For many, internet scams can range from annoying texts about unpaid tolls to threatening jail time for unpaid bills.

But while those are troublesome, it affects even more people if government agencies are hacked.

On March 28, Kitsap County notified users that their electronic notification system was accessed by an unauthorized third party, but officials confirmed that no personally identifiable information was obtained. “Only a small fraction of our subscribers may have received unauthorized cryptocurrency emails—a message Kitsap County would never send,” county officials say in the notification.

The county notification system has 53,943 email addresses. It’s unknown how many received the alerts.

On Bainbridge Island, police received two reports in March regarding internet scams, police chief Joe Clark wrote in an email.

As for the investigation and apprehension of scammers, success depends on the location of the offenders. “Most scams are committed by individuals out of state or even out of the country. That creates challenges for identifying suspects. BIPD prioritizes crimes that are committed locally, where there is a better opportunity to identify offenders,” Clark wrote.

Clark said no arrests have been made regarding recent online or phishing scams. BIPD posts social media alerts when common scams occur to keep the public informed.

Last year, the Washington state attorney general reported more than 11.6 million data breach notices were sent to Washingtonians—5 million more than the previous all-time high in 2021.

The Federal Communications Commission has created a scam glossary to help the public learn more about common scams. For details, go to www.fcc.gov/scam-glossary. The FBI has created a safety guide at www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/on-the-internet.

“We urge our subscribers to remain alert for any suspicious emails. We’ve communicated the importance of not clicking on unfamiliar links and provided extensive resources for identity theft prevention, ensuring they’re equipped with knowledge to protect themselves,” Krista Carlson, the county’s public information officer, wrote in an email.