Crime Prevention
For more Crime Prevention information visit
www.ncpc.org,
National Crime Prevention Council
CELL PHONES MAY BE
WORTHLESS IN DISASTER SITUATIONS
November 30, 2007
Recently police departments were alerted that cell phones may not
work in a major emergency. The recent wildfires in California found
thousands of people on the move only to find that the call volume
overwhelmed local cell networks. This had an effect on firefighters
trying to use the airwaves. The I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis
jammed networks so bad that only one in five calls could get
through. Hurricane Katrina not only knocked out towers but the few
remaining were overloaded. The current Networks are not designed to
handle the high volume seen during a major emergency. You should be
aware that if you reach into your pocket and pull out a cell phone
to call a loved one, the phone will probably be worthless. So what
do you do in the case of an emergency? Have a plan to meet somewhere
so you can check that everyone is safe. When all circuits are busy
use text messaging, it uses less bandwidth and has a better chance
of getting through. Also be aware that the Red Cross has established
a website where you can post, from wherever you are that you’re okay
and family members can check it to see you’re safe.
BE VIGILANT DURING THE
HOLIDAYS
November 16, 2007
With
Thanksgiving just days away, the Christmas shopping season is here. It
is a time when busy people can become careless and vulnerable to theft
and other holiday crime. We can never be too careful, too prepared, or
too aware. Please share these few tips with family, friends, and
neighbors. When driving keep all your doors locked and windows closed
while in or out of your car. Do not leave packages on the seat of your
car. If you must leave something in your car, lock it in your trunk.
Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the
area. When using an automated teller machine (ATM) make sure you
protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is
standing near you, and NEVER write your PIN number on your card or
have it written anywhere in your purse or wallet. Be extra careful
when carrying a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of thieves
in crowded shopping areas. Children are best left at home when you are
shopping. If they must come along make sure you review with them what
to do if they become lost. Stuffing a piece of paper into your child’s
pocket with their name and yours is a helpful tip parents have shared
with police. Finally, at home be extra diligent about locking doors
and windows. When leaving home have a neighbor watch the house to
collect newspapers, mail, or give the walk a quick shovel if needed.
Always leave a talk radio station on along with extra lights so the
house sounds and looks occupied. Here is hoping and praying that all
of us get through the Christmas season safe and thankful for the
abundance we share here in the Quad Cities.
DON'T BE FOOLED
BY CANADIAN LOTTERY
November 16, 2006
The holidays are fast approaching and everyone could use another
$10,000 for gifts, right? So when you receive a letter in the mail
with a check informing you that you won the Canadian lottery, you cash
it, right? If you are able to find a financial institution willing to
cash such a check you would soon be informed that the check had
bounced and you were now overdrawn. The Quad Cities Security Officers
Group is constantly attempting to get the word out that these lottery
scams are just that, scams. When people present these scam lottery
checks at their bank, law enforcement and good common sense demand
that a hold be placed on the check. This is done to protect you and
defeat the people that are benefiting from the victim's ignorance or
greed. Take the time to protect yourself by visiting the website
http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/ and remember to toss the scam
checks in the trash where they belong as soon as they arrive at your
door.
PHONE SCAMS
September 22, 2006
It
is easy to be outraged when they prey on the extremely naïve or the
elderly but the greedy have unbelievable gall when they contact Crime
Stoppers to report this “crime”. If someone promises to provide you
hundreds of dollars and all you need to do is cash the check they send
and mail them the remainder of the money…..toss it in the trash where
it belongs. If you cash the check and send them the money you are
committing a crime and more than likely somewhere down the line some
of the money you help them create out of thin air is ending up in the
hands of terrorists. You don’t get something for nothing, there is no
free lunch, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If your
greed is so great to take a chance, don’t play the victim when a
financial institution calls the police and you are caught “doing a
good deed” for people you don’t even know.
HOMELAND SECURITY
In light of September 11th, 2001 and the recent Athrax scares you need
to take steps to raise your family's level of safety. With tornado
and severe weather season here, a disaster could occur where emergency
assistance may not be available to your family for hours. It is
important to learn of the possible dangers, the likely outcomes, and
your family's response to weather and terror related disasters. No
matter what may come, now is the time to prepare. You must have a
disaster plan for your family. You must also create a “disaster
survival kit” for your home and for your car. Each Quadcitian
also has a responsibility to report suspicious activity. In the event
you see someone who you believe to be behaving out of the ordinary,
call 911 immediately. Try to take note, as much as possible, about the
person and avoid placing yourself in danger by confronting him. We
will take your call at Crime Stoppers 24/7, but encourage everyone who
witnesses what they believe to be suspicious activity to contact their
local police or sheriff's department.
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To find out how
your neighborhood can receive free Homeland Security training call, in
Illinois 309-736-5680 and in Iowa 563-322-7363.
Click
here for more information about this program.
PHISHING
Not so long ago, a typical thief might break into your home and steal
your money or jewelry. Today, some criminals have learned that it is
much more profitable to go “Phishing” for your personal or account
information. “Phishing” is a high-tech email scam that uses official
looking emails or pop-up messages directing you to web sites that
appear to be legitimate. They ask you to “update” or “correct”
financial information. These sites attempt to deceive you into giving
them your credit card numbers, bank account information, passwords, or
other sensitive information. They use many tricks trying to lure you
to their website so you will divulge personal information. If you fall
for this trick, your identity will be stolen and thousands of dollars
could be spent in minutes with your card. Crime Stoppers has received
calls lately asking if we can help. No we can’t, we can only offer the
following suggestions. If you get an email or pop-up message that asks
for financial or personal info do not reply or click on the link
message. Legitimate companies do not ask for this information via
email. Also, use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Never,
ever send personal financial information in an email. It is not a
secure method of transmitting your personal information. When it comes
to “Phishing”, you can keep yourself off the hook following these
suggestions.
METH LABS
Methamphetamine (also known as meth, crystal, speed, crank, ice, or
glass) use is on the increase nationwide, but is especially prevalent
in the Midwest, partly due to the availability of anhydrous ammonia
and other precursors needed to manufacture it. The Quad City
Metropolitan Enforcement Group and Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities
have teamed up to help stop the dangerous practice of manufacturing
methamphetamine.
Click here for
more information. Anyone with information regarding
methamphetamine labs should call the Crime Stoppers tip line,
309-762-9500. Your information could earn you a cash reward of
up to $1,000! To find out even more about methamphetamine labs, click
on this link,
STOP DRUGS!
HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS
November
26, 2003
With
Thanksgiving behind us, the Christmas shopping season is here. It is a
time when busy people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and
other holiday crime. We can never be too careful, too prepared, or too
aware. Please share these few tips with family, friends, and
neighbors. When driving keep all you doors locked and windows closed
while in or out of your car. Do not leave packages or valuables on the
seat of your car. If you must leave something in your car, lock it in
your trunk. Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious
people in the area. When using an automated teller machine (ATM) make
sure you protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who
is standing near you, and NEVER write your PIN number on your card or
have it written anywhere in your purse or wallet. When shopping be
extra careful when carrying a wallet or purse. They are the prime
targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, bus stops, and on
buses. Children are best left at home when you are shopping. If they
are with you make sure to review what they are to do if separated from
you. Stuffing a piece of paper into their pocket with their name and
yours is a tip parents have shared with us. Of course, if they are big
enough to stray from you your child should be able to tell someone
their full name, address and telephone number. Police are called to at
least one store around Christmas reference a lost child. Finally, at
home be extra cautious about locking doors and windows. When leaving
home have a neighbor watch the house and collect newspapers or mail.
Leave a radio or television on so the house sounds occupied. Here is
hoping and praying we get through this Christmas season safe and
thankful for the abundance we do share here in the Quad Cities.
BEWARE OF
CONFIDENCE SCAM
October 25, 2002
Moline Police and Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities want area
residents to be aware of yet another e-mail confidence scam. Quad City
residents are receiving e-mails from a subject identified as Dr.
Chukwuemeka Ubah, reputed to be a president of Union Bank of Nigeria
Plc. Lagos. These e-mails request that he be allowed to transfer a
large sum of money to your bank account. For allowing him to do this
they "guarantee" 10% of the monies transferred (usually several
million dollars). In order to complete the transaction you are asked
to provide personal information about yourself, such as address, phone
number, and, of course, the all important bank account number. As in
every variation on this scam, we continually advise everyone to
never give personal information to anyone that you do not know. If
it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Despite all the warnings
and cautions police give, police still take reports from individuals
who have lost thousands of dollars to scams. If you know of anyone who
may not be able to handle their money due to age or illness, please
contact your local police department. Our elderly services or COP
officers will be able to get them the help they may need. Check out a
sample of the e-mail scam:
| Dear Sir, First, I must solicit your confidence
in this transaction, this is by virtue if its nature as being
utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know that a
transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of
the day. We have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this
transaction, as we have been reliable informed of your
discreteness and ability in transactions of this nature.
Let me start first by introducing my self properly to you. I am
Dr. Chukwuemeka Ubah, a manager with the Union Bank of Nigeria
Plc. Lagos; I came to know you in my private search for a reliable
and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction,
which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign
account, required maximum confidence. THE PROPOSITION: A
Foreigner, Late Engineer Martin Wright, an oil Merchant/Contractor
with the Federal Government of Nigeria, until his death Five years
ago in a ghastly air crash, banked with us here at Union Bank Plc.
Lagos, and had a closing balance of US$55.5m (Fifty Five Million,
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which the bank now
requestionably expect it to be claimed by any available Foreign
next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary or alternatively be donated to
a discredited trust fund for arms and ammunition at a military war
college here in Nigeria. Fervent valuable efforts are been made by
the Union Bank to get in touch with any of the Wright family or
relative but proved to abortive.
It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to
locate any of the Late Engr. Martin Wright's next-of-kin (he had
no known wife and children) that the management under the
influence of our chairman and member of the board of Directors,
retired Major General Frank Kin gibe, that an arrangement be made
for the funds to declared UNCLAIMED and subsequently be donated to
the Trust Fund for Arms and Ammunition to further enhance the
course of war in Africa the world in general.
In order to avert this negative development, some of my trusted
colleagues and I now seek your permission to have you stand as
next-of-kin to Late Engr. Martin Wright, so that the funds
us$55.5m would be released and paid into your bank account as the
beneficiary next-of-kin. All documents and proves to enable you
get this funds will be carefully worked out and more, we are
assuring you of 100% risk free involvement. Your share stays while
the rest will be for me and my colleagues for investment purposes
in your country.
We have agreed that, the funds will be shared thus, after it
has been transferred into your account.
1. 10% of the money will go to you
for acting as the beneficiary of the funds.
2. 10% will be set aside for
reimbursement to both parties for any incidental expenses that may
be incurred in the course of the transfer.
3. 80% to us the originators of the
transaction.
If this proposal is OK by you do not wish to take undue
advantage of the trust, we hope to bestow on you and your company,
then kindly get to me immediately via my private Email:chukwue2002@hotmail.com
very important, Furnishing me with your most confidential
Telephone, Fax numbers and exclusive bank particulars so that I
subsequent transfer the funds in your favor.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Chukwuemeka Ubah
Manager Union Bank. |
ARM YOURSELF AGAINST
ID THEFT
Identity theft is growing at an alarming rate, even here in the
QCA. You don't have to be paranoid, but it's a good idea to take
extra care in safeguarding your identity and monitoring your
credit-card accounts. Here are a few simple common-sense suggestions
on how to prevent becoming a victim of identity fraud.
* Limit your credit card use and make sure you have account
information in a safe place that lets you immediately cancel all of
them if your wallet is lost or stolen.
* Shred your credit card receipts and those pre-screened credit
card offers you receive in the mail.
* Mail letters from the post office and install a lock on your
home mailbox.
* Don't order your checks with preprinted driver's license or
social security numbers.
Few people have a positive experience trying to correct charges
made after their identity has been stolen. Unfortunately, unless
someone has direct knowledge of an individual stealing identities,
Crime Stoppers can offer little to no assistance. With identity
fraud on the increase, fraud investigators at the banks won't be of
much assistance either, unless a certain financial threshold has
been hit. This is yet another case where an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure. Please take the time today to keep your
identity safe.
If You're the Victim of ID Theft
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing and more serious crimes
we deal with on a weekly basis here at Crime Stoppers. Both
financial institutions and individuals are victimized, not to
mention the potential tool that it gives terrorists who are
attempting to evade the law. Identity theft is the wrongful use of
another's identifying information, such as a credit card, social
security or driver's license numbers, to commit financial or other
crimes. If you are the victim of an identity theft, we urge you to
take the following steps immediately.
Call police.
Have a report on file with your local agency. Next, contact the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 1-877-IDTHEFT. You can also
contact FTC on line.
Visit www.consumer.gov for more information regarding ID
theft or to file a complaint with FTC. They act as the
nation's clearinghouse for information related to identity theft
crimes. They will have trained counselors that can assist you in
resolving most credit related problems. You must cancel all your
credit cards and request new cards with new account numbers. Contact
the fraud departments of each of the three major credit card
reporting agencies: Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Experian
(1-888-397-3742), and Trans Union (1-800-680-7289). Ask them to put
a fraud alert on your account and add a victim's statement
requesting creditors to contact you before opening new accounts in
your name. Also, request copies of your credit report. If your bank
is involved contact them, cancel existing accounts, and open new
ones with new account numbers. If the bad guys have your driver's
license contact the state motor vehicle department and request a new
license with a new driver's license number. Last but not least,
change the locks on your house if you have any indication that these
have been compromised. In the hands of a real bad guy, identity
theft can be a living nightmare; but if you get the above done in a
timely manner, you will have a fighting chance!
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