SCAM ALERT- Jury Duty Scam is Back

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has issued an alert, warning citizens about callers claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office telling potential victims that they owe a fine because they “failed to show for jury duty” or “have active warrants." 

The scammers demand payment by money packs. The victim is supposed to purchase the money pack then call the suspect with the account number in order to pay off the fine.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone that they nor the court will ever call you to demand money over the phone.

If you receive a call from someone demanding that you pay for alleged fines by gift cards HANG UP. This is a scam!

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.facebook.com/SnoCoSheriff/photos/a.318645198209560/2458731117534280/?type=3&eid=ARD3Ol-IuZCErgpq-Z6KDs0BwPHtpd2k07b6cpT108o0jDWk2PUGOJ-iIcdfAOeF3NsW3nX_c-vULmpA&__tn__=EHH-R

CAR PROWLS- Poll Shows Most People Lock Their Doors But...

Police seem to constantly remind drivers to lock their doors and to store anything in their car trunks to prevent car prowlers from breaking in and stealing valuables and the not so valuables. It also seems like car prowls are not getting any better.

PEMCO Insurance, in a recent survey, asked consumers about their attitudes towards car prowls and what actions they take to protect themselves from car prowls.

A little more than half, 55%, of people in Washington State are either extremely concern (9%), very concerned (12%), or somewhat concerned, (34%) about car prowls in their neighborhoods. That leaves 44% who are not very concerned (33%) or not at all concerned (11%).

PEMCO then asked what people do to prevent car prowls. 86% of Washingtonians said that they lock their vehicle doors. 73% said that they remove valuables or place them out of sight. 47% said that they use an electronic alarm system. This is good news in that it shows that most people follow the recommendations that police have been making to lock their doors and remove valuables when they park their vehicles.

Criminals are opportunists and car prowls keep happening. While 73% of people say they hide valuables, that means that 27% do not. While this may be an oversimplification, if you think of the parking lot at a shopping center with 27% of the vehicles with stuff visible in them, then you can conclude that that parking lot is good pickings for a car prowler. No wonder we keep hearing about car prowls.

If you are among the few who do not lock your vehicle or hide valuables, get in the habit of taking away opportunity for car prowlers by locking your vehicle and hiding valuables.

PEMCO Insurance:

https://pemco.com/poll/concern-about-car-prowlers

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/445/Vehicle-Prowl-PDF

OPIOID CRISIS- Overdose Deaths from Fentanyl are Up

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released data showing a 70% increase in overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl during the first six months of this year in Washington State.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used by doctors to treat severe pain. Often applied as a patch to the skin, fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A dose as small as 0.25 mg can kill.

In Snohomish County, in 2017, 23 people died from a fentanyl overdose. In 2018, preliminary figures show 34 people died from a fentanyl overdose, a 48% increase. In Washington State, in the first six months of 2018, 81 people died from fentanyl overdoses while during the same period in 2017 48 people died from fentanyl overdoses. That represents a 70% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths.

The Washington State Department of Health says that the overdoses are the result of taking illicit drugs. Illicit fentanyl has been found in counterfeit pills that look like prescription opioids. It has also been found in powders, colored white and other colors, that could be included in other illicit drugs such as heroin. The fact that this powerful drug could be included in other street drugs without the knowledge of the user shows how risky taking illicit drugs has become.

The Washington State Department of Health wants drug users to know this information so that they can take precautions. If you have someone in your family or a friend who uses heroin or illegal opioids, please pass this information to them. The Department of Health recommends,

·         Seek treatment. Health professionals have been recommending medication-assisted treatment options for those addicted to opioids. Opioid users can seek treatment from the Washington Recovery Help Line at (866) 789-1511 or online at http://www.warecoveryhelpline.org/.

·         Carry naloxone. For information on where you can find naloxone, go to http://stopoverdose.org/section/find-naloxone-near-you/.

·         If you witness an overdose, call 911, give naloxone and do rescue breathing. Fentanyl may require multiple doses of naloxone to restore breathing. The law (RCW 69.50.315) says neither the victim nor persons assisting with an overdose will be prosecuted for drug possession.

·         Never use drugs alone.

·         Be careful about using too fast. Fentanyl is fast-acting and deadly. Many experienced opioid users have overdosed or died by using too much, too quickly.

Washington State Department of Health:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/2018NewsReleases/18166OpioidOverdoseFentanylNewsRelease

The Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/overdose-deaths-from-powerful-narcotic-fentanyl-on-the-rise-in-washington/

PACKAGE THEFT- Do We Really Care?

During the holiday season, local police departments and sheriff’s offices send out reminders on social media about how to protect yourself from package theft. You may be tired of the warnings if you pay attention much to the news and social media. However, a question comes to mind, how many people do something to protect themselves from package theft?

PEMCO Insurance has commissioned a poll of Northwesterners in Washington and Oregon about issues of concern in the Northwest. One of the subjects included package theft.

PEMCO asked where people have their packages delivered to. 86% of Washingtonians said that they have their packages delivered to their homes. 10% said that they have packages delivered to their work or some other place.

Next, PEMCO asked if people thought that package theft was a problem.

48% of Washingtonians agreed that package theft happens often (9%), happens sometimes (10%), or happens rarely (29%). 49% of Washingtonians say that package theft never happens!

Finally, PEMCO ask what people do to guard against package theft. 27% of Washingtonians do nothing to guard against package theft! Others did something to protect their packages including,

·         Making sure someone is home to receive packages (39%)

·         Installed security technology (19%)

·         Allocated a space or container for packages that is hidden (16%)

·         Had packages shipped to a location other than home such as work or a neighbor’s house (15%)

·         Signed up for a safe delivery service such as Amazon Key (11%)

·         Did some other action (7%)

(Note: The percentages add up to more than 100%. While not addressed in the write up that I saw, the survey probably allowed respondents to chose more than one answer to this question.)

Almost half of Washingtonians think that package theft is a problem, possibly because they or their neighbors have had packages stolen from their front porches. But, according to the survey, half of Washingtonians do not believe that package theft occurs. The writeup of the survey that I saw did not have an explanation as to why so many people did not believe that package theft occurs.

While just over a quarter of respondents say they do not do anything to prevent package theft, over 70% say that they take some action. PEMCO’s take on the survey results were summarized by its spokesperson, Derek Wing, "And while some folks have taken steps to thwart would-be 'porch pirates,' these results suggest many of us could do more to protect our deliveries."

PEMCO:

https://pemco.com/poll/package-theft

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Remember to Slow Down and Move Left for Emergency Vehicles on the Side of the Road

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is reminding all drivers to slow down and if possible, move to the left when they come upon an emergency vehicle, construction sites, tow trucks, or broken-down vehicles on the side of the road.

On Saturday, a Sheriff’s vehicle, with the deputy (Deputy McCullar) and his canine partner (Luuk) inside, was struck by a vehicle that strayed over the fog line and estimated as going about 60 miles per hour. Neither occupant of the patrol car was seriously injured. The patrol car sustained substantial damage.

Deputy McCullar was conducting a traffic stop on the shoulder of southbound I-5 just north of SR-526 (Boeing Freeway) and was accessing data on his laptop in the patrol car at the time of the crash.

Substantial damage did occur to a total of 5 vehicles as a result of this crash. And as with the occupants of the patrol car, no major injuries were reported.

As deputies will tell you, there is no such thing as a “routine traffic stop” and this crash is a prime example of how dangerous a deputy’s work can be.

You can help deputies, fire fighters, and other emergency and construction workers to work more safely alongside a road or highway by slowing down and if possible, move away from the accident, pulled over vehicles or maintenance personnel.

For the law, check out this link,

Washington State RCW 46.61.212:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?Cite=46.61.212

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.facebook.com/SnoCoSheriff/

CAR PROWLS- Continue to be a Problem in Winter

Car prowls remain a problem in Puget Sound all through the year but especially during the holiday season. Car prowlers take advantage of opportunities when they see anything that they can steal, or they detect that your vehicle is unlocked. Not securing your vehicle puts you at risk of losing your purse or wallet with the cash and/or bank cards that it carries. You can also lose any possessions that you do not secure including your cell phone, laptop or tablet computer, gym equipment, store purchases, etc. Anything in your vehicle can be used by a thief to sell or trade for drugs or for identity theft.

Car prowls can occur overnight at home if you park your car or truck in your driveway or at any time of the day when your vehicle is parked in a parking lot or garage while shopping or at work.

Car prowlers look for opportunities to enter your vehicle and to reduce their own risk of being caught. The Bellevue Police Department interviewed 3 car prowlers and found out that they:

·         Targeted wealthier neighborhoods that did not have “Neighborhood Watch” signs.

·         They checked every door handle for unlocked doors.

·         If they could get into a car, they would look for spare keys in consoles and glove boxes.

·         They avoided apartment complexes for fear of being seen.

·         They also avoided homes with open windows, security signs or surveillance cameras.

You can expect car prowlers in parking lots to check door handles for unlocked cars, especially if they see something in them. An unlocked car is not as messy for a car prowler, but, if needed, they can easily break a window to grab anything in the car.

Local police emphasize that the key actions that you can take to prevent car prowling is to remove anything from view in your vehicle and to lock it when you park it.

The Lynnwood Police Department recommends that when you park your vehicle that you go through the following simple routine:

·         Scan the inside of your car for anything that could be considered valuable.

·         Stow away everything in view in your car.

·         Secure your car by rolling up windows, closing sun roofs’ and locking all doors.

Remember,

·         Don’t leave anything in view in your vehicle!

·         Park in a well-lit area in a parking lot or at home!

·         LOCK YOUR VEHICLE!

KIRO TV:

http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/police-accused-car-thief-reveals-criminal-tactics/428203617

Lynnwood Today:

http://lynnwoodtoday.com/ask-lynnwood-cop-keeping-car-safe-prowlers/

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/445/Vehicle-Prowl-PDF

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Crime Prevention Newsletter

The Sheriff’s Office has posted its latest issue of its crime prevention newsletter, “Partners in Crime Prevention.” This issue has a reminder that using alcohol in combination with drugs, such as marijuana, can get you stopped for DUI just as easily as drinking just alcohol.

To see the newsletter, go to the following link,

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6056

HOLIDAY SHOPPING- More Online Shopping Safety Tips

Last week I offered some tips on shopping safely online. With Cyber Monday in full swing, here is a link to a posting from Brian Krebs on his unique recommendations to stay safe while shopping online. Brian Krebs is an independent journalist who covers cyber security issues on his web site called “Krebs on Security.”

Look at his latest posting about shopping online.

Krebs on Security:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/11/how-to-shop-online-like-a-security-pro/

And here is a warning about how phishing web sites are using https:// as a way to claim that they are legitimate web sites.

Krebs on Security:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/11/half-of-all-phishing-sites-now-have-the-padlock/

HOLIDAY SHOPPING- Gift Card Scams

Giving a gift card is a popular way to give during the holiday season. Often stores will have racks of gift cards from different vendors. However, fraudsters have found a way to steal from you with a gift card that you have purchased. And the only way you know something is wrong is when your beneficiary complains to you that there was no money on the gift card that you gave them.

Here is how the scam works. A crook will either jot down or swipe the account number of the card in the store. Then, over the few days or weeks, the crook can check the number over the phone to see if the card has been activated. When the card is activated the crook quickly goes on a shopping spree.

To discourage this type of activity, vendors have tried to design packaging that makes it difficult to tamper with the card. However, sometimes crooks do lift the information from the card anyway.

Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of having a gift card amount stolen,

·         Take a card from the middle of the rack. Often card scammers will copy numbers from the front or the edges. Afterall, they do not want to raise suspicions by being too obvious.

·         Check any packaging for signs of tampering. Some card scammers are very good, so don’t be embarrassed to be picky about the card that you choose. Also, many gift cards have PINs that are masked on the card. Be sure to check the card to see if the masking has been scratched off.

·         Purchase the gift card online directly from the vendor.

Scambusters:

https://www.scambusters.org/giftcard.html

GiftCards.com:

https://www.giftcards.com/gcgf/giftcard-scams

HOLIDAY SHOPPING- Preventing Package Theft at Your Doorstep

After you have ordered your gifts online, they usually are shipped to your home. Package thieves regularly troll neighborhoods looking for packages on front porches to steal. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of package theft,

·         Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your package after delivery.

·         Track the package’s progress online. Then you know when it is delivered.

·         Ask to have the package placed on the back porch or out of sight on the front porch.

·         Have the package delivered to a nearby UPS or FedEx package store or where you work. Amazon also has lockers at select locations where you can have it delivered.

·         Install a camera that covers your front porch. Make it visible to discourage potential package thieves. A warning sign may also help.

·         Consider a device to protect your packages such as a “Package Guard” disk or a locking box.

·         Request a signature on delivery. That way the delivery driver hands you the package after they have received a signature. If you are not at home, they will return on another day or you can pick up the package at their delivery facility.

·         Participate in Neighborhood Watch. Encourage your neighbors who stay at home to watch out for suspicious activity such as vehicle following UPS, FedEx, or Postal Service delivery vehicles.

Prevent Package Theft:

https://www.preventpackagetheft.com/theft-prevention-guide

HOLIDAY SHOPPING- Online Shopping Safety Tips

Shopping online has become the preferred method of shopping during Christmas as well as other parts of the year. Here are some tips to have a safe online shopping experience,

·         Only shop on websites that use a secure connection. Look for “HTTPS” in the address bar of your browser. The “S” is your guarantee that the information being transmitted between your device and the web site is secure from snooping eyes.

·         Do not use public Wi-Fi when shopping or checking your bank or credit card account. Someone in the vicinity could intercept your signal (called a middle man attack) gaining access to your passwords and account information. It’s better to use a secure Wi-Fi connection or your cellular data connection.

·         Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) as an extra layer of security. A VPN acts as a tunnel between your device and other web sites.

·         Run anti-malware software before you start your online shopping session. This allows you to ensure that you do not have any malware on your device that can watch what you are doing while you shop.

·         Don’t fall for fake shopping apps. Shopping with a store’s app is a great, secure way to buy merchandise. However, hackers often create fake apps that try to mimic apps from legitimate stores or shopping sites. One way to try to detect the fake from the real is to look for the apps with thousands of reviews. These are often for the big stores or web sites. Also, go to the vendor’s web site that you are interested in making online purchases from and see if you can download their app from their web site.

·         Watch out for phishing emails. Fraudsters will try to get your personal information by sending you an email that looks like it is from a legitimate company. They may have a special offer or promotion, or they may claim that your information needs to be “verified.” Hover your mouse pointer over the from part of the message and see if the address looks like it really comes from the company that the email claims to be from. Do not click on any links on a suspicious email. Go to the web site of the company and see of the offer is located there.

·         Always use strong passwords for you shopping accounts. And use a different password for each of your accounts.

·         Don’t overshare information with online retailers. Only share essential information for conducting the transaction. That should mean your credit card number, expiration date and maybe the three-digit code on the back of the card. The shipping address is also essential. But if they want more information such as your date of birth, think about doing business with someone else.

·         Pay with a credit card or PayPal. Do not pay with a debit card. Anyone who gains access to your checking account through your debit card can wipe out your funds. That cannot happen with a credit card or PayPal.

·         Lock your device with a password or another technology such as facial or iris detection. If your cell phone or tablet computer is lost or stolen, this will prevent other people from accessing your private information.

Shopping online is a great convenient way to buy gifts. Shopping safely will make it an even better.

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0020-shopping-online

HOLIDAY SHOPPING- Take Steps to Prevent Theft While at the Mall

With the Christmas holidays rapidly approaching, shopping for gifts for loved ones will take up much of our time, be it in the mall or online.

While online shopping has grown over the past few years, there are still many of us who need to go to the mall to pick up something special for a family member or a good friend. Here are some tips to prevent being victimized by theft,

·         Be aware of your surroundings as you shop.

·         Pay with a credit or debit card, do not display large amounts of cash.

·         Women should keep their purses close to their bodies, not in shopping carts. And always keep your purse with you.

·         Some police recommend only taking your wallet with you. For men or women, if you have your wallet, put it in a front pocket of your pants to discourage pick pockets.

·         If you do need to withdraw some cash at an ATM, do it inside a mall, grocery store or bank. Check the ATM for anything loose that could be a card skimmer placed by a scammer. Shield the keyboard from anyone who might be standing nearby or a hidden camera.

Car prowlers often look for vehicles that they can break into to steal the contents. The holidays are a prime time for this type of activity,

·         Park in a well-lighted area, close to the mall entrance if you can, where many people can observe your car.

·         Do not leave anything visible in your vehicle. If you need to leave anything in it, place it in the trunk or console before you arrive.

·         If you need to take packages from the mall to your vehicle, place them in the trunk and consider moving your vehicle to another part of the parking garage or lot. Thieves have been known to watch for customers placing packages in their cars.

Getting into the habit of taking these precautions should help you avoid some bad surprises.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/445/Vehicle-Prowl

SMART911- New App Can Keep You in Touch with Safety Emergencies

Smart911 is a service that helps citizens provide information to first responders that may be helpful in providing more accurate aid quickly to an emergency at your home or work. Snohomish County 911 subscribes to Smart911.

Recently, Smart911 released a mobile app that allows you to access your Smart911account so that you can easily modify the information that you provide to first responders and provides alerts about

·         Severe weather

·         Major traffic incidents and road closures

·         Local emergencies such as gas leaks, missing persons, police pursuits, etc.

Having an alert on your smartphone can help you when there is an emergency, large or small, in your area to avoid areas or to know whether it is safe to leave an area that is in the area of an emergency.

When you register with Smart911, you provide information that is displayed on the 911 call taker’s/dispatcher’s screen whenever you call 911. Information can include information about your medical conditions or needs, property details and layout, contact information for emergency contacts, vehicle descriptions, pet information, etc.

You provide as much or as little information as your like. The idea is that 911 personnel and first responders quickly have information about you that can help them provide appropriate help.

For more about Smart911 and its app, check out these links,

Smart911:

https://www.smart911.com/

Smart911 App:

https://www.ravemobilesafety.com/video-resources/smart911-mobile-app-preview

PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS- How You Can Protect Yourself from Addiction

Opioids are highly addictive drugs. While they provide relief from pain especially after an accident or surgery, health and medical professionals have taken a second, more careful look at the use of opioids in reaction to the opioid crisis that has built up in the last few years.

While all people are not destined to become addicted to opioids, science cannot currently predict who is susceptible to opioid addiction. However, studies show how addictive opioids can be to an individual,

·         Nationally, 4 of every 5 new heroin addictions started with a person misusing prescription painkillers.

·         In Washington State, 57 percent of people currently using heroin were dependent on prescription opioids before they began using heroin.

Opioids bind themselves to a receptor in the brain blocking pain and increasing a sense of pleasure or euphoria. The problem with long term use of opioids is that the body builds up a tolerance to the drug, requiring more of the drug to work. Eventually there is no euphoria, but not using the drug makes the individual extremely sick, like the worst flu symptoms you have ever experienced. This is withdrawal. Withdrawal acts like a stone wall discouraging non-use of the drug.

And the risk of becoming addicted increases the longer you take the drug.

So, what can you do? If you and your doctor are planning major surgery consider the following,

·         Talk with your doctor about other methods to relieve pain such as over-the-counter pain relievers, physical therapy, exercise, or professional help coping with the emotional effects of pain.

·         If you do need opioids, your prescription should only be for a 3 to 7-day supply and you should take the lowest dose possible for the shortest period.

·         Securely store opioids away from kids and teens.

·         Safely dispose of any extra opioids that you do not need.

Local health officials are trying to educate the public to the benefits of opioids and to their dangers so that we as individuals can make more educated decisions when we are faced with surgeries or other situations that may cause pain.

For more about opioids, check out the following links.

Washington Health Alliance:

http://www.breecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/WHA-Bree-Opioid-Consumer-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Overdose Prevention Resource Guide:

http://snohomishoverdoseprevention.com/treatment-and-support/

Medical Education and Disposal Project:

https://med-project.org/locations/snohomish/

Snohomish Overdose Prevention:

http://snohomishoverdoseprevention.com/

The Herald:

https://www.heraldnet.com/marketplace/what-you-need-to-know-about-prescription-opioids/

ROBOCALLS- Take Steps to Have Some Peace and Quiet

Robocalls have become an annoying part of modern life. You can receive them on your landline (if you still have a landline) or on your cell phone. At least one study estimates that almost half of mobile calls by 2019 will be scam calls. The calls may offer a product or try to scare you into paying to avoid some made up offense with gift cards that you buy at a local store.

Robocaller scams are also using “spoofing” to convince you to pick up the phone. Spoofing is where the robocaller shows a phone number on your caller ID that the scammer is trying to impersonate such as the IRS or Social Security Administration. Robocallers may also show a number from your area code and prefix on the assumption that you will think a neighbor is calling you.

While there is technology that helps reduce robocalls, there is no one silver bullet that stops all robocalls or scam calls.

The Do Not Call Registry, while it is important to list your phone number(s) on this registry, has proven to be only a partial answer. Experience shows that legitimate businesses will not call your number, but scammers do not pay attention to the list.

You can ask your phone company if it has an advanced robocall-blocking service. It may cost an extra $3 to $4 per month, but it may be worth the cost to reduce the number of robocalls that you receive.

Call-blocking apps may be another option. Some may charge a monthly fee while others may be free. Some major apps include Nomorobo, Hiya, and PrivacyStar.

Finally, if you do receive illegal robocalls, report the numbers to the Federal Trade Commission at www.donotcall.gov.

Here is some more information about blocking robocalls,

KOMO News:

https://komonews.com/news/consumer/fighting-back-against-robocalls-still-a-work-in-progress-but-here-are-things-you-can-do

Marketplace:

https://www.marketplace.org/2018/11/05/tech/why-its-so-hard-stop-all-those-spam-calls

AARP:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2018/tips-to-stop-spam-calls.html?cmp=SNO-ADV-FB-AO-FWN&socialid=1817429235

SCAM UPDATE- Imposter Fraudsters Target Your Social Security Number

Scammers often impersonate officials from various government agencies to get your personal information. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is one of those agencies. Here are some recently reported techniques scammers use when they impersonate Social Security employees.

·         SSN’s are not suspended. Scammers claiming to be from the SSA call and tell you that your Social Security Number (SSN) has been suspended due to fraud or some other criminal activity. To reactivate your number, you will have to answer some questions about your personal information. As usual, this is just a scheme to get your personal information for identity theft. SSN’s are never suspended. FTC- https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/your-social-security-number-isnt-suspended-ever

·         SSA Customer Service number being used in spoofing by scammers. The Social Security Administration has received reports that people have received phone calls from callers claiming to be from SSA and showing the SSA’s 1-800 number on their caller-ID screen. The scammers are spoofing the SSA’s phone number to lend more credibility that they are from the Social Security Administration. SSA reminds everyone that they do not call citizens on the phone for customer service purposes and will never threaten you for personal information. SSA- https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/

For more information about imposter scams check out this link,

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0037-imposter-scams

OPIOID CRISIS- Finding Fixes

As Snohomish County works to control the heroin and opioid epidemic in the county, citizens may not understand just what it takes to find solutions to this problem.

Recently, InvestigateWest, a nonprofit journalism organization, began publishing a series of podcasts that document the county’s heroin/opioid prevention efforts under the title “Finding Fixes.” The podcasts tell the story of how the county is trying to work towards solutions from the viewpoints of the participants including the officials developing programs and the victims who are trying to control their addictions.

On Thursday November 8^th, Sno-Isle Libraries will be hosting a public meeting that it advertises as a local debut of the podcast under the title “Behind the Scenes of Finding Fixes.” At the meeting, citizens will be able to talk to the producers and hosts, Anna Boiko-Weyrauch and Kyle Norris, as well as local leaders, healthcare providers and community members who have been featured so far in the first 5 episodes of the podcast.

The event will be held on November 8^th from 6:30pm to 8pm at the Sno-Isle Service Center at 7312 35^th Ave NE, Marysville.

You can listen to the podcasts online at https://www.findingfixes.com/ or through your podcast provider.

Sno-Isle Libraries:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=6088

BICYCLE AND MOTORCYCLE PROTECTION- New Lock with a Twist

Protecting cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles from theft is important to modern every day life. Cars and trucks have locks built in that when used, discourages most car thieves. To protect a motorcycle or bicycle riders might use a heavy chain or a U lock.

The idea is to make it difficult to steal your transportation. Thicker chains or U locks, or locks with harder materials make it more difficult to cut and then steal the bike. Thieves do not want to take too much time when they steal, the more time they are at a crime scene, the more likely someone will see them, and they may be caught.

But locks, even the strongest locks, can be cut. A small company in the San Francisco area thinks it has a novel solution. It notes that in the United States three bicycles are stolen every minute. And less than 3% of stolen bicycles are recovered. The company has developed a unique feature in a U lock that gives a surprise to a potential bike thief.

Called Skunklock, their uniquely colored black and white lock emits a noxious chemical compound that can induce the thief to vomit when a thief cuts the lock. The compound can also ruin the thief’s clothes and the company claims that the compound can even penetrate high-end gas masks.

A lock with an alarm draws attention to the thief but the thief can run away or may even ignore the alarm and take your bike anyway. A lock that sends you a text message when your bike is stolen lets you know that it is stolen but may not help you recover your bike.

The chemical solution is intended to stop the thief and slow him down enough that a bystander might be able to call police and have police show up at the scene. Failing that, the thief will probably walk (or stumble) away and know to stay away from bikes with the U locks that are black and white in color.

Skunklocks can be used on bicycles and motorcycles.

The manufacturer points out that even a Skunklock is ineffective if you do not utilize it properly. Among the locking tips that the company recommends are:

·         Lock your bike in a well-lit, high foot traffic area. That way, a thief can be more easily observed, and if the Skunklock deploys its chemical then someone can call the cops.

·         Make sure you lock your bike to something solid.

If you are interested in this lock with its unique approach, you can only purchase it directly from Skunklock.  The company says that it is not currently selling through retail outlets. When you order a Skunklock it is made to order and tested, a 6-week process. The regular price is $159.99, but they are running a special until the end of the year with a price of $119.

Skunklock:

https://www.skunklock.com/

SCAMS- BBB Warns of Scammers Taking Advantage of Mid-Term Elections

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning that scammers likely will be taking advantage of the upcoming elections by pretending to be pollsters, campaign volunteers, fundraisers, and even candidates. Scammers take advantage of anything in the news, a disaster, major crime, or other event that they think can fool the public in giving over their money and identity information.

The BBB expect scammers to take advantage of the elections in one of three ways:

·         Fundraising- They may claim that they are raising funds for a political candidate or a specific cause. People receiving this type of phone call report that callers are pushy and demand immediate action.

·         Polling- Many legitimate pollsters make phone calls to ask questions of citizens. Scammer pollsters may offer a prize for taking your time. After a series of legitimate sounding questions, the scammer may ask for your credit card number to pay for “shipping and taxes” for your prize. Legitimate survey companies do not offer prizes or gifts and do not ask for the credit card number.

·         Impersonation- Scammers may use recordings of real political candidates to ask for a “special contribution.” Digital recordings can be doctored to sound like anyone and can be put together to give any message. Legitimate political candidates often use recordings to deliver their campaign messages over the phone which makes it difficult to determine which call is real or fake.

The BBB suggests the following actions to avoid political scams,

·         Donate directly to a political campaign office.

·         Watch for spoofed calls.

·         Beware of prize offers.

·         Do not give out personal or banking information.

·         Research fundraising organizations before donating.

Better Business Bureau:

https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18699-bbb-warning-political-scams-expected-to-increase-as-us-mid-term-election-nears

BULLYING/CYBERBULLYING- Growing Awareness About a School Age Problem

Bullying and cyberbullying have become concerns for many parents in the 21^st century.

Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior between school aged children that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power and is repeated over time or is potentially repeated. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices such as cell phones, computers, and tablets.

Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3 U.S. students say they have been bullied school. 28% of U.S. students in grades 6-12 experience bullying. 9% of students in grades 6-12 experienced cyberbullying. While there is growing awareness about bullying, there are some studies that suggest the rates of bullying may be declining. Bullying and cyberbullying remain a serious problem in schools.

Most bullying occurs in middle school. Bullying can take place on school grounds, on school buses, and wherever kids gather in the community.

Bullying is a complex problem that continues to be studied for effective methods of prevention and recovery from bullying incidents. For more information about bullying and cyberbullying, checkout the following links.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

https://www.stopbullying.gov/

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0028-cyberbullying

Washington State Anti-Bullying Laws and Policies:

https://www.stopbullying.gov/laws/washington/index.html

State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction:

http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/BullyingHarassment/default.aspx

Snohomish County Resources:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/3124/Resources

CREDIT FREEZE- New Federal Law Make Credit Freezes Free

You may have heard about the new federal law that took effect on September 21^st making placing and lifting credit freezes free nationwide. Credit freezes have received publicity in recent years because they help deter identity theft and with the rise in incidents of identity theft, credit freezes have become an important prevention tool.

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit file from outsiders. If an identity thief has access to your credit information, it can allow him/her to open credit card accounts or take out loans in your name. A credit freeze also restricts your access to your credit information.

The new federal law has several benefits. The most publicized benefit is that freezing and un-freezing your credit now is free. Before the federal law, some states allowed credit bureaus to charge a modest fee each time you froze your credit report and each time you lifted the freeze on your credit report.

Another benefit is that the new law sets standards for timeliness for freezing and un-freezing credit. If you contact the credit bureaus online or by phone, the bureaus need to have your freeze in place no later than the next business day. And they must lift a freeze within an hour.

You can also freeze your child’s credit for free under the new law. Federal and state officials are encouraging parents to take advantage of this capability. Identity thieves frequently sign up for credit cards, loans, and other credit instruments in the name of children because children have no credit history and therefore are easy victims.

Finally, given appropriate documentation you can freeze the credit of someone under guardianship or for a person for whom you hold a valid power of attorney for free.

The following links have instructions and links and phone numbers for each of the three credit bureaus. You will need to set up a credit freeze with each of the credit bureaus separately.

AARP Fraud Watch Network:

https://states.aarp.org/help-deter-identity-theft-by-freezing-your-credit/

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/09/starting-today-new-law-allows-consumers-place-free-credit-freezes

https://www.identitytheft.gov/creditbureaucontacts

Better Business Bureau:

https://betterbusiness.blubrry.com/2018/10/10/new-credit-law-explained/

IRS SCAM- An Update

Scammers are constantly changing how they operate. Governmental agencies such as the IRS and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as well as private organizations such as AARP are educating the public on how scammers work. Scammers must adjust as more of the population learns how they work.

In a recent podcast, the AARP Fraud Watch Network reveal how an IRS scam ring that was busted in India in 2016 operated.

·         The operation involved about 1,000 people in two floors of a building. This is unusual for most boiler room operations.

·         The IRS scam ring robo-dialed 100,000 Americans a day and received 10,000 to 15,000 call back a day.

·         90% of the victims who fell for the IRS scam lived alone.

·         After the raid, IRS scam calls dropped by 95% according to the Better Business Bureau.

The fact that so many victims lived alone highlights how scammers can succeed. Someone who is isolated do not have the opportunity to check with a family member or friend if the scammer’s call is even reasonable. This situation emphasizes the need for everyone to pass this information on, especially to family or friends who might be isolated.

The raid was very successful in reducing the number IRS scam calls, Also, the word has gotten around about the scam in the press and social media. But there are still fraudsters who are trying to use the IRS scam. AARP says that IRS scammers have changed their technique by sending out letters. The letter looks just like it came from the IRS. It will have a reference number in the upper right-hand corner. It will claim that you owe back taxes and that you need to contact your local IRS office. It will name an agent that you should call and give you a number where you can contact him/her. If you call the number, when you are connected to the person named in the letter, they will try to pressure you by scaring you with arrest and demand immediate payment with a wire transfer or a gift card.

The letter tries to add legitimacy to the scam. The key to protecting yourself is to verify the information in the letter independently from anything stated in the letter. Instead of calling the phone number in the letter, do a Google search for your local IRS phone number or the national IRS phone number, then call it and ask if they have an agent on staff named in the letter.

AARP Fraud Watch Network, The Perfect Scam Podcast:

https://www.aarp.org/podcasts/the-perfect-scam/info-2018/irs-phone-scam.html?cmp=SNO-ADV-FB-AO-FWN&socialid=1806613329

CBS News:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-tax-scam-against-americans-sees-70-people-arrested/

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Fighting Addiction

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office along with other agencies in Snohomish County are finding new ways to help people who have gone through the county’s criminal justice system get treatment for their addictions. This issue of the Sheriff’s Office’s crime prevention newsletter, “Partners in Crime Prevention,” talks about the new Diversion Center, how the jail handles addicted inmates, and how you can get help and more information about the heroin/opioid epidemic in Snohomish County.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6081

FACEBOOK- Hackers Exploit Facebook Bug

Yesterday, Facebook reported a breach to their web service through a feature called “View As.” The feature allows users to view their profiles as they appear to other people. The bug in this feature allowed hackers access to “access tokens.” The tokens act as digital keys allowing users to log into their accounts without needing to re-enter their password.

Actions that Facebook says it took yesterday were:

·         It removed the “View As” feature until it can remove the bug allowing access to hackers.

·         It reset the access tokens of 50 million accounts that the company knew were affected by the breach.

·         It also reset the access tokens of another 40 million accounts that may have been affected.

Another potential vulnerability because of this hack is the ability to log into other web sites or apps using your Facebook identity. Facebook says that it has not seen any evidence so far that the hackers were exploiting this vulnerability. As a precaution, it did invalidate the access for third-party app for the 90 million affected or potentially affected accounts.

Facebook says that there is no need to reset your Facebook password. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) does recommend resetting your Facebook account password. ITRC also recommends that you change the passwords to any apps that you have connected to Facebook and that you revoke permission for Facebook to connect to those apps.

For more information, check out these links,

Krebs on Security:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/09/facebook-security-bug-affects-90m-users/

Identity Theft Resource Center:

https://www.idtheftcenter.org/new-facebook-security-breach-compromises-50m-users-accounts/