SNOHOMISH COUNTY- Expanding Efforts to Reduce Drug Use

Yesterday, Snohomish County officials along with officials from the cities of Marysville and Arlington announced expansion of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office’s Office of Neighborhoods outreach program to the homeless to north Snohomish County.

In the program, teams of deputies/police officers and social workers contact homeless individuals to offer help with getting off drug addiction and with mental health problems. The effort originally started in the south county area in 2015. According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, since 2015, the Office of Neighborhoods has:

·         Arranged for 222 chemical dependency assessments for individuals.

·         Secured 265 beds in detox centers.

·         Secured 224 beds in addiction treatment centers.

·         Secured housing for more than 165 individuals.

Last year, the Sheriff’s Office expanded the unit to east Snohomish County in cooperation with the City of Monroe.

In a related development, the Snohomish County Council passed an ordinance that provides new tools to law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office to crack down on derelict properties. Since 2013, the Snohomish Regional Drug and Gang Task Force has been collaborating with public safety agencies, code enforcement, health and human services and fire inspectors to clean up nuisance properties that can attract drug use and crime.

During its efforts, the county found that the county code made enforcement on nuisance properties lengthy and cumbersome. The new ordinance sets procedures for forcing nuisance property owners to clean up their properties and defines what makes up a nuisance property.

A chronic nuisance property is

·         Any property where a court has determined that there is probable cause that illegal possession, manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance exists at the property two or more times in a twelve-month period.

·         Any abandoned property where nuisance activity exists.

·         A residential property where “…four or more nuisance activities exist or have occurred on the property during any 90-day period, or eight or more nuisance activities exist or have occurred on the property during any 365-day period.”

A nuisance activity can include criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, gang related activity, indecent exposure and prostitution offenses, animal cruelty, precursor drug-related offenses, unlawful inhalation of toxic fumes, violation of an off-limits order, firearm and dangerous weapon offenses or possession of stolen property offenses.

The two initiatives demonstrate Snohomish County’s commitment to maintaining a good quality of life for its citizens. Homeless camps and nuisance houses/buildings both lower quality of life and can spread health problems and crime. The expansion of the Office of Neighborhoods’ efforts and the new chronic nuisance property enforcement ordinance will not eliminate homeless camps or nuisance properties overnight. They do try to tackle those problems in coordinated ways that help those willing to help themselves and if necessary incarcerate those who insist on breaking the law.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office News Release:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=5934

Chronic Nuisance Property Enforcement and Abatement Ordinance:

http://snohomish.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=6255&meta_id=403485

The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/news/reaching-out-to-north-countys-homeless/

http://www.heraldnet.com/news/new-law-takes-on-nuisance-properties/

TARGET ZERO- Walking and Texting

The Snohomish County DUI and Target Zero Task Force is emphasizing pedestrian safety to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries to zero by 2030.

Recently, NBC’s Today Show showed what happens when you walk and text. Look at the video and think twice next time you are enticed to walk and text.

And remember, texting and driving is now illegal in Washington State. Local police agencies will be conducting distracted driving emphasis patrols between April 2^nd and 14^th.

NBC Today Show:

https://www.today.com/video/texting-and-walking-jeff-rossen-explains-how-it-could-get-you-killed-1193325635796

Snohomish County DUI and Target Zero Task Force:

http://snocotargetzero.org/index.html

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- DUI and Target Zero Task Force

The latest issue of the Sheriff’s crime prevention newsletter, “Partners in Crime Prevention,” is out. This issue focuses on Snohomish County’s DUI and Target Zero Task Force. The task force’s goal is to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Learn the areas that the task force is emphasizing and how you can help.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5929

WESTERN UNION SCAM- FTC Warns of Scam Emails

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that people are receiving emails that claim that they can apply to be part of the FTC/Western Union settlement. The FTC reminds everyone that you cannot apply for a refund from the settlement by email.

The settlement, reached with Western Union by the FTC and U.S. Department of Justice last year, came about on allegations that Western Union failed to discipline agents who allowed funds transfers from scam victims to scammers. Western Union agreed to pay $586 million to resolve the charges.

The scam emails ask for information about your Western Union transaction, as well as your name and address. The FTC recommends that you not respond to the emails and do not give any information.

If you think that you might be eligible for a refund from the settlement the following info-graphic lays out the steps that you can take:

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/03/western-union-refunds-scam-alert

This posting explains the settlement,

South Snohomish County Crime Watch:

http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2017/11/scams-western-union-money-transferftc.html

CREDIT CARD SKIMMERS- More Skimmers Found at Gas Pumps

A local Secret Service agent says that authorities have been seeing more credit card skinners at gas stations over the past few months.

The latest find occurred in Centralia this week when a state inspector found two skimmers at one gas station. Three skimmers have been found in Lewis County. And two skimmers were found at a gas station in Port Orchard. The discoveries began in November.

The authorities think that ID thieves are migrating to gas pumps because more ATMs are using chip readers making it more difficult to copy account information. Most gas pumps still rely on swiping the magnetic strip on credit and debit cards and have yet to utilize chip readers.

Skimmers record account information from the magnetic strip on the card. The ID thief returns later to retrieve the information. They can use the account information to make purchases online or sell the information to another ID thief.

While the reports of gas pump skimmers have occurred in other parts of the state, ID thieves can still operate in Snohomish County.

Remember, when you come up to a gas station pump, or an ATM, check the card reader for any unusual marks, see if it is loose. Try to use the pump nearest the cashier booth or store (it’s easier for ID thieves not to get caught when they install skimmers in pumps furthest from the cashier). If you see anything suspicious, report it to an employee.

Q13:

http://q13fox.com/2018/03/22/skimmers-found-at-multiple-western-washington-gas-stations-centralia-tacoma-port-orchard-south-sound/

EVERETT- Police Warn of Pickpockets Update

Police have released security photos of suspects in an apparent pickpocket ring that has entered the Puget Sound region. There may be more than 50 people involved with this criminal ring. The ring has been associated with thefts in the Pacific Northwest, New York City and Florida.

The thefts seem to have been occurring at Panera Bread and Trader Joes locations. The pickpockets will bump into someone in a restaurant or crowded area, then steal their wallet or purse. Often, the thieves will quickly make purchases at nearby retail locations.

No matter where you are, remember,

·         Be aware of your surroundings.

·         Use a front pocket for your wallet.

·         Carry purses and bags diagonally across the front of your body. Keep the strap short.

·         Take only what you need. Keep extra credit/debit cards, ID, checks, cash, etc. safely stored at home.

·         Keep your purse with you, even if you must go to the restroom.

·         Keep zippers zipped.

·         Keep your electronics hidden.

Q13:

http://q13fox.com/2018/03/21/everett-police-warn-of-pickpocket-ring-stealing-wallets-purses-reward-for-id-of-suspects/

South Snohomish County Crime Watch:

http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2018/03/everett-police-warn-of-pickpockets.html

SCAMS AND ID THEFT- FTC Issues a Summary of Complaints

We have been bombarded with information about scams, ID theft, and cybersecurity. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) takes millions of complaints from consumers about fraud, scams, ID theft and many other consumer crimes. Recently, the FTC issued a report showing the trends in fraud in 2017.

Overall, the number of complaints about fraud dropped from 2.98 million in 2016 to 2.68 million in 2017. However, consumers reported losing more money in 2017 than in 2016.

·         2017- $905 million

·         2016- $842 million

·         An increase of $63 million

Top three consumer complaints:

1.      Debt collection. Declined from 2016. Still the top category with 23% of all complaints.

2.      Identity theft made up 14% of complaints.

a.       Credit card fraud most common ID theft.

b.      Tax fraud second most common ID theft despite falling by 46% from 2016.

3.      Imposter scams. Consumers reported losing substantially more money to imposter scams, $328 million, than any other type of fraud.

There were trends among different age groups also. Of the 20-29-year old's who reported fraud, 40% said that they lost money. Of those aged 70+, 18% said that they lost money. Of the 20-29-year old’s who reported a loss of money, their median average loss was $400. Of those aged 80+, their median average loss was $1,092.

The report also broke out the statistics by state. For Washington State,

·         Under fraud and other reports/losses, Washington State ranked 25^th with a total of 38,549 total fraud and other reports. The Median fraud loss in Washington was $460.

·         Under Identity Theft reports, Washington ranked 16^th with a total of 7,360 reports.

The top ten fraud or scam categories that were reported in Washington included:

·         Imposter scams- 19%

·         Identity theft- 16%

·         Debt collection- 13%

·         Banks and lenders- 10%

·         Telephone and mobile services- 9%

·         Shop-at-home and catalog sales- 6%

·         Auto related- 5%

·         Prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries- 5%

·         Credit bureaus, information furnishers and report users- 4%

·         Television and electronic media- 3%

The top identity theft types that consumers reported in Washington included:

·         Credit card fraud- 44%

·         Bank fraud- 18%

·         Employment- or tax-related fraud- 17%

·         Phone or utilities fraud- 12%

·         Government documents or benefits fraud- 6%

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/03/ftc-releases-annual-summary-complaints-reported-consumers

If you are victimized by a fraud or scam, report it to,

FTC Complaint Assistant:

https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt

FACEBOOK SCAM- Don’t Take That Quiz

Earlier this year, the Better Business Bureau issued a warning about taking online quizzes. You may find the quizzes through Facebook or another social media site.

While the quizzes might seem innocent, they can give a hacker an opportunity to get your personal information or even the personal information of your family and friends.

Like clicking on a link or attachment in a phishing email, clicking on a quiz can download malware onto your computer.

Also, be wary if the quiz asks you to sign into a social site, give your email address or send a link to the quiz to your friends. Doing so can help hackers harvest your ID and passwords, email address and your friends email addresses to use in collecting personal information. The hackers could also, posing as you, send emails to your friends to spread their malware.

The BBB recommends:

·         Before taking any online quiz, find out who created it. Ask yourself, is it a well-known brand that you trust?

·         Adjust your social media’s privacy settings so that they do not share information with anyone (or as close to that is allowed).

·         Remove personal details from your profile. Do not share your phone number or your home address.

·         Do not accept friend requests from people you do not know.

Better Business Bureau:

https://www.bbb.org/en/us/article/news-releases/16992-scam-alert-that-facebook-quiz-might-be-a-scam

HOME SECURITY- Wireless Security Systems

Surveillance cameras can give you a sense of security with their ability to show you who is at your house. However, you might want more than just cameras. A full security system with sensors, cameras, the ability to notify your and/or a central monitoring center may give you more security. Many security systems now are wireless. A major advantage of a wireless security system is ease of installation, no need to drill holes and run wire.

Reviews.org has reviewed and rated five wireless security systems. If you are in the market for a security system, their article will help you learn about the latest technology.

Reviews.org:

https://www.reviews.org/home-security/best-wireless-security-system/

AUTO THEFT- Task Force Catches Car Thieves

The Puget Sound region has had a serious problem with car theft for many years. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with the Marysville Police Department, Washington State Patrol and the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office in the form of the Snohomish County Auto Theft Task Force (SNOCAT). SNOCAT reduces vehicle theft in Snohomish County through pro-active enforcement, apprehension of car thieves, and education of the public about auto theft.

Recently, the Sheriff’s Office posted a summary of SNOCAT’s activities during 2017 on Facebook. Here is what SNOCAT did last year:

“In 2017, SNOCAT had 287 cases opened and closed 233 cases. The team recovered a total of 198 stolen vehicles worth over $1.8M in value and recovered 18 pieces of heavy equipment worth over $179K. The Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office filed 141 SNOCAT vehicle theft cases in 2017 and received 140 vehicle theft convictions.

During one of their investigations, a detective located an Improvised Explosive Device inside the glove box of a stolen car (pictured below). Bomb techs evaluated the IED and found it had a commercial grade fuse, contained smokeless powder, 66 screws and was capable of causing a large explosion. Also, inside the vehicle, detectives located a Taurus 9mm handgun, a stolen 30.06 scoped rifle and a .357 revolver that were all loaded. The vehicle also contained a rifle bayonet, methamphetamine, suboxone, tramadol, drug paraphernalia, and several shaved keys.

The suspect was later interviewed, booked into jail and eventually posted bail. While out on bail, the suspect committed two other vehicle thefts before he was finally held. SNOCAT conducted thorough follow-up investigations and ensured each case was solid. When faced with the evidence against him, the suspect plead guilty and was sentenced to 84 months in prison.”

This issue of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office’s crime prevention newsletter gives advice on how you can prevent your vehicle from being stolen,

Partners in Crime Prevention:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5804

SNOCAT:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/2687/Auto-Theft-SNOCAT

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.facebook.com/SnoCoSheriff/photos/a.318645198209560.75416.179360692138012/1936080109799386/?type=3

HOME SECURITY- Motion Detector Cameras

Most homeowners are concerned about burglars breaking into their homes. Cameras have become popular to help homeowners oversee their homes especially when they are away. Modern camera systems have a wide variety of high tech features including excellent resolution, wide fields of view, night vision, two-way audio, internet connections to be able to communicate with your smartphone, and even onboard or cloud storage.

Reviews.org has reviewed and rated five cameras. If you are in the market for a camera system, their article will help you learn about the latest technology.

Reviews.org:

https://www.reviews.org/home-security/best-motion-detector-cameras/

EVERETT- Police Warn of Pickpockets

We usually do not associate pickpocketing with Snohomish County. Traveling in Europe maybe. Rome, Paris, yes, we think of pickpockets. But, Everett, Washington? The Everett Police Department is warning citizens about pickpocketing in south Everett, especially in strip malls.

According to Everett PD, the crime of pickpocketing can be difficult to investigate and find the suspect(s). A common thread to the reported incidents are that victims were bumped into or otherwise distracted. However, pinning down individual suspects, times and places of the thefts can be challenging for victims and police.

Bumping into a victim is a common method for pickpockets who often work in pairs; one to do the bumping or distracting, with an accomplice who takes the wallet from a pocket or purse.

As with many thieves in the 21^st Century, modern pickpockets may not be so interested in your cash as they are in your credit or debit cards.

Everett PD recommends the following to protect yourself from pickpockets:

·         Be aware of your surroundings.

·         Use a front pocket for your wallet.

·         Carry purses and bags diagonally across the front of your body. Keep the strap short.

·         Take only what you need. Keep extra credit/debit cards, ID, checks, cash, etc. safely stored at home.

·         Keep your purse with you, even if you must go to the restroom.

·         Keep zippers zipped.

·         Keep your electronics hidden.

With our growing population, there may be more opportunity for pickpockets to extend their activities to crowded areas that have not seen pickpocketing before.

For more about what you can do to protect yourself from pickpocketing check out the following links:

wikiHow (with illustrations):

https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Being-Pickpocketed

Rick Steves’ Europe (for tips when you travel):

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams/outsmarting-pickpockets

KIRO TV:

http://www.kiro7.com/news/north-sound-news/everett-police-warn-about-recent-pickpocketing-incidents/713781213

Everett Police Department:

https://www.facebook.com/EverettPoliceWA/

UTILITY SCAMS- Utilities Want You to Be Careful

Imposter scams have received a lot of publicity in the last few years. Some examples include:

·         Someone calls you and says they are from the IRS and you need to send them a payment using a gift card right away.

·         Or you get a call from someone who says they are Officer or Deputy So and So and since you missed jury duty, you need to send money in the next hour or his buddy will arrest you.

Scammers also pose as representatives of local utilities to try to con you out of your money. They will contact you on the phone, via email, or in person. And utilities want you to know that.

An organization called “Utilities United Against Scams” is distributing information how to recognize a utility scam and what to do if a scammer contacts you. Utilities United Against Scams is a consortium of 100 U.S. and Canadian utilities dedicated to educating the public about utility scams. Puget Sound Energy is a local utility that is a member.

For information about utility scams, look at this guide from Utilities United,

Consumer’s Guide to Imposter Utility Scams:

http://utilitiesunited.org/Documents/Guide_UUAS_Guide_Utility_Scams.pdf

Utilities United Against Scams:

http://utilitiesunited.org/Pages/default.aspx#about

IDENTITY THEFT- Skimmers Can be Clever

Skimmers are devices that are placed over ATM card slots or credit card machines (such as at gas pumps) to collect credit card/debit card account numbers and PIN numbers.

Brian Krebs, of Krebs on Security, recently posted an item about thieves in Pennsylvania who were installing “overlay” skimmers on credit card machines in Aldi grocery stores. The skimmers are devilishly clever in that they fit over the credit card machine, as you can see in this picture:

While I have not seen any press reports of this specific type of skimmer in western Washington, it does show how clever ID thieves can be in collecting our personal information.

When you are using an ATM machine, take some time to inspect it, looking for anything that looks unusual or loose. Look for any signs of tampering. If you see anything suspicious, report it to an employee or to the company’s customer service. Cover the key pad so that hidden mini-cameras or someone behind you cannot see your PIN number.

Also, try to use your credit card not your debit card. Most credit cards have built in protection in their terms of service against this type of theft. Debit cards can allow a thief to whip out your bank account, with little protection, if they can gain access.

Look at the video in the link to Krebs on Security to see how stealthily and brazen the ID thieves installed the skimmer at a check stand.

Krebs on Security:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/02/would-you-have-spotted-this-skimmer/

South Snohomish County Crime Watch:

http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2015/11/atms-scammers-are-innovating-to-take.html

           

CYBERSECURITY UPDATE- How to Tell if Your Computer has been Hacked

Over the last few years police and consumer protection agencies have been warning the public about phishing emails and clicking on links of unknown organizations or businesses. The fear is that by clicking on those links that some sort of malware that can collect your personal information will be downloaded onto your computer.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if an email is suspicious. The cautious thing to do is to avoid clicking on anything in that email. But you might click because you are in a hurry, or do not pick up on warning signs. It can happen to anyone.

So how do you know if your computer has been hacked? Here are some signs to look for.

·         You send spam to your friends in your address book. This could be because malware has been installed in your computer. Or a hacker has gained access to your email account and is using it to distribute spam. Hackers do not need malware to have access to your email address book, they can gain access over the web. Let your friends know not to click on any links to spam emails from your email address. Also, immediately change your password to your email account.

·         You have been locked out of your user accounts. Notify the online service(s) that you think you have been hacked. Immediately change your passwords. Also, run your antivirus/malware software to try to remove the malware.

·         Your antivirus software no longer works. This can be due to a technical problem or malware has disabled your antivirus software. For those who use Windows computers, Microsoft offers its free, downloadable “Safety Scanner” that you can find here:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/products/scanner

·         Your computer has new software installed. But you do not remember installing any software or apps. The software automatically runs when you start your computer. It may hog your resources, slow down your computer and repeatedly ask permission to pass through your firewall. You can check out suspicious software by downloading Microsoft’s “Process Explorer” at this link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer.

·         Malicious pop up ads show up on your screen. Malware could have been installed in your web browser. Check to see if your browser has toolbars that you do not remember installing. Remove them then run your anti-malware software.

·         Your network activity has increased dramatically. If you get warnings from your ISP that your internet data has exceeded its limit you may have malware that is accessing the internet for its own purposes.

The easiest solution to most of these problems is to run your anti-virus/anti-malware software. You should have your antivirus set to automatically update and to run in the background. Other hacking problems may have nothing to do with malware but may have been the result of stolen personal information. In those cases, change your password to ensure that you have control over affected accounts.

Check out the following links for more information.

Windows Central:

https://www.windowscentral.com/signs-pc-hacked

Ask Leo:

https://askleo.com/why_am_i_getting_or_sending_emails_that_contain_only_a_link_or_spam_from_my_contacts/?utm_source=Buffer&utm_medium=Redirect&utm_term=4773