MICROSOFT- More Scams

Microsoft has issued a warning about scams using its name.

For several years scammers have called computer owners, claiming to be from Microsoft, telling them that there was something wrong with their computers and offering to fix the “problem” remotely.

Now, scammers are sending emails claiming to be the Microsoft Lottery, Annual Lottery Promotions, Nokia Lumia Smartphone Promotions, or March 2015 Lottery Promotions. You are informed that you have won $500,000 (or some large amount of money). To claim your “winnings” you are asked to pay for some sort of costs such as taxes, courier services, attorney fees, or other fees. The scammers will ask for your bank account information for a wire transfer of funds.

This offer has the classic signature of a scam; a lottery that you did not enter; an amount of money that is too good to be true; a request for payment for your “free” money, and a request for access to your personal information.

If you receive an email with this “offer” delete it! Do not click on any links or open any attachments.

If you do fall victim to this fraud, Microsoft recommends that you report it to your local police. Then, send the police report or incident number to Microsoft at lotfraud@microsoft.com. Then follow the checklist recommended by the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.identitytheft.gov/.

Microsoft:

http://lumiaconversations.microsoft.com/2015/05/27/microsoft-lottery-promotions-avoid-the-scam/

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Crime Prevention Newsletter

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has published the current issue of its crime prevention newsletter, “Partners in Crime Prevention. This issue concentrates on the North County Property Crime Unit, how you can help detectives if you are a victim of burglary and what you can do to prevent burglary.

To see the newsletter, go to http://snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4195

CYBER SECURITY- Reporting Scams, Fraud and Computer Hacking

You have taken measures to protect your computer from hacking. And you are careful about clicking on links of suspicious emails or of answering robo-calls supposedly from the IRS, the local courts or a grandchild. But who do you report these incidents to if you accidently clicked on the link or find yourself involved with a scammer?

Local law enforcement agencies generally do not have the resources to conduct an investigation and expect to be able to put together a case to prosecute a scammer or fraudster. Most of the typical scam and phishing emails that we get are generated either in another part of the U.S. or internationally with Nigeria, Russia, China, and India as major sources of spam and scams. However, if there is a local tie to a fraud call 911 and ask to talk to a deputy.

ID theft can victimize you from a variety of sources. Your purse or wallet is stolen; you swiped your debit card through an undetected skimmer at an ATM machine; malware can get on your computer taking your account numbers; someone steals your mail. Obviously, if you’re your wallet or mail is stolen, call 911. If you discover that you are a victim of ID theft, the Federal Trade Commission has launched a new one stop web site that gives you a checklist and links for everything that you should do at https://www.identitytheft.gov/.

The source of other cyber/computer crimes (whether local, national or international) such as malware, phishing, etc. may not be obvious. However, national law enforcement organizations are interested in any information that we can provide. They may not be able to help in specific cases, but any information will help in investigations of specific criminals and in determining trends of cyber-crimes.

The Federal Trade Commission (https://www.ftc.gov/) has a place where you can file a complaint about someone falsely claiming to be from the government, a business or a family member; scams, SPAM, as well as potentially criminal issues involving mobile devices or telephones, internet services, and online shopping. To file your complaint online go to https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-2.

For reporting strictly on cyber-crimes go to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. IC3 acts as a convenient and easy-to-use place online for victims to report cyber-crime and as a repository of information about cyber-crime for local, state, national and international law enforcement agencies to help with their investigations.

BURGLARY PREVENTION- Convicted Burglars Suggest Ways to Protect Yourself

The Columbus Police Department has released a video on You Tube with three convicted burglars giving their experiences of how they choose a house to break into, what circumstances caused them to look for another target house as well as what kind of items they take and what they do with them.

Long time readers of my Hot Sheet will recognize what the gentlemen have to say. Deadbolt locks, lock all house windows, install cameras and alarms, signs (alarm on site, no trespassing, etc.) work to deter burglars, don’t have anything showing in your car.

They point out that if you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood or you have someone suspicious at your door, call 911. And as one of them said, "Most burglaries are done from opportunity."

While the men pretty much confirm what police crime prevention professionals talk about day in and day out, hearing it from burglars gives credibility for the practical advice that you have been hearing.

Please take a moment to watch the video.    

KCPQ:

http://q13fox.com/2015/05/26/watch-convicted-burglars-explain-how-to-prevent-thieves-from-breaking-into-your-home/

 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- New Program to Ensure Seniors are Safe

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has announced a new program called “You Are Not Alone” (YANA).

Many seniors live independently away from family. Circumstances can occur that seniors do not live nearby their family and they can lose contact with friends. Many seniors continue to want to live independently instead of in assisted living or similar arrangements.

Family members with a parent or aunt or uncle who live independently may not be able to check in on their family member on a regular basis. Some elderly may feel isolated and lonely and as a result, can easily become victimized by scammers or other criminals who would exploit them. And, some elderly begin to hoard items in fear of running out of what they think are necessities. This can lead to unsanitary conditions at home.

Sheriff’s Office Volunteers will check on those who sign up for this program on a regular basis either by phone or in person. Participation is free with the only requirement being that participants be able to answer the phone and provide at least one emergency contact.

For more about YANA and how people can sign up for it go to http://snohomishcountywa.gov/2993/You-Are-Not-Alone.

Note: YANA will be in addition to another service that the Sheriff’s Office Volunteers perform. For several years the Volunteers and the Sheriff’s Office’s Search and Rescue Volunteers have operated “Project Care Track.” Under Project Care Track, families with a relative who might be prone to wandering away from home (this can include people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Down Syndrome, Autism, Prader-Willi or traumatic brain injury) allow the Volunteers to put a transmitter their family member’s wrist. If the family member wanders away, the Search and Rescue Volunteers will come to the area with a receiver. Usually recovery of the missing family member is very fast. This avoids the difficulty in finding a missing family member with dementia without the transmitter which often results in tragedy.

If you would like to learn more about Project Care Track, go to http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/313/Project-Care-Track/

 

The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150522/NEWS01/150529870

 

 

 

 

STARBUCKS- Hackers Target Starbucks Cards- Update

On May 11 I published an article claiming that Starbucks cards had been hacked (http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2015/05/starbucks-hackers-target-starbucks-cards.html) with the implication that there was a serious security flaw on the part of Starbucks. The press also reported on this and articles on the subject went viral over the internet. My posting also generated a lot of interest.

Soon after this, Starbucks issued a press release denying that their servers had been hacked. It explained that Starbucks cards are often hacked “… when criminals obtain reused names and passwords from other sites and attempt to apply that information to Starbucks.” Starbucks encourages its customers to use strong passwords and to use unique passwords for all of their accounts.

Backing up Starbucks’ press release is Brian Krebs in his blog Krebs on Security. He explains that often an increase of fraudulent activity in major brand accounts begins with postings in hacker forums friendly to amateur hackers (often referred to as “noobs” for newbie or a new person who is clueless) “…about large numbers of compromised accounts for sale, and the publication of teachable ‘methods’ for extracting value from said hacked accounts.” This was the case for the reported hacking of the Starbucks cards. The security problem did not come from hackers entering Starbucks servers and taking sensitive account information, it came from hackers finding lists of ID’s and passwords and trying out those passwords on multiple accounts.

Krebs points out his belief that major companies could make an extra effort to enhance security by offering features such as two-step authentication. With word of security breaches such as alleged by Starbucks, major companies’ images do take a hit. However, Krebs concludes:

“But it works both ways: consumers who re-use passwords for sites holding their payment data are asking for trouble, and will get it eventually.”

Having strong passwords remains good advice. But, having unique passwords for each of your online financial accounts is equally important.

Starbucks Press Release May 13, 2015:

https://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-online-account-security

 

Krebs on Security:

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/05/starbucks-hacked-no-but-you-might-be/

 

 

 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Annual Report

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has issued its Annual Report for 2014. The report gives crime statistics for the unincorporated part of Snohomish County and the cities that contract with the Sheriff’s Office as well as a summary of major events that occurred in 2014 and descriptions of the major functions of the Sheriff’s Office.

To see the report go to this link:

http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/210/Sheriff