to trust me.” To illustrate this, he recalled an early scam he performed through eBay. Taking place during the height of Beanie Baby popularity, he listed a cheap plush toy as if it were one of the most highly-sought collectibles. The buyer complained after receiving the fraudulent item, but quickly gave up. He got away with that crime, noting he did it under his own name. Mr. Johnson used this example to illustrate how scammers leverage a victim’s embarrassment (or even feelings of guilt) to make scams possible, knowing they will likely just give up and try to move on. Throughout his time, he reiterated that victims should not feel guilty or at fault for the actions a criminal takes against them. He closed his talk with recommendations for ways to avoid being a victim. These included: Using a secondary source to verify information “outside the platform.” By this, he meant leaving the chat, platform, call, or environment that the scammer wanted to use, and checking facts through another method. Finding a friend (an enemy was even better, he joked) to talk to, buy time, and reset emotionally before taking any action with regards to the suspicious request or message.
Powered by FlippingBook