SCAM PACS – Fraudsters Take Advantage of Election Build Up

With the 2024 election campaigns in full gear, as usual, scammers find a way to take advantage of the situation to skim off some cash for themselves.

Election campaigns can be high energy and emotional, especially in this era of polarized politics. Scammers are adept at quickly establishing their false credentials to appeal for financial help, as in charity scams, for a worthy cause whipping up their victims’ emotions to pay right away because the cause needs their help now.

Scammers have migrated the charity scam model to elections by claiming to be a Political Action Committee (PAC) backing or opposing a candidate or cause. Legitimate PAC’s back candidates or causes spending no more than 25% of their donations on fund raising and administrative costs with the rest going to advertising and other techniques that promote their candidate or cause.

Scam PACs find ways to mask the pocketing of their donations to the organizers by distributing the funds to vendors which are owned by the organizers. And often, Scam PACs spend more than 25% of their donations on fund raising and administrative costs.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulates PACs supporting or working to defeat candidates for federal office. In Washington State, the Public Disclosure Commission (PDA) regulates candidate committees, political committees, lobbyists, and lobbyist employers. Scam PACs may or may not register with the FEC and/or the PDC. Those that do not are obviously PACs to stay away from Those that do, may give an indication in their financial filings that they may be not as legitimate or as efficient in their operations as they would like you to think they are.

Verify. Like with charities, if you feel motivated to donate to a PAC take a deep breath and verify that the PAC is legitimate before you send money. Make sure the PAC is registered with the FEC or the PDA. If they are, take a look at their financial filings and see where they spend their money. Is more than 25% going to administrative costs? See who the PAC uses for vendors. Are the vendor’s registration addresses the same as for the PAC? If so, then the PAC may be a scam. Check the PAC’s website. Legitimate PACs should have one. Check for the person who heads the PAC. Websites that do not have the names and contact information of people running the PAC or the contact information for the PAC may be a scam. Check the contact phone number for the PAC. Is it in service? If not, it may be a scam. Look up PACs at,

            Federal Election Commission: https://www.fec.gov/

            Public Disclosure Commission: https://www.pdc.wa.gov/

Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/

 

Emotion. We have strong emotions about our politics during this election campaign. Scammers know how to play on our emotions to get us to act without thinking. And they will put the pressure on to act now, without doing your research.

Name confusion. While PACs can be associated with legitimate nonprofit organizations and campaigns, scam PACs may have names that closely mimic ongoing candidate political campaigns or ongoing issue campaigns. All the more reason to research the PAC to determine its legitimacy.

Phishing attempts. Scam PACs use similar methods to contact potential donors as legitimate political campaigns and a wide variety of scam efforts. If you receive an email or text message that purports to represent a candidate or a PAC, be careful of any links that may be embedded in the message. Don’t click on the link. Find the PAC’s website with a web search or look it up on the FEC website or the PDA website. If you get a phone call, don’t call the call back phone number. Look it up on a web search.

Election cybersecurity tips. Scammers can pretend to be pollsters. Some tricks that scam pollsters use include prizes to encourage completing surveys, ask for personal information such as birth dates, social security numbers, or financial information, information legitimate pollsters do not need.

Voter registration. Registering to vote is an important part of the election process. Sometimes scammers will call and offer voter registration. No state offers voter registration by phone! To learn about how to register to vote in Washington State check out this link at the Secretary of State’s website-  https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections#voters

For more information about Scam PACs and more tips to avoid being victimized by Scam PACs checkout the following links.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verify:

https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/elections-verify/political-text-message-donation/67-02737021-fc72-4d18-b18b-b7c237401d3d

 

“Political Parasites: How Scam PACs Cheat Us” report by the office of Representative Katie Porter (D, CA):

https://porter.house.gov/uploadedfiles/final_scampacsreport_december2023.pdf

 

Better Business Bureau:

https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/27597-political-scams-increase-as-elections-near

 

Open Secrets:

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/08/how-scam-pacs-line-their-pockets-by-deceiving-political-donors/

 

FBI:

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/scam-pacs-are-on-the-rise-041521

 

Charity Watch

https://www.charitywatch.org/charity-donating-articles/scam-pacs-are-on-the-rise-dont-confuse-them-for-legitimate-charities

 

AARP:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/scam-pacs.html

 

 

 

HIKING SAFETY – Being Safe in Wildfire Season

We still have good weather ahead to enjoy a hike in the mountains. With our dry summers there is an increasing danger of wildfires in our national parks and national forests. Eastern Washington often sees wildfires. Currently, there are more than a dozen wildfires burning in Eastern Washington. With our drier summers, there is an increased danger of wildfires in Western Washington with drier fuels available in the forests.

Hikers could get caught in the mountains with wildfires as related to The Seattle Times by Matt Bishop and Steve Cooper who were hiking in the Baring Mountain area on the day that the Bolt Creek wildfire broke in September 2022- https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/it-was-a-classic-day-for-a-hike-in-was-cascades-then-the-fire-came/. The two ended up self-rescuing themselves after contacting search and rescue who determined that conditions were too dangerous to send ground teams or even a helicopter to pick them up. While there was no indication of a fire starting in the area that day, their story emphasizes the importance of preparation and being flexible to be able to handle unexpected events or conditions.

Some precautions to take to avoid a wildfire on your hike are:

·         Check with the National Weather Service for Red Flag Warnings along your intended route. And check with the Environmental Protection Agency for the air quality (AQI- Air Quality Index).

·         Also, check with the National Forest or National Parks for the conditions along your hiking route. The Washington Trails Association has a list of ranger stations at https://www.wta.org/go-outside/ranger-station-info

When you go on your hike be ready for anything. Even if the weather is perfect and there are no wildfires near your route, things can happen that can cause an emergency or cause a need to stay on the trail overnight. Taking the 10 Essentials can help survive the unexpected. For any hike, you should take,

·         NAVIGATION – Map, compass, and GPS system

·         SUN PROTECTION – Sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat

·         INSULATION – Jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell, and thermal underwear

·         ILLUMINATION – Flashlight, lanterns, and headlamp

·         FIRST-AID SUPPLIES – First Aid Kit

·         FIRE – Matches, lighter and fire starters

·         REPAIR KIT AND TOOLS – Duct tape, knife, screwdriver, and scissors

·         NUTRITION – Food

·         HYDRATION – Water and water treatment supplies

·         EMERGENCY SHELTER – Tent, space blanket, tarp, and bivy

 

Being prepared will help you to handle and survive the unexpected.

 

 

High Country News:

https://www.hcn.org/issues/55-8/north-wildfire-we-have-fire-all-around-us-and-we-cant-get-out-hikers/

 

National Weather Service:

https://www.weather.gov/sew/

 

Environmental Protection Agency- Air Now:

https://www.airnow.gov/

 

IQAir:

https://www.iqair.com/usa/washington/seattle

 

The 10 Essentials:

 

National Park Service- https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm

 

Washington Trails Association- https://www.wta.org/go-outside/trail-smarts/ten-essentials

 

The Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/how-to-hike-safely-during-pnw-wildfire-season-the-10-essentials/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=owned_echobox_tw_m&utm_source=Twitter&s=09#Echobox=1723221742-1

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/on-a-45-mile-chain-of-wa-trails-our-writer-got-more-than-bargained-for/

https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-life-saving-work-of-the-puget-sound-coast-guard/

 

 

 

 

 

DUI Patrols – Weekend Patrols August 9 through 11

One of the major concerns for the Snohomish County Target Zero team is driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. In a recent press release on Facebook, Target Zero noted an increase of impaired drivers on Snohomish County roadways and in Washington state in general. Statewide, from 2021-2022 the Target Zero team saw an increase in impaired related fatalities of 7.2% and of serious injury crashes of over 17%.

Recent Target Zero statements have acknowledged that most drivers do not drink and drive or drive while high. It’s just a few people who drive under the influence and can cause crashes and injury. Target Zero encourages everyone that if they are going to a party or an event and plan on drinking alcohol or having some marijuana to utilize a sober designated driver, taxis or ride share service to return home.

Target Zero uses education to remind all of us not to drive impaired. It also uses enforcement to look for those who do drive impaired and hopefully find them before they cause a crash and harm property or injure someone.

As part of the enforcement effort, the Snohomish County DUI and Target Zero Task Force with conduct DUI Emphasis Patrols this weekend from August 9 through August 11 in conjunction with the Taste Edmonds festival.  Participating law enforcement agencies will include Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Lynnwood Police Department, Mountlake Terrace Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Edmonds Police Department, Marysville Police Department along with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board which will conduct high visibility patrols throughout the county. 

The Washington State Patrol will also provide its Mobile Impaired Driving Unit (MIDU) to rapidly process DUI drivers. The MIDU is a self-contained 36-foot motorhome that has been retrofitted as a mobile DUI processing center and incident command post.

Patrols will be looking for drivers impaired by alcohol, legal marijuana, or other illegal drugs.

For more information about Target Zero check out the following links.

 

 

Snohomish County Target Zero:

https://snocotargetzero.org/index.html

 

Washington State Target Zero:

https://targetzero.com/

 

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.facebook.com/SnoCoSheriff

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/466/DUI-Traffic-Safety

 

My Edmonds News:

https://myedmondsnews.com/2024/08/target-zero-task-force-conductng-dui-emphasis-patrols-through-sunday/

 

 

YOUNG ADULTS AND SCAMS – Scammers Target Young Adults and Elderly

Many people think that scammers primarily target the elderly with their fraud schemes assuming general cognitive decline and more isolation. And they assume that youth are more used to using computers and modern smartphones and as “digital natives” are savvier to detecting scams in their daily lives.

According to research that Amazon and Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), an organization the encourages good cybersecurity internationally, conducted, plus research by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), young adults are as susceptible to being victimized by a scam as older adults. And the median loss for young adults is higher than for older adults.

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) data, based on scam reports that it receives from the public, has a slightly different take on the subject. Its chart on “Explore Age & Fraud Loss” shows that younger age groups have just as much susceptibility as older age groups (between 70 and 88 Fraud Loss Reports per 100k population). The dramatic exception is 80-year-olds who are much less susceptible to reporting a fraud loss, 43.27 reports per 100k population. but when 80-year-olds do report a loss, they lose $1,500 median average loss. Median loss ranges between $400 and $500 for age groups between 20 and 60 years old. 60-year-olds increase their loss to $600 on average and 70-year-olds lose an average of $1,000.

Amazon in collaboration with the GCA has developed an online education program called Cyberflex that targets young adults 18-25 years old. The Cyberflex web site, https://gcacyberflex.org/, uses a series of interactive questions that cover real world situations and what to do to keep secure during each. It also educates the user on good security practices to protect against scams and cybersecurity crime. Finally, it provides steps to take to recover from a scam.

With scams so prolific in our modern lives and so easy to perpetrate, it is important that people of all ages educate themselves on how they can protect themselves from scams and cybercrime. Encourage your family and friends to spend some time on the Cyberflex web site to become familiar with scams and how they can protect themselves from scams and cybercrime.

  

Amazon:

https://trustworthyshopping.aboutamazon.com/new-cyberflex-helps-protect-young-adults-against-scams?s=09

 

Cyberflex:

https://globalcyberalliance.org/cyberflex-launch-amazon-help-young-adults-avoid-scams/

https://gcacyberflex.org/

https://gcacyberflex.org/about/

https://globalcyberalliance.org/

 

Better Business Bureau:

https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/riskreport/?_gl=1*mlujma*_gcl_au*MTAxMDU4MzQ2MC4xNzE4NjQ3MzIy

 

Federal Trade Commission:

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/AgeandFraud/Infographic

 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – July/August Crime Prevention Newsletter

 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – July/August Crime Prevention Newsletter

 

The Jury Duty Scam has been making the rounds locally and sextortion of children, often males, has become a big problem for some families. To learn how to protect your family from these scams and about a new resource your teen can use if they are experiencing stress, anxiety, violent threats, sexual abuse, etc. check out the latest issue of the Sheriff’s Office’s crime prevention newsletter “Partners in Crime Prevention.”

 

 

Partners in Crime Prevention:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7188

SCAMS – Good to Go Scam

On the front of its webpage, the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Good to Go program has a warning about clicking on links in emails or text messages claiming that you have an overdue amount owing on your Good to Go toll account.

This warning shows that a scam that has been making the rounds in other states has come to Washington State. With the toll fee scam, you receive an email or text message that claims that you owe overdue toll fees on the state’s highways. The email or texts will have links to websites that claim to be from the toll road authority or a vendor who administers the toll program.   

The FBI also has issued its own warning for the scam. In March of this year the FBI received over 2,000 complaints about the scam to its IC3 complaint center.

In addition to Washington, several other states and local toll authorities have issued warnings including Virginia, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Dener, Georgia, California, North Caroline, and Texas.

As with other similar scams the link or telephone number provided in the email or text message will take you to a fake website designed to look like the real web site of the agency that the scammer is purporting to represent or to an operator pretending to represent the agency.

The FBI recommends that if you receive a toll fee scam email or text to,

·         Check your account using the toll agency’s actual website. DO NOT click on any links in the message. Instead look for the agency’s web address on any statements that you might have from the agency or do a web search to find the right address.

·         If you want to call the agency’s customer service department, DO NOT call any phone numbers provided by the email or text. Look up the phone number with a web search.

·         Report the scam to the FBI at www.ic3.gov with the following information

o   The phone number from where the text originated or the email address of the originator of the email.

o   Any website addresses listed in the email or text.

·         Delete the email or text.

The toll fee scam is one more example of scammers finding new agencies and organizations to impersonate to steal from you.

Washington State Department of Transportation, Good to Go:

https://mygoodtogo.com/EN/

 

FBI:

https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2024/PSA240412

 

Verify:

https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/scams-verify/texts-about-outstanding-toll-balances-are-scams/536-68dc189f-8307-453d-b6d4-5df79805afd9?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_VerifyThis

 

GeekWire:

https://www.geekwire.com/2024/washington-state-dept-of-transportation-warns-good-to-go-customers-of-bill-paying-scam/

 

KIRO 7 News:

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/new-scam-targets-good-go-toll-customers/S37OCLACHVGNTPWB2RS3NWQBCA/

 

 

OPIOID EPIDEMIC- Using Opioid Settlement Money to Solve the Opioid Epidemic

With settlements being reached in lawsuits by state attorneys general nationwide against the pharmaceutical that produced opioids for their part in feeding the opioid epidemic, local and state governments are working to apply that money into programs to prevent future opioid overdoses and treatment and recovery programs to reduce overdoses and deaths from these dangerous drugs.

Washington State’s share of the settlement money so far is $1.29 billion according to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

This money comes at a time when drug overdose deaths have fallen slightly between 2022 and 2023 for most of the country, except for Washington which is among 12 states that have seen an increase in drug deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, Washington and Oregon are among the three worse states for an increase in drug deaths. Washington has seen a 24.85% increase from 2022 to 2023 and Oregon has seen a 22.78% increase.

Earlier this year Representative Rick Larsen’s (D, 2^nd Congressional District) office issued a report, “The Opioid Crisis in Washington’s Second Congressional District and a Comprehensive Solution,” with a plan to battle the opioid epidemic. The report focuses on four pillars to address the opioid crisis, Prevention, Interdiction, Treatment, Recovery:

 

·         Prevention- The report’s goal to prevention is “… to prevent individuals from relying on opioids, instead of implementing stopgaps that simply mitigate the impacts of the crisis.” It lists a variety of programs within the 2^nd Congressional District that work on prevention including the Snohomish County Human Services contract with school districts within in the county that provide Student Support Advocates as well as youth substance use prevention for teachers and counselors. The programs concentrate on youth to try to steer them away from using opioids. The report also lists other programs that use different strategies to reduce dependence on opioids and encourages the development of help to local governments to add other strategies such as helping with mental health and chronic pain.

·         Interdiction- The report lists several federal agencies that are responsible for interdicting drugs. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard patrols our coastal waters to intercept drugs before they land on our shores. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigates domestic and international narcotics traffickers. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) intercepts drugs and ports of entry and between ports of entry. In Fiscal Year 2023, CBP seized 27,023 pounds of fentanyl, an 84% increase from 2022. The report notes that more than 90% of CBP fentanyl seizures occur at Land Ports of Entry rather than between ports of entry, with an average of 1,797 pounds of fentanyl seized per day. The report advocated for improved advanced screening technology at ports of entry. The report also noted that local drug task forces have an important role in interdicting drugs before they are sold to drug users. The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force seized more than 500,000 fentanyl pills and nearly 5,000 grams of fentanyl from January to July 2023. The report advocated for more support and resources for local drug task forces and for local tribal law enforcement.

·         Treatment- The report notes that there are many challenges to treating someone who is addicted to opioids. It notes that people with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) are physically and psychologically reliant on opioids so that anyone who tries to stop taking opioids suffers severe withdrawal symptoms that can include generalized pain, chills, cramps, diarrhea, restlessness, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and intense cravings. As a result, someone with OUD is susceptible to relapses, disability, and death. It advocates for a “holistic” approach to overcome the challenges and includes normalizing harm reduction, ensuring that there are enough beds for recovery treatment, improving OUD coverage for Medicare and Medicaid, investing in a robust health care workforce, leveraging the justice system with incentives to seek treatment, and meeting patient where they are.

·         Recovery- In conjunction with treatment, someone with OUD also needs support to ensure long-term success in staying off of opioids. Individuals often need help with acquiring housing, employment, education, transportation, or legal services. Currently, support can come from local government and nonprofit organizations. The report also notes that support from family and friends can be especially important.

 

A recent article in The Herald summarized the efforts within Snohomish County to reduce overdose deaths from opioids. While the county has seen a dramatic increase in overdose deaths in recent years. However, through the end of May, there has been a 20% decline in overdose deaths compared to the same period last year. Through May, there have been 106 opioid deaths, with a peak death toll of 31 deaths in February. At least one health department official attributes the decline of deaths to the county’s efforts to prevent opioid overdoses.

Some of those prevention efforts include:

 

·         Distribution of over 500 Narcan kits since 2022.

·         In April, the county began distribution of its $28.9 million in opioid settlement money to local recovery agencies. The focus of some of the agencies are,

o   Populations of minorities bear an over-representation of overdose deaths. Native Americans represent a rate of 73.3 per 100,000 residents for opioid overdose related visits to emergency rooms while blacks represent a rate of 44.3 per 100,00. Whites, which is the largest demographic in the county, visited the hospital at a rate of 15.4 per 100,000.

o   Overdose rates are disproportionately high in rural areas such as East Snohomish County. The county is working on a multicultural communications campaign that will include multicultural outreach teams and a peer support program. Ideal Option, a recovery clinic with a new downtown Monroe office has begun to offer free shuttle along Highway 2 from Index to Monroe for those who need transportation to appointments.

o   In July, the county will begin to collaborate with local outpatient clinics to develop better opioid and polysubstance use disorder practices.

o   In conjunction with the Washington State Health Care Authority, which is working with medical, treatment and social services to create Health Engagement Hubs; a series of one-stop clinics where people who uses drugs can access a range of medical, harm reduction, and social services, the county is helping the local harm reduction center, Sound Pathways, to apply for the Health Engagement Hub program.

 

 

As local governments apply the funds from the opioid settlements, they will have to use those funds on programs that truly reduce addiction to opioids. The challenge will be to stay away from feel good or punitive programs that are based on preconceived notions and to move those funds to programs that show evidence that they are effective in keeping people away from opioids.

 The following episodes of the Freakonomics Radio podcasts give good insights into the elements and challenges of treating people with OUD and are well worth listening to.

  

Freakonomics Radio:

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-has-the-opioid-crisis-lasted-so-long/

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/can-55-billion-end-the-opioid-epidemic/

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-opioid-tragedy-how-we-got-here/

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm

 

The Herald:

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-rep-larsen-outlines-to-do-list-for-opioid-crisis/

https://larsen.house.gov/uploadedfiles/rick_larsen_district_opioid_report_final.pdf

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/to-combat-fentanyl-snohomish-county-trickles-out-cash-to-recovery-groups/

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/as-deadly-overdoses-decline-snohomish-county-builds-on-whats-working/

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/drug-treatment-clinic-in-monroe-aims-to-reach-an-underserved-clientele/

For information on drugs and resources to find help with drug addiction check out this website from the Snohomish County Health Department,

Snohomish Overdose Prevention:

https://snohomishoverdoseprevention.com/