Concealed Carry & Firearms Safety Training Blog

Did You Get One of These Emails?

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 19:24:04 Z

How a routine firearms training inquiry led to unauthorized computer access and fraudulent gift card purchases.

If you are a firearms instructor, the two messages below may look completely ordinary. That is the point. They looked like the kind of inquiries instructors hope to receive: a couple of beginners asking for safe, professional firearms training. One came through ShootingClasses.com. The other came directly to me two days later. I responded to the second one, and that decision eventually led to unauthorized access to my computers, fraudulent Amazon gift card purchases, and two exhausting days of cleanup.

I am publishing the messages because the wording matters. A scam does not always announce itself with misspellings, threats or an unbelievable promise. Sometimes it sounds exactly like a prospective student.

The First Message

On September 22, 2026, a message submitted under the name Peter Pius arrived through ShootingClasses.com. The inquiry read:

"Hello there, My spouse and I are located in FL and we are interested in learning the fundamentals of responsible firearm ownership and safe handling. We are both beginners and would like to find a qualified and certified firearms instructor who can provide training covering firearm safety, proper handling, storage, range safety, and basic shooting fundamentals. We are looking for a professional, safety-focused instructor and would appreciate any information about your training programs. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you."

At some point before my computer problem, Bruce at ShootingClasses.com had sent out a warning. I not know how I missed it, but I did. Looking back, that warning matters because the first approach I had already come through a channel that instructors reasonably use to meet perspective students.

The Second Message

On September 24, 2026, a direct email arrived under the name Michelle Laura with the subject line Firearms beginners safety training inquiry. It said:

"Hello. My spouse and I are located in The villages, FL and we are interested in learning the fundamentals of responsible firearm ownership and safe handling.

We are both beginners and would like to find a qualified and certified firearms instructor who can provide training covering firearm safety, proper handling, storage, range safety, and basic shooting fundamentals.

We are looking for a professional, safety-focused instructor and would appreciate any information about your training programs.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing form you."

That is the message I answered. At the time, I saw a believable training inquiry from two beginners in The Villages. The wording was nearly identical to the earlier message, but I did not connect the two.

The names above are the names displayed in the messages. I cannot say whether they belong to real people, were borrowed, or were invented by whoever sent the messages. I have omitted the displayed email addresses and telephone number from this article.

From a Student Inquiry to a Supposed Video Interview

The contact eventually shifted from an ordinary request for firearms training to what I understood would be a video interview. I believed someone wanted to interview me on video. Instead, I was socially engineered into allowing access that I never would have knowingly granted to a stranger.

They sent me an email containing what appeared to be a Zoom meeting link. When I clicked it, I was taken to a webpage that looked exactly like Zoom. The page said I did not have the newest version, and it automatically downloaded an installer into my Downloads folder. Then it just sat there.

So, me being ever helpful, I double-clicked the installer. That was all it took. When I returned to their meeting-invitation link, it took me back to the same webpage. There was still no actual invitation or place to enter the meeting.

A few minutes later, the people on the other end suggested that I try another computer. I did, with the same result. Then they wrote back and advised me to try it on my cellphone. That was when I had finally had enough. I answered their email and said no, I was not going to do that; we should simply conduct the interview by telephone. That was when they stopped answering my emails, and I became suspicious.

That transition is the lesson I want other instructors and small-business owners to remember. The first message does not have to ask for remote access. It only has to begin a believable relationship. Once you are engaged, the person can introduce a video platform, a technical problem, and download , or an offer to help you connect.

The Attackers Went Straight to Amazon

After access was gained, the attackers immediately targeted my Amazon account and purchased gift cards. A routine business response had turned into account fraud and a computer-security emergency. What followed consumed roughly two days: protecting accounts, changing passwords, inspecting two Windows computers removing unauthorized software and remnants, rebooting while offline, checking whether anything returned, and running full antivirus scans.

What We Found on Two Computers

The most important discovery was an unauthorized installation of ScreenConnect on two Windows PCs. ScreenConnect, also associated with ConnectWise, is legitimate commercial remote-support software. IT departments use it every day. The problem was not the product's name; the problem was that I had not authorized the installation.

It was installed as a Windows service, was running in the background, and was configured to start automatically with Windows. Its configuration referenced this relay address: relay.doublecaller.it.com

We also found remnants associated wth Splashtop and Atera, which are likewise remote-management products when authorized. After cleanup, both computers were restarted while disconnected from the Internet and inspected again. The removed items did not regenerate. AVG later reported no malware found. That result was reassuring, but it did not change the fact that unauthorized remote-access software had been present. Legitimate support tools are not necessarily detected as malware.

The Warning Signs I Missed

Two supposed prospective students used nearly identical wording within two days.
A straightforward training inquiry evolved into a video interview and technical instructions.
The interaction reached the point where software or remote computer access became involved.
A prior warning from ShootingClasses.com did not register with me before I responded.

None of those facts means every similar inquiry is fraudulent. Couples really do look for beginner firearms training, and legitimate interviews happen. The danger is the combination: repeated wording, a changing purpose, and pressure to install something or surrender control of a computer,

What to do if You Received Something Similar

Compare the wording with the two messages in this article. Search your inbox for distinctive phrases.
If the sender asked you to install software, joined an unusual video session, or permit remote control, stop and verify the person independently.
If you believe access was obtained, disconnect the computer from Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
From another trusted device, protect your primary email, shopping and payment accounts, financial accounts, website administration, and password manager. Enable multi-factor authentication.
Document unfamiliar services, programs, paths, and antivirus exceptions before removing anything.
Contact a qualified computer technician or incident-response professional if you are uncertain. Do not blindly copy removal commands written for somebody else's computer.

Legitimate Software Can Still be Used Against You

ScreenConnect or ConnectWise, Splashtop, Atera, AnyDesk, TeamViewer, LogMeIn, or GoTo, RustDesk, RemotePC, Ninja, DWAgent, and similar programs are not automatically malware. They have legitimate business uses. The important question is whether you or your trusted IT provider intentionally installed and authorized the software.

If you find an unfamiliar remote-access product, do not destroy evidence or delete random Windows files. Disconnect the computer, record what you found, and get competent help. The separate Windows inspection guide distributed with this article contains read-only checks and explains what the results mean.

Why I am Telling This Story

I do have evidence that firearms instructors as a group are being specifically targeted, since Bruce at ShootingClasses.com told me had had several similar complaints, so he put out his own warning. I am also saying that instructors and other small-business owners are reachable through ordinary business activities. We answer inquiries, schedule students, participate in interviews, manage websites, and accept payments online. A criminal can use that normal openness against us.

I would rather admit that I was fooled than stay quiet and let the same approach work on someone else. If these messages look familiar, take a few minutes to check what happened next on your computer. If this article prevents one unauthorized purchase or keeps one instructor from granting access, then something useful will have come from an experience I would not wish on anyone.

Important Disclaimer

This article and the accompanying guide describe what we found and what worked for us on two specific computers. Every system and installation can be different. This is educational information, not a guarantee that a computer is safe and not a substitute for professional technical, legal, financial, or incident-response assistance. If you are uncertain about a result or about removing anything, leave the computer disconnected and contact a qualified computer technician.

About the Author

Alan B. Densky is the owner of CCW Instructor, LLC, doing business as CCW Training Academy, and operated CCWInstructor.com. He is a firearms instructor who teaches safe, responsible firearm ownership and shares practical information intended to help students and fellow instructors make informed decisions.

When Pistol Training Is Put to the Test

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:02:11 Z

Most pistol training takes place under controlled conditions. The shooter knows where the target is. He knows when the drill will begin, and usually knows exactly what he is expected to do. The instructor may add movement, time pressure, or decision-making. However, the student still knows they are participating in a training exercise. It is all in preparation for when pistol training is put to the test.

However, a real-life emergency provides none of those advantages. Nobody gives a start signal. Innocent people may run in every direction. Information may be incomplete. And the armed citizen may have only seconds to determine what is happening and whether they should act. On August 1, 2026, Jordan Salinas had his pistol training put to the test. He faced exactly that kind of test during a mass shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Three people died and several others suffered injuries during the attack. Authorities later praised people who confronted or distracted the gunman and said their actions likely prevented additional casualties. What interests me as a firearms instructor, however, is not simply that Salinas had a firearm. More importantly, he had trained before the day came when training mattered.

He Didn't Start Training After the Attack

According to published accounts, Salinas began taking firearms training much more seriously after witnessing the aftermath of the 2021 Boise Towne Square Mall shooting. Afterward, he regularly practiced with his firearm and also rehearsed a decision-making process familiar to many defensive-training instructors: Observe, Orient, Decide and Act—the OODA Loop.

In simple terms, the OODA Loop describes the process of seeing what is happening, understanding what that information means, making a decision, and acting on that decision. Although the concept can become much more detailed, an armed citizen does not need an academic lesson in OODA theory to benefit from it. Instead, they need defensive pistol training that requires them to observe, think, make decisions, and then act appropriately.

That distinction matters. Under extreme stress, people rarely become more capable than their preparation. Instead, they tend to rely on habits, skills, and decision-making patterns they developed beforehand. Therefore, the purpose of defensive pistol training cannot stop at teaching someone how to operate a handgun accurately.

Shooting Is Only Part of the Problem

A person who carries a defensive handgun may develop an excellent draw and shoot tight groups at defensive distances. Those skills matter, and responsible firearms instructors should build them. However, before an armed citizen has their pistol training put to the test, they may need to solve several much more complicated problems.

First, what is actually happening? Next, who is the threat? Is the person holding a firearm the attacker, an off-duty police officer, another armed citizen, or someone who picked up a weapon after the original attacker dropped it? Meanwhile, where are the innocent people, what lies behind the intended target, and does the armed citizen actually need to become involved?

A paper target never creates those problems. It never suddenly becomes nonthreatening, produces a different weapon, moves toward an innocent person, or turns out to be the wrong person. Consequently, shooting accurately represents only one part of defensive firearms competence.

Effective defensive pistol training should force students to process information rather than automatically fire whenever they see a target. Therefore, instructors can require students to identify threats, recognize non-threats, make decisions, and understand that sometimes the correct decision is not to shoot at all.

The Serious Risk of Becoming Involved

We would be remiss if we discussed this incident without addressing one of the most important lessons for every armed citizen: intervening in a third-party confrontation carries enormous risk.

You are not a police officer simply because you carry a firearm and know how to use it. Or simply because you've received concealed carry training for a concealed weapon's permit. You may shoot well, think clearly under pressure, understand defensive tactics, and possess considerably more training than the average gun owner. Nevertheless, that does not mean you have received the extensive law-enforcement training a police officer receives, nor do you automatically receive the legal protections that may apply when officers act within their official duties.

Furthermore, when you enter someone else's violent confrontation, you may not know what happened before you arrived. You may misidentify the aggressor, misunderstand what you see, or fail to recognize another important part of the event. Likewise, another armed citizen or a responding police officer may mistake you for the attacker.

Then Comes the Legal Aftermath

Then comes the legal aftermath. Depending on the circumstances and the law in that jurisdiction, a third-party intervention can expose an armed citizen to an investigation, arrest, criminal charges, or prosecution. If authorities or a court determine that the use of force was unlawful, the consequences can include jail or prison. Moreover, even when prosecutors ultimately file no charges or the armed citizen prevails, attorney fees and other legal expenses can become enormous.

Civil litigation creates another danger. An attacker, an attacker's family, an injured bystander, or another involved party may attempt to bring a civil lawsuit depending on the circumstances and applicable law. Some states provide significant statutory protections for justified defensive force, while other states provide different protections. Consequently, anyone who carries a firearm should understand the laws governing defense of another person in the state where they live and train.

The takeaway should not be that an armed citizen must never help another person. Instead, the lesson is that either openly carrying a pistol, or carrying concealed gives you capability as well as culpability, not police authority or immunity. The decision to enter a third-party deadly-force encounter may become one of the most consequential decisions you ever make.

Defensive Pistol Training Must Include Decision-Making

This is where defensive pistol training must go beyond conventional marksmanship. Students should sometimes encounter exercises in which the target in front of them does not automatically require shooting. They should have to recognize what is happening, evaluate the circumstances, and choose an appropriate response.

Likewise, instructors should expose students to changing situations rather than always giving them a predictable sequence of commands. A student who only practices drawing and firing after hearing a timer can become very good at reacting to a timer. Real defensive encounters, however, seldom provide such obvious instructions.

Consequently, the instructor's goal should not simply be to program a faster physical response. The larger objective is to develop an armed citizen who can observe a rapidly changing situation, make a defensible decision, and then execute the physical skills required by that decision. Marksmanship remains essential, but judgment determines when those shooting skills should actually come into play.

Knowing When Your Job Is Finished

Another critical lesson comes after an armed citizen decides to intervene. Eventually, responding law-enforcement officers will arrive, and they may have incomplete information about who fired which shots. Police responding to an active shooting can enter an extraordinarily confusing environment filled with victims, witnesses, armed citizens, discarded weapons, and conflicting reports.

Therefore, before a trained citizen's pistol training is put to the test, an armed person must understand that the situation changes dramatically once law enforcement takes control. Continuing to move through the scene with a firearm can create another deadly misunderstanding. Accordingly, the same decision-making skills that helped someone recognize when action became necessary should also help them recognize when their role has ended.

That point receives too little attention in ordinary firearms training. Students spend enormous amounts of time learning when and how to shoot. Defensive pistol training must also address when to stop, when to disengage, and how the arrival of law enforcement changes the situation.

What Will You Fall Back On?

Nobody can know with certainty how they will perform during a genuine life-threatening emergency. No training exercise can perfectly duplicate the confusion, fear, noise, and consequences of an actual attack. Nevertheless, the Twin Falls shooting gives armed citizens and firearms instructors an important question to consider.

Salinas had chosen to train long before the shooting occurred. His preparation included firearms skills, but it also included a process for observing circumstances, understanding them, deciding what to do, and acting on that decision. When the emergency came, authorities said the actions of people who confronted or distracted the attacker likely prevented additional casualties.

That does not mean every armed citizen should move toward gunfire or intervene whenever another person faces danger. In fact, the potential criminal, civil, financial, and physical consequences provide powerful reasons to think very carefully before entering someone else's deadly-force encounter.

Instead, the larger lesson is simple: the middle of a deadly emergency is a terrible time to discover what your training never prepared you to do.

Pistol training should prepare a student to operate and shoot a handgun competently. Defensive pistol training must go further. It should prepare them to observe, think, decide, act responsibly—and recognize when the right decision is not to act at all.

That is when pistol training is truly put to the test.

Open Carry Training: Downsides Responsible Gun Owners Must Know

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:04:50 Z

Open carry may be legal in many places, but legal does not always mean smart in every situation. A visible handgun changes the way strangers see you. It may change the way a business owner treats you. It may also change the way a criminal evaluates you.

That is why open carry training must be direct. The question is not only, “Am I allowed to carry openly?” The better question is, “What problems do I create when I advertise that I am armed?”

You Give Up the Element of Surprise

A concealed firearm is private information. An openly carried firearm is public information.

If a violent criminal sees your gun, he knows where it is, which side you carry on, and what he must deal with first. That may not scare him away. It may simply cause him to change his plan.

Some people argue that open carry deters crime. Sometimes it might. But deterrence is not guaranteed. A determined attacker may decide to surprise you first, distract you, come up from behind, or target the gun before you have time to react.

When you carry concealed, the attacker may not know you are armed until you choose to act. When you carry openly, he knows before the fight starts.

You May Put a Target on Your Back

Open carry can make you stand out. In some places, you may become the most noticeable person in the room.

A visible firearm may attract nervous customers, curious strangers, store employees, managers, law enforcement, or criminals. Some people may stare. Others may challenge you. A few may try to provoke you.

That is a bad place for an armed citizen to be. If you are carrying a firearm, you should be trying to avoid unnecessary attention, not invite it.

Responsible carry is not about proving a point. It is about protecting life.

Gun Grabs Are Real

One of the biggest problems with open carry is simple: the gun is visible, reachable, and tempting to the wrong person.

Even trained police officers have had guns grabbed, pulled, or fired during struggles. Officers use duty holsters, receive training, and still face gun-grab attempts. If that can happen to a trained officer, a civilian with a visible handgun and little retention training should take the risk seriously.

A criminal does not need to win a gunfight if he can take your gun before the fight begins. He only needs a moment of surprise, a poor holster, a crowded space, or access to your gun side.

This is one reason defensive pistol training should include awareness, distance, retention concepts, and decision-making instead of only slow-fire marksmanship.

Open carry without retention training is a dangerous fantasy. A basic open-top holster may hold a pistol while you walk around. That does not mean it will protect the gun from a grab.

Retention Is Not Just Equipment

A retention holster is important, but it is not magic. Equipment can help. It cannot replace awareness.

Open carry training should include how to protect the gun side of the body, keep distance, avoid letting strangers crowd you, and recognize when someone is closing space for the wrong reason.

If you are standing in line, do you know who is behind you? If you are pumping gas, is your gun side exposed? If you are in a store aisle, can someone come up behind you? These are not range questions. These are public-carry questions.

The person who carries openly must think about access to the gun from every direction, especially from the rear and the gun side.

Store Policies Still Matter

Open carry can create conflict with private businesses. A store may allow lawful concealed carry but discourage or prohibit open carry. A manager may ask you to leave. An employee may not know the law. Another customer may complain.

The right answer is not to argue at the counter.

If a business asks you to leave, leave calmly. Do not debate. Do not lecture. Do not turn a policy disagreement into a public scene while armed.

The goal of carrying a firearm is safety. It is not to create unnecessary conflict.

Concealed Carry Often Makes More Sense

Open carry may be legal. It may even be appropriate in some settings. But for many ordinary public situations, concealed carry is often the more practical choice.

Concealed carry helps you avoid unnecessary attention. It protects the fact that you are armed. It reduces the chance that someone will target the gun itself. It also lets you move through public places without turning your firearm into the first thing people notice.

For many students, the smarter path is not simply choosing open carry or concealed carry. The smarter path is getting proper Florida concealed carry training before carrying in public.

Concealed carry does not solve everything. You still need safe handling, a good holster, lawful judgment, and training. But privacy can be valuable.

Open Carry Training Should Be Honest

Open carry training should not pretend that a visible gun automatically makes you safer. It may deter some people. It may alarm others. It may attract attention. It may create arguments. It may give up surprise. It may also give a criminal a clear target.

Before you carry openly in public, get training. Learn the law. Understand private-property issues. Use a secure holster. Practice awareness. Learn when to leave. Learn when not to argue. Learn that the gun is not a badge, a warning sign, or a conversation starter.

A firearm is a last-resort defensive tool. Carry it with humility, discipline, and good judgment.

Students who want practical firearm training in North Central Florida should look for instruction that covers safety, judgment, lawful carry, and real-world responsibility.