Clearwater, FL – The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents not to plug in random or “free” flash drives, saying scammers are using them to spread ransomware and steal personal data.
According to the sheriff’s office, USB drives found in parking lots, received in the mail, or bought from unverified online sellers could be loaded with malware. Once connected, they can automatically install malicious software capable of stealing passwords, deleting files, or spreading across entire networks before users realize what happened.
Deputies say scammers have disguised these drives to look like legitimate correspondence from organizations such as the IRS or health agencies, making them appear trustworthy. Some are even mailed out as fake “promotional gifts.”
Residents who find unknown flash drives are urged to throw them away or, if discovered at work, turn them in to their IT department. Authorities stress that only USB drives purchased from reputable retailers should ever be trusted.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that personal data is worth far more than the small storage capacity these suspicious devices offer.
Learn more about the scam in the latest edition of Inside the Star, linked in the sheriff’s office’s official post.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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