How to protect your cell phone account from scammers

Investigators took down a suspect wanted in a nearly million-dollar fraud scheme in Lee County.

Secret service agents say Nelson Dejesus and five others operating out of New York came up with an elaborate scheme to get cell phones for free.

According to court documents, the suspects would add themselves onto unsuspecting victim’s cell phone accounts.

Once they did, they were able to walk into phone stores and walk out with brand new phones, sticking the victims with a hefty price tag.

So how can you protect yourself and your account?

• Go online, and check your account often
• Set up two-factor authentication
• Use strong passwords, and change them at least twice a year
• Use a pin before any transactions

And anytime you are on the phone with your provider for a service or building or billing question, ask if there have been any changes to your account.

When the fraud was discovered, none of the victims in the case had to pay for the phones.

RELATED:

• FINRA: Keeping Your Account Secure
• FTC: How To Keep Your Personal Information Secure 
• Homeland Security: Take steps to ‘own’ your online presence
• FBI: Internet Crime Complaint Center 
• 6 Defendants Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Cellphone Fraud Scheme