House sitters were arrested Friday after an attempted theft thanks to cybersecurity

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office (SBCSO), officers arrested three people after they attempted to steal from the home where they were employed as house sitters, thanks to cybersecurity measures to prevent fraud.

A 30-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man all attempted to steal property and loans from the residents whose home they were watching, the SBCSO said.

The victims of the attempted theft received a fraud alert from their credit card company and an alert from their internet provider about suspicious activity, the SBCSO explained.

The SBCSO was subsequently contacted and the victims provided information which led to the arrest of the suspects.

According to the SBCSO, both the 30-year-old man and the 36-year-old man involved in the robbery have been released from jail and prison, respectively.

The 29-year-old woman remains in custody on a $150,000 bond for her involvement in the crime committed, the SBCSO said.

The SBCSO reminds residents of tips to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft:

• Stay informed: Stay up to date on the latest scams and fraud tactics circulating in your area and online. Knowledge is your first line of defense.
• Verify Sources: Be wary of unsolicited emails, messages, or phone calls, especially those requesting personal or financial information. If in doubt, verify the legitimacy of the sender or caller before disclosing sensitive information.
• Secure your devices: Make sure your devices, including computers, smartphones and tablets, have up-to-date security software and firewalls. Regularly update your operating systems and applications to address vulnerabilities.
• Use strong passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for each online account that contain a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using a reputable password manager to securely store and manage your passwords.
• Monitor financial activity: Regularly review your bank statements, credit reports, and financial transactions for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Report any discrepancies to your financial institution immediately.
• Secure your WiFi network: Change the default username and password for your WiFi router to prevent unauthorized access. Enable encryption (WPA2 or higher) and consider hiding your network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​to add an additional layer of security.
• Update firmware regularly: Keep your routers and smart devices up to date with the latest firmware and security patches. Manufacturers often release updates to fix known vulnerabilities.
• Implement network segmentation: Create separate networks for your smart devices, computers and guests to minimize the impact of a potential breach. Segmenting your network can prevent an intruder from gaining full access to all your devices.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Where possible, enable two-factor authentication on your online accounts and smart devices. 2FA provides an additional layer of protection by requiring a secondary verification method, such as a unique code sent to your mobile device.
• Investigate suspicious activity quickly – notify law enforcement and your financial institutions as soon as you discover fraud is occurring.