CRIME PREVENTION- Be Thoughtful Before Posting Video

Security video has become a good tool in identifying crimes and criminals. Every day we see videos and pictures of suspects allegedly committing crimes on the TV news and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Police use the pictures to identify and find suspects of crimes often with the public’s help. They may post them on their own Facebook and Twitter accounts, in press releases that are picked up by the local press, or through Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound.

As a rule, local police may post pictures when they do not know who the suspects are or where they can be found. Police will check internally first to identify suspects and if they cannot, in certain situations, they will release the photos asking for help on who the suspects are and/or where the suspects can be found.

Citizens frequently post pictures of suspects, people taking packages off front porches, car prowling at night, and other suspicious activity. Photos and video help alert neighbors about crime and suspicious activity.

As a part of government, police need to follow the fourth amendment which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure. As Chief Kathleen Larson of the Woodinville Police Department points out, police have more stringent rules that they must follow than the average citizen, so they are very cautious in releasing information. Mistakes can compromise investigations.

While the fourth amendment only applies to government, there is concern that posting photos/videos by citizens could cause problems. Some people warn that posting videos can cause retaliation, lawsuits and vigilantism (people taking the law into their own hands). While there have not been any recent examples of lawsuits or retaliation reported in the press, local law enforcement officials remain concerned that problems could arise when a citizen posts a photo or video before checking with police.

For example, a picture of a vehicle that may look suspicious to you may turn out to be an innocent occurrence. It may be worth calling 911 to let police know what is going on but posting a photo may cause some people to jump to conclusions and take inappropriate actions.  

One thing Chief Larson and Sgt Nathan Alanis of the Snohomish Police Department both agree on is that a victim of a crime should check with the investigating officer or deputy before releasing any pictures on social media. Doing so gives them the opportunity to advise whether release of the pictures would help or hinder the investigation. The goal for both you, the victim, and law enforcement should be to apprehend the right perpetrators and to enable the prosecutor to prosecute a fair trial.

Photos and video have become an important element to investigating and apprehending criminals. Coordinating with police only helps investigators do their jobs more effectively. Give some consideration on whether releasing photos on social media would help or hinder the apprehension of a suspect.

KING TV:

https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/doorbell-cameras-creating-dilemmas-for-police-neighborhoods/507-587143579?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5b81b55804d301021355a7aa&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound:

http://www.crimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=486&

Wikipedia, Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

CARD SKIMMING- Suspect Caught in the Act

It is rare to catch an identity thief in the act. However, the Tukwila Police Department reports that an alert citizen noticed that the seal on a local gas pump was broken and that a door to the inside of the machine appeared to have been tampered with. The citizen pointed it out to the manager who found a credit card skimmer inside.

Most credit card skimmers are placed over the top of the credit card slot. Customers may be able to detect them by trying to wiggle the slot. This skimmer requires insertion inside of the pump completely hiding it inside. The skimmer stores the collected information on an internal hard drive. The ID thief needs to come back to the pump to collect the information.

Tukwila police took the skimmer as evidence then replaced it with a hidden camera. When the ID thief returned, video showed confusion then “a deer in headlights look” when he realized that the skimmer was gone, and he had a camera pointed at his face.

Tukwila PD says that there were about 60 transactions at the pump that could have been collected by the skimmer. It does not believe that any transactions were compromised because the ID thief needed to physically collect the information from the skimmer.

The video shows two males and a 2016-2018 Nissan Rogue SUV involved with this operation. One male, with distinctive tattoos on his knuckles, opened the pump to retrieve the skimmer while a second male stood by blocking the view from the external camera from the building and acting as a lookout. If you know who these people are, please email the Tukwila PD at tips@tukwilawa.gov with the case number 18-5521 in the subject line.

This is the first report of a card skimmer inside a gas pump that I have seen in Puget Sound. While any skimmer can be difficult to detect, most people probably do not jiggle things before inserting their bankcards, a skimmer placed inside of a gas pump makes detection more difficult. Fortunately, in this case, the ID thief broke a seal and did enough damage so that a customer became suspicious and reported the pump to the onsite manager. Being wary of where you insert your bankcard is not paranoia, it is merely taking precautions. Another action that you can take at the gas pump is to pay for your gas inside the store/office.

Tukwila Police Department:

https://www.facebook.com/TukwilaPD/posts/2010160455900190

SCAMS- Advance Fee Loan Scam

An Advance Fee Loan Scam requires someone who is applying for a loan to pay an upfront fee to receive the loan. Legitimate lenders disclose their fees clearly and prominently. They also take their fees out of the amount that you borrow and are paid after the loan is approved. Stay away from loans requiring advance fees.

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) recently issued two warnings about companies apparently employing Advanced Fee Loan Scams to take money from innocent citizens trying to get loans.

One company, calling itself QwikCashLoans, LLC (which also may be associated with GoCashLoans, LLC), offered a consumer a $5,000 loan that would be deposited into their account the next day if the consumer provided a $340 Google Play card to verify the consumer’s income. When the company received the $340 card, it asked for an additional $420 Google Play card to verify taxes.

Another company, Full Spectrum Loans requested advance fees of between $1,500 to $3,200 in exchange for assistance in obtaining residential mortgage home loans or residential mortgage loan refinances. Full Spectrum also may have impersonated the identity of a licensed mortgage loan originator to gain consumers’ information and trust.

 In neither case did the companies provide a loan after receiving the fees that it asked for.

At the time of its notices, DFI had not verified the facts in each of the above cases.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has six red flags that indicate a loan offering is an Advance Fee Loan Scam,

1.      A lender who isn’t interested in your credit history.

2.      Fees that aren’t disclosed clearly or prominently

3.      A loan that is offered by phone.

4.      A lender who uses a copy-cat or wanna-be name.

5.      A lender who is not registered in your state.

6.      A lender who asks you to wire money or pay an individual.

For more information about the two companies and Advance Fee Loan Scams check out the following links,

 Department f Financial Institutions:

https://dfi.wa.gov/consumer/alerts/qwikcashloans

https://dfi.wa.gov/consumer/alerts/full-spectrum-loans

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0078-advance-fee-loans

ABANDONED HOMES- What to do with a Nuisance Property in your Neighborhood

Having a home that appears to have been abandoned is disconcerting for any neighborhood. The potential for decline with unused buildings and the potential for crime around those buildings brings fear to neighbors. Abandoned properties can attract squatters whose practices often accelerates the decline of the property. Drug use can occur along with disorderly conduct, prostitution, and burglary rings, using the property for storing stolen goods or as a chop shop for stolen vehicles or even stolen bikes.

For neighbors it can be frustrating to know what to do in these circumstances. Probably the best advice is to call 911 when you see suspicious activity.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has a “Nuisance Property Program” that has received publicity in social media and the local press. The Sheriff’s Office works with the Snohomish County Health District, Snohomish County code enforcement and human services to encourage landowners to clean up the properties and to remove the threat of decline and crime. Working with other parts of county government helps to ensure compliance with health and building codes and, where possible, to get help for squatters who may have drug addiction or mental health problems.

Often the challenge is to find who owns the property. The county needs an owner’s cooperation to declare squatters as trespassers. It obviously needs the owner to bring the property into compliance with local ordinances. It can be difficult to find someone who is responsible for the property, especially if it has going into foreclosure. Owners may be out of state, elderly, deceased, or even in prison or in the long-term care of a hospital or nursing home.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages all property owners to visit their properties to ensure it is secure and safe.

In most cases, property owners cooperate, especially when they receive notices from several county departments.

While the county does the heavy lifting, finding owners, notifying them, in some cases convincing them that they have a responsibility to comply with the law, neighbors may not see much improvement. Keeping an eye on the property and calling 911 when they see crime in progress or a life-threatening incident in progress, and calling the non-emergency number, (425) 407-3999, for any potential violations help the Sheriff’s Office and the other county agencies to know what is going on at the property.

You can also file a complaint with the health district for issues such as garbage being left on a property and with county code enforcement for violations of the county building code. See the links below for information on how to file a complaint.

Also, keep your own property safe by implementing practical burglary and car theft/car prowl prevention practices.

As Deputy Dave Chitwood puts it, “This is a process.” It may not go as fast as anyone likes, but persistence by the county and by the community at large will reduce the effects of abandoned properties.

The Herald:

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/no-one-likes-living-next-door-to-a-trashy-smelly-house/

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/3948/The-Opioid-Crisis

Snohomish Health District:

https://snohomishonline.envisionconnect.com/#/home

Snohomish County Code Enforcement:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/1152/Code-Enforcement

DUI- Remains a Serious Problem

State and local law enforcement agencies remain dedicated to reducing DUI deaths in Washington State and Snohomish County.

While a recent study by Safewise shows that Washington State ranks 7^th in the lowest rate of DUI deaths with 2.55 DUI deaths per 100.000 (New York has the lowest DUI death rate at 1.65 per 100,000), impaired driving deaths amounted to 57% of all traffic deaths in Washington State (53% in Snohomish County).

A new report by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) shows that starting in 2012, the number of multiple drug impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes has increased by an average of 15 percent each year.  And since 2016, one in four of all Washington traffic deaths involve a “poly-impaired driver.” The most common combination is alcohol and marijuana. And, since 2012, “poly-drug drivers became the most prevalent type of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes.”

53% of drivers between ages 15-20 believe that marijuana use made their driving better. Of the drivers who have used marijuana in the past year, only 37% believe that it is likely that marijuana impairs a person’s ability to drive safely if used within two hours of driving. Of the drivers who have not used marijuana in the previous year, 77% believe that it is likely that marijuana impairs driving.

The studies show that while our rate of DUI deaths may be relatively low compared to other states, DUI deaths remain a serious problem in Washington State. With over half of all traffic deaths attributed to DUI, there is still a need for DUI patrols. Also, there is a need for more education about the dangers of drugged driving and especially the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol while driving.

The WTSC points out that the period approaching the Labor Day weekend (August 17 through September 3) is the deadliest time of year on state highways. As a result, the Washington State Patrol and 160 local law enforcement agencies will be on the roads with emphasis patrols looking for alcohol and drug impaired drivers. The WTSC also reminds everyone that if you are going to drink or take drugs, don’t drive. Catch a ride with a taxi or ridesharing app, take a bus, or have a designated driver when you go out.  

KOMO TV:

https://komonews.com/news/local/wash-state-has-1-of-lowest-dui-death-rates-in-nation-new-study-finds

Washington Traffic Safety Commission:

http://wtsc.wa.gov/washington-increases-dui-patrols-leading-up-to-labor-day-weekend/

Target Zero:

http://www.targetzero.com/PDF2/highrisk.pdf

KIRO TV:

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/toddler-killed-in-dui-crash-remembered-by-pierce-county-law-enforcement-and-dui-patrols/816282455

TARGET ZERO- State Report Shows Concern About Increasing Pedestrian/Bicycle Deaths and Injuries

A Washington State Department of Transportation ( WSDOT) report shows that pedestrian and bicycle deaths between 2013 and 2017 have doubled from 60 to 122 statewide. Pedestrian/bicycle serious injuries have increased 31% for the same period from 251 to 461.

For a similar period, 2012 to 2016, pedestrian deaths in Snohomish County were 45 or 23% of all traffic related deaths. 10 bicyclists died in Snohomish County during the same period for 5% of all traffic related deaths.          

The WSDOT report attributed three factors to the increasing pedestrian and bicycle deaths:

·         Speed limits of 30mph or greater on urban arterials

·         Distracted driving

·         Walkers and bikers impaired by drugs and alcohol

Most pedestrian/bicycle casualties occur on urban streets.

Nationwide, a pedestrian is killed every 2 hours in the U.S.

With an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries statewide, clearly pedestrians and drivers need to watch out for each other.

Pedestrian Safety-

·         Put your cell phone and headphones away! You cannot hear cars approaching with headphones on.

·         Wear a reflective safety vest or carry a flashlight when it is dark.

·         Put reflective tape on your dog’s leash.

·         Stay on sidewalks and use marked crosswalks.

·         Walk in well-lit areas.

·         Don’t assume cars can see you. Wait for a pause in traffic to safely cross.

·         Don’t walk or bike when you are impaired from alcohol or drugs.

Driver Safety-

·         Watch for pedestrians at all times.

·         Slow down when you approach pedestrians and assume they may walk in front of you.

·         Stay off your phone!

·         Watch for school zones.

·         Pay attention to crosswalks or other natural areas where pedestrians may try to cross.

Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/pedestrian-and-bicyclist-deaths-double-statewide-in-recent-years/

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office (page 2):

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

CHARITY SCAM- Washington State Attorney General Charges Scammer

Today, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office announced a lawsuit against Ian Richard Hosang who created six nonprofit entities in Washington: American Cancer Society of Seattle, American Cancer Society of Washington, American Red Cross of Seattle, American Red Cross of Washington, United Way of Seattle and United Way of Washington.

None of the nonprofits are related to their namesakes. The Attorney General’s Office alleges that neither the nonprofits nor Hosang or his associates reside in the state of Washington. Each nonprofit used an address at a UPS Store in Seattle. Hosang instructed the store to forward any mail to a P.O. Box in Brooklyn, New York. The nonprofits did not perform any activities listed in their mission statements not did they give any money or other assistance to the real organizations claimed to be beneficiaries.

Hosang is a former stockbroker who has ties to the mafia. He spent 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges because of his ties to the Gambino crime family in New York.

While the Attorney General’s Office did not find that the organizations solicited donations, it did find at least one check made out to The American Cancer Society of Washington. The Office is concerned that there may be more “contributions. The Office requests that if you donated to any of the above nonprofits, that you contact it at https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint.

This lawsuit highlights the problem of charity scams. The names of these fake nonprofits show how a scammer can manipulate an organization’s name to sound like a legitimate charity. If you want to give to a charity, consider the following:

·         Ask for detailed information about the organization, including an address, phone number and name

·         Ask the organization what percentage of donations benefit the actual cause

·         Check if the charity is registered with the Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/  

 Washington State Attorney General’s Office:

https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-files-lawsuit-against-nonprofit-founder-ties-organized-crime

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0074-giving-charity

BURGLARY PREVENTION- Alexa Might Be Able to Help

Police have recommended for a long time to keep a radio or TV on while you are away from home to deter a burglar. Burglars don’t want to be caught, and if they think there is someone in the house most will go somewhere else.

With the advent of smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo series, there may be a new tool that can make it seem like someone is home when you are away. Echo developers have created a new Alexa “skill” called Away Mode. A skill is computer code that allows an Echo to do a specific task.

Away Mode plays one of seven audio tracks that play for about an hour. If a potential burglar hears the track, he will think there is someone in the house. This may not be a solution for long trips, but it is good for running a short errand. Remember, burglars can strike when you step out for a minute just like they can strike when you are vacation.

The audio tracks were written by comedy writers, so the audio is quirky. Quirky or not, the idea remains to give a burglar the idea that someone is around, and this is not a place he wants to enter.

For more about Away Mode, look at this article,

Tech Crunch:

https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/03/scare-off-burglars-with-this-ridiculous-alexa-skill/

SEXPLOITATION SCAM- Threats to Distribute Video of You Watching Porn

You may have seen this new twist to scamming recently in the news.

You receive an email from someone claiming that they have taken control of your computer webcam and have video of you watching pornography. The crook wants money, and if you do not give it to him, he will distribute the video to all your contacts.

A variation to this scam comes in the mail, claiming to know about an extramarital affair that you are having, and you need to fork over some money to prevent the scammer from revealing this information to your wife.

The scammers in the email version also provide a stolen password of yours at the beginning of the email to be sure to get your attention. The addition of the password is a new technique. The scammers probably have purchased passwords on the dark web.

The scammers are relying on shock and fear to get you to act quickly to pay them. While they claim to have installed malware that can see your webcam and have access to your contacts, this may not be true. They do not need to install malware for this scam to work.

If you receive a sexploitation email like this, take a deep breath and consider the following:

·         Don’t click on links or attachments. For long time readers, this should be a given.

·         Don’t succumb to the urgency the scammer is trying to instill in you. Giving a sense of urgency is a technique to scare you into action.

·         Don’t re-use passwords. This is an example that purchase of personal information such as passwords does happen, even of the information is old, or you no longer use the passwords. Stolen passwords could also be used to directly access and tap your accounts. For each of your accounts you should use a unique password. To manage all these passwords, use a password manager (see link below).

·         Don’t respond to spam or phishing emails. Even if you would like to tell the low life what special part of hell he should be sent to, replying only lets him know that he has a live one and you will receive more scam emails from him and his buddies.

·         Don’t pay the extortionists. This only encourages them. And if they do have the goods on you, paying does not guarantee that their threat will go away.

 KING TV:

https://www.king5.com/article/money/consumer/scammers-threaten-to-release-webcam-videos-of-victims-watching-porn/283-579178362

KIRO TV:

http://jessejones.com/story/scam-alert-phony-letter-threatens-to-reveal-extramarital-affair/

Krebs on Security:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/07/sextortion-scam-uses-recipients-hacked-passwords/

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/the-year-targeted-phishing-went-mainstream/

 

Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wapoyour-password-has-likely-been-stolen-here-s-what-to-do-about-it/

SPEAR PHISHING- Precision Attacks to Steal Customer Information

The recent announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington of indictments against three Ukrainian members of an international hacking group acts as a reminder that phishing, and spear phishing are current techniques being used by criminals to steal customer information from business computer systems.

Victimized companies included restaurants in Everett and Lynnwood and a casino in Tacoma. The hackers took the account information for more than 15 million customers from about 3,600 businesses in the restaurant, casino and hospitality industries nationwide.

The hackers used a technique known as spear phishing to gain entry to the business’s computer systems. After taking the credit card information, they sold some of it on the dark web.

You probably have heard of phishing. That is when you receive an email, usually posing as from a legitimate business or government agency that invites or persuades you to click on a link or on an attached file which can download malware or take you to a web site that collects your personal information. Usually, scammers will send these emails in mass after acquiring a large list of email addresses.

Spear phishing is a more sophisticated version of phishing. It is used to target specific personnel in a business to convince them to click a link or an attachment in an email. The link or attachment then downloads malware that can collect information that the hacker is interested in from the company’s computer system.

According to local federal officials, the indicted hacker group targeted catering divisions of restaurants and hotels. In some cases, they would call the business, to make sure it received the email and that it was opened.

The hackers used “social engineering” to ensure success that the target would open the email and therefore allow malware to be downloaded onto their computer. With social engineering, the hacker or scammer ensures a sense of authenticity through the way the email looks and by who it appears to be from.

The federal officials emphasized that while everyone needs to be on guard against phishing attempts that can it be difficult to detect the real from the fake. In the case the casino in Tacoma, their computer security system was able to limit any penetration by the hackers.

For consumers, this is one more reason to review your accounts regularly and to report to your bankcard providers of any suspicious transactions.

The Herald:

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/ukrainians-hacked-restaurants-in-lynnwood-and-everett/

The Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/arrests-in-seattle-poland-and-spain-in-huge-global-hacking-scheme/

KIRO TV:

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/3-arrested-in-global-hacking-scheme-1/803595771

United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/three-members-notorious-international-cybercrime-group-fin7-custody-role-attacking-over

Symantec Corporation:

https://www.symantec.com/blogs/feature-stories/taking-bec-scammers-its-not-mission-impossible