SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

Christmas is coming and you will be out to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Here are some simple tips to follow while you do your holiday shopping.

In the Car

·         Don’t leave high-value items or shopping bags in plain sight. Even a few seconds is enough for a smash-and-grab.

·         Store bags in the trunk before you arrive at your next destination, not after you park.

·         Keep vehicles locked and windows fully closed, even if you’re stepping away for a moment.

·         Park in well-lit, high-traffic areas whenever possible.

·         Be aware of your surroundings. If something feels off, move to another spot or notify security.

Prevent Package & Porch Theft

·         With holiday shipping in full swing, porch pirates are more active too. A few preventative measures can help:

·         Track packages and set delivery alerts so you know when they arrive.

·         Bring deliveries inside as soon as possible.

·         Use secure delivery options like:

o   Lockers / pickup locations

o   Deliver to work (if allowed)

·         Ask a trusted neighbor to grab it

·         Install a doorbell or security camera, even visible cameras can deter thieves.

·         Avoid leaving boxes visible outdoors. Break them down and conceal high-value packaging.

 

 

 

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7325

 

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7325

 

 

HOLIDAY SHOPPING – Staying Safe at the Mall

While much of our shopping has migrated online, sometimes we still need to go to a physical store to purchase those special Christmas gifts. Like online, there are safety and crime prevention measures that you should take to ensure that you have a successful and safe shopping experience.

Parking and securing your car.

·         Park your car in a well-lit busy area, near the front of the mall/store if possible.

·         Be sure nothing is showing inside the car. Keep any purchases out of sight in the trunk.

·         LOCK YOUR CAR!!! If you have a remote key fob, take it with you. Do not leave keys or key fobs in your car.!!

·         Make a note of where you parked so that you can go to it without looking like you are lost.

·         On the way back have your car keys in your hand so that you do not have to fumble to get them out of your pocket or purse.

·         When you get back inside, lock your car.

Walking around the street or mall.

·         Shop with some friends. There is strength in numbers.

·         Be aware of your surroundings. Look out for unusual activity.

·         Walk in busy, well-lit areas. Stay away from isolated areas.

·         Don’t be distracted by your phone. Take out your earbuds or earphones. It is easier to hear what is going on around you without earbuds or earphones in your ears.

·         Keep your purse close to your body. Keep keys and wallets in a front pocket.

·         Be aware of exit locations in case of an emergency.

Shopping.

·         Don’t carry a lot of cash.

·         Avoid ATM’s. If you need to get cash, go to an ATM inside the mall, in a store, or in a bank. Shield the keypad from view by strangers. Keep the receipt, do not throw it away in a public trash can.

·         When paying for your purchases, try using your digital wallet, credit card, or debit card instead of cash.

·         Use just one credit/debit card. If your account has a data breach, then only one credit/debit card is affected.

·         If you are eating at the food court, keep your packages near you, under the table if possible.

·         Save your receipts. Check your bank/credit/debit card account regularly for unusual activity.

·         If you have purchased a large item, ask for help loading it into your car.

For more safe shopping tips, check out the following links:

 

 

 

KOMO News:

https://komonews.com/news/offbeat/shoppers-beware-how-to-protect-yourself-and-your-purchases-during-black-friday-madness-shopping-deals-palm-beach-outlets-gardens-mall-florida-november-29-2024?s=09

 

State Farm Insurance:

https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/family/black-friday-shopping-safety-list

 

The Hearty Soul:

https://theheartysoul.com/holiday-shopping-safety-tips/

 

Everett Police Department:

https://www.everettwa.gov/1095/Vehicle-Prowl-Prevention

https://www.everettwa.gov/1092/Personal-Safety

 

 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – Crime Prevention Newsletter Holiday Issue

This holiday issue of “Partners in Crime Prevention” talks about purchasing gift cards in retail stores and other handy prevention tips for the holidays.

To see the issue go to https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7228.

Hope everyone has a great holiday season!

 

 

 

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7228

SHIPPING TEXT SCAMS – Taking Advantage of Online Shopping

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping in full swing, delivery companies such as UPS, Fedex, Amazon, and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) are also in full swing delivering packages. As we try to protect our packages from Porch Pirates, scammers also try to take advantage of the intense season with shipping text scams.

As with all scams, shipping scammers “pretend” to be from a major delivery company with a text or email that is formatted like the real company’s text/email. The text/email will have a link that the scammer wants you to click on which will take you to a fake website or download malware that can harvest your personal information on your hard drive.

The scam presents a “problem” that you have to solve.  The scam may claim that they are having trouble delivering your package. One variation is where scammers place a fake “missed delivery” tag on your door claiming that they are having trouble delivering a package and to please call a number to reschedule delivery. Another variation is a text from the USPS saying the package is at the warehouse but has incomplete address information. You are asked to click on a link to verify your address.

Scammers place pressure on you to act now before you can think about the situation. In this case, there may be no need for a scammer to remind you to act now before Christmas comes. Some scam texts, however, will tell you that if you do not respond right away, they will return the package to the sender

Finally, you pay. You most likely will pay with the personal information that you provide the scammer as you “login” to a fake website or fill out an online form with your id and password, banking information, etc. Some scam texts/emails might also ask for payment. That should be a clear warning sign that the message is a scam.

What to do with a shipping message,

·         If you receive an unexpected text message or email about a package delivery, contact the company by phone or a website that you have verified as the true phone number or web address.

·         DO NOT click on any links provided by a text message or email.

·         If you think you recognize the message as concerning an order that you have made, go to the web site where you purchased the item and look up shipping and delivery status there.

 

 

Federal Trade Commission:

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/12/fake-shipping-notification-emails-and-text-messages-what-you-need-know-holiday-season

 

Better Business Bureau:

https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/16460-scam-alert-fake-text-delivery-scam

 

United States Postal Inspection Service:

https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/smishing-package-tracking-text-scams

 

Aura.com:

https://www.aura.com/learn/ups-text-scam

 

 

 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Holiday Safety Tips

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has posted its annual holiday issue of its crime prevention newsletter “Partners in Crime Prevention.”

The number one safety tip is to not drink and drive. If you plan on drinking over the holidays, please find a friend or service to take you home.

Also, the Sheriff’s Office has tips for safe shopping and protecting your Christmas presents.

You can find the newsletter at the link below.

Happy Holidays!

 

 

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7089

 

 

LYNNWOOD – Burglary Alert

The Lynnwood Police Department has issued an alert to its residents of a high level of burglaries around Meadowdale High School.

Lynnwood PD says that burglars are operating between 5pm and 8pm when it is dark. The burglars also enter houses that they think the homeowners are out. Entry is with a rock or other hard object to break a back window.

Items taken have included guns, jewelry, and cash.

In the past, most residential burglaries have taken place sometime during the day when most homeowners were away at work. This series of burglaries may be part of a new trend of burglars finding other times of the day to find empty houses to enter. Most burglars do not want to get caught, so they enter houses that they think are not occupied, and houses that can help them conceal their presence. The dark hours and making entry from the back of a house helps conceal their presence.

With Christmas shopping coming, many people may go out shopping at local stores for gifts.  Here are some things you can do to help prevent a burglar in your house,

·         When you leave, always lock your doors and windows.

·         If you have an alarm system, use it.

·         Turn on your outside lights. Also, security lights that use motion sensors can help deter a burglar and may help a neighbor detect that someone is on your property.

·         Make it look like someone is in your house. Burglars do not want to get caught. Anything that makes a burglar think you are at home will spook them. Keep some lights on inside. Turn on a radio or TV that is loud enough that a burglar can hear it before he enters your house.

 

And when you receive your purchases,

 

·         Don’t leave your presents under the tree in view of burglars. Keep them in a secure place until Christmas Day.

·         Don’t leave the empty boxes from your presents outside. Burglars then can know what they can take from you. Break them down and put them in your recycle bin.

·         Make a note of serial numbers of electronic goods, take pictures of them and other valuable gifts such as jewelry and ad them to your household inventory.

 

If burglars are attacking a neighborhood in Lynnwood, they can easily move to yours. Taking some easy precautions can help you from becoming disappointed during this Christmas season.

 

 

 

 

 

Lynnwood Police Department:

https://www.facebook.com/LynnwoodPolice/posts/1335994870071115

 

https://fb.watch/1-IrIrUWYm/

 

Edmonds Police Department:

Edmonds Police Department on Twitter: "You're never bothering us. If it doesn't look right, Call 911! https://t.co/ekVGO7Wkvy" / Twitter

 

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6573

 

 

Everett Police Department:

Holiday-Crime-Prevention (everettwa.gov)

 

VProwl.indd (everettwa.gov)

 

 

 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – Crime Prevention Newsletter, Holiday Crime Prevention Issue

With COVID-19 growing again just before the holidays, making purchases for Christmas gifts will no doubt migrate online, continuing a trend that has been going on for several years.

The latest issue of the Sheriff Office’s crime prevention newsletter highlights a few tips on how you can protect yourself from being victimized online and on ways that you can protect your package deliveries.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6573

 

 

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