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