tips-to-protect-yourself-online

Tips to Protect Yourself Online

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Tips to Protect Yourself Online During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis is encouraging Floridians to ‘Be Cyber Smart’ and is raising awareness to stay safe and secure online. As Floridians are spending more and more time in front of screens due to COVID-19, CFO Patronis is providing resources and tips to protect Floridians’ identity online.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to raise awareness in communities statewide about the importance of cyber security and to ensure that all Floridians have the information they need to be safer and more secure online. With more and more Floridians paying bills, shopping and browsing online this year, the chances of getting scammed are on the rise, so consumers need to stay vigilant and beware of the signs of fraud. I encourage all individuals and businesses to take action today to ‘Be Cyber Smart’ and learn how to protect your identity online to ensure you don’t fall victim. Learn about the latest scams and report signs of fraud immediately at FraudFreeFlorida.com.”

Tips to Protect Your Identity Online

1. Don’t rush to act. Phishing emails often create a false sense of urgency and insist you act immediately on the request. This should always be a red flag. Suspicious emails sometimes appear to be sent from someone you know, so contact that person directly to verify it’s really from them—frequently it’s not.

2. Always be cautious of hyperlinks. Avoid clicking on hyperlinks in emails and hover over links to verify authenticity. Also, ensure that URLs begin with “https.” The “s” indicates encryption is enabled to protect users’ information.

3. Guard your details on social media. Cybercriminals can piece together important personal information from your social media accounts to make phishing emails more realistic and specific. Just because you receive an email containing details about you, such as your full name, job title, and address, that does not mean it’s coming from a legitimate source.

4. Try two-factor authentication. Help protect your accounts even if your passwords are hacked by using a two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication requires a password and another type of information to log in to your account, usually a code sent to you via text message.

central-florida-businesses-worry-about-the-legal-liabilities

Central Florida Businesses Worry About the Legal Liabilities

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Central Florida Businesses Worry About the Legal Liabilities of Reopening

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — State leaders are considering new legislation, as many business owners are now worried about liability lawsuits as a result of opening their doors during the pandemic.

At Steve’s Famous Diner in Daytona Beach, owner Christos Mavronas claims they are trying to get back on their feet.

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While is he taking many precautions against COVID-19, he is still worried that by opening his doors he is also opening himself up to potential lawsuits.

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If someone decides to sue, even without proof, Mavronas believes he’ll probably go out of business.

“We just want something to protect us, to protect that from happening,” he said.

That’s why the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce is supporting legislation to discourage frivolous lawsuits.

“So we’ve had discussions with Gov. DeSantis, obviously we are behind his push to have this kind of legislation to protect businesses, also CFO Jimmy Patronis is very much behind and in favor of these liability protections,” said Robert Lloyd, Chairman of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce.  “You know we have to restart our economy, we have to give our businesses a chance.”

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“We need the legislation because businesses are already suffering as it is and we don’t want this liability worry thrown on our back, we have enough on our backs,” said Mavronas.

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CFO Jimmy Patronis Returns $5.6 Million in Unclaimed Property

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CFO Jimmy Patronis Returns $5.6 Million in Unclaimed Property to Orlando Area in September

ORLANDO, Fla.— Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced today that during September 2020, he returned more than $5.6 million in Unclaimed Property into the pockets of Orlando residents and business owners. Since CFO Patronis took office in 2017, he has returned more than $1 billion to Floridians and he is on track to make 2020 a record-high year in returns. In addition, the CFO recently announced that during September, he returned more than $28 million in Unclaimed Property statewide.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “I am excited to announce that during September, we returned more than $5.6 million to residents and business owners in the Orlando area in Unclaimed Property. This news is especially important for Floridians right now because many individuals are looking for financial relief due to the impacts of COVID-19. One in five Floridians has Unclaimed Property just waiting to be claimed and it only takes a few minutes to search now by visiting FLTreasureHunt.gov.”

Tips to Check if You Have Unclaimed Property:

1. Check the Website. Go to FLTreasureHunt.gov and enter in your information to see if you have unclaimed property. One out of every five Floridians has unclaimed property or dollars.

2. Fill Out All Forms. Read carefully, fill out completely, and sign your claim form. Each claim form will detail the documentation you are required to provide. The required documentation will include (but may not be limited to) a copy of your current identification reflecting your current mailing address and documentation proving your ownership of the account. Please refer to the claim form for the specific documentation required for your claim.

3. Drop in the Mail. Mail the completed claim form with the required documentation to the address indicated on the form.

4. No Cost to You. Checking the official website and filling out the claim form via the state will not cost you any money.

Unclaimed Property is a financial asset that is unknown or lost or has been left inactive, unclaimed or abandoned by its owner. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances, and refunds. Unclaimed property also includes contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes in financial institutions. Unclaimed property assets are held by business or government entities (holders) for a set period, usually five years. If the holder is unable to locate, re-establish contact with the owner, and return the asset, it is reported and remitted to the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property.

To search for unclaimed property or to claim an account, go online to FLTreasureHunt.gov.

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).