CAR THEFT- Ways to Prevent Your Vehicle from Being Stolen

Car theft remains a problem in Washington State. Through September 31,011 vehicles have been stolen in Washington State. That’s about 85 vehicles per day!

 KIRO TV recently broadcast a series about what you can do to prevent your vehicle from being stolen.

During their research, auto theft detectives told a KIRO reporter that most auto thefts are occurring in parking lots. The detectives recommend,

 

·         Parking in a well-lit area

·         Park near the front of businesses

·         If possible, park near a security camera

A new trend is that auto thieves are targeting vehicles within a sea of other cars, so try to avoid crowded areas.

Don’t leave anything in view. That will attract at least a break-in.

The reporter mentioned that you should not leave your car registration, with your home address on it, in your car. Thieves have been known to find the registration inside then go to your home to burglarize it. However, of late, the state Department of Licensing (DOL) has been sending out yearly car registration forms with the vehicle’s registered address at the bottom of the form and a statement giving you permission to snip the lower portion off of the form. So, you have a choice of removing your address before placing it in your vehicle or taking a picture of it on your smartphone then keeping it in a safe place.

Some people think that leaving their car unlocked will prevent their windows from being broken. However, many car thefts occur because doors are unlocked. Keeping your car doors unlocked only makes it easier for car thieves to steal your car.

Also, during the winter, some people warm up their cars in the morning before heading out to work. Or they may not turn off their car or lock the door when they run into a convenience store. Leaving a car running is an invitation for someone to steal it. Don’t leave your car running while you are away at any time.

There are items that you can purchase that will help prevent your vehicle from being stolen. One is a steering wheel lock. This is a device that you place on your steering wheel that prevents a thief from steering it. It is visible so that would-be car thieves can see them. Wheel locks are an effective deterrent. Several local law enforcement agencies have sponsored wheel lock giveaways often targeting Kia and Hyundai owners. Often, they run out within minutes. You can also purchase one online or at your local auto supply store.

Battery cutoff switches are another alternative. Also, some people have gone as far as purchasing their own parking boots.

 

  

KIRO TV-

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/part-1-with-car-thefts-rise-ways-help-prevent-becoming-victim/KIRSID3X7BFOFO263SGOEOANGE/

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/affordable-tools-you-can-buy-prevent-car-theft/QFGZDUWIAVGR7CHTELJMBTGPJA/

  

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte, North Carolina:

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=steering+wheel+lock&mid=8B20E932DDE8B72E366A8B20E932DDE8B72E366A&FORM=VIRE

 

Washington Auto theft Prevention Authority:

https://waautotheftpreventionauthority.org/resources/

  

Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force:

https://blog.piercecountywa.gov/autothefttaskforce/2023/10/17/psattf-releases-auto-theft-stats-for-september-2023/

  

Snohomish County Auto Theft Task Force:

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

 

 

 

PHISHING- Package Scammers Spoofing the US Postal Service

Package scams are a long-time tactic by scammers to collect personal information. Recent reporting by Krebs on Security shows an increase in scammers targeting US Postal Service (USPS) customers. Typically, you receive an email or a text message that says that the USPS could not deliver a package for some reason. A sample of a phishing (smishing) text message shows how real looking the scammers can design their messages:

 

 

 

 

Generally, the USPS does not send messages to citizens telling them that they have a package that they cannot deliver and asking for updated address information. The only time the USPS will email/text you is when you have signed up for a service such as holding your mail or subscribing to their Informed Delivery Service. But with the logo, this text message looks real enough that you might click on the link.

Krebs on Security points out that the link takes you to a phishing domain, usps.informedtrck[.]com. The Postal Service does not insert a word between “usps” and “.com” in its web addresses.

Phishing/smishing scams can be used in many contexts with scammers pretending to be from your local utility, your bank, a well know business, or a government entity. Taking a few moments to inspect your emails and texts before taking any action on them will save you grief in the future. Look for the following signs,

 

·         An urgent or emotional language designed to get you to act quickly.

·         A request for your personal or financial information, often to “update” or “verify” the sender’s database.

·         Incorrect email addresses or links. A good example is using amazan[.]com for amazon.com.

·         Bad grammar. This is not 100%, scammers are getting better with their English. But bad grammar shows that the writer is not as proficient in English.

 

If you detect an email or text that you think is suspicious, report it to the real business or governmental entity being impersonated, and/or to the provider of your email or text messaging service.

Then delete the email so that you won’t click on any links be mistake.

A good way to track your mail, including packages, is to sign up for Informed Delivery from the Postal Service. Every day, the USPS will send you an email with a listing of mail and packages coming to your mailbox in the next day or so. You can sign up for this service at https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm.

Phishing and smishing are major tactics scammers use to collect personal information and sometimes money from the average consumer. It is also a major tool to target businesses to steal funds, insert malware for intelligence, or to insert ransomware.

 

 

Krebs on Security:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/10/phishers-spoof-usps-12-other-natl-postal-services/

 

Verify:

https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/scams-verify/unsolicited-usps-texts-about-undelivered-packages-are-scams/536-fce7bc60-b3d1-4c8e-8fec-69ba6fd33538?fbclid=IwAR2dI_cB_GY-cxmD01kJUdx7LLzzsUo_bysO5P-qG5jCift_dbhmmcLyWzM

 

United States Postal Inspection Service:

https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/smishing-package-tracking-text-scams#:~:text=Have%20you%20received%20unsolicited%20mobile,is%20a%20scam%20called%20smishing.

 

AARP:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/package.html?intcmp=AE-FWN-LIB3-POS6