Crime Prevention Tips

Have you been a victim of a fraud or a scam?  Are you looking for information on how to avoid becoming a victim?  The Federal Trade Commission has some tips for how to avoid becoming a victim of a scam.  Go to https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam for more information.

You can also visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau site to hear about some of the most common scams

No one wants to be the victim of crime.  There are some things residents can do to help protect their property and rduce their chance of becoming a victim.

1. Always keep your garage door, interior door and front door closed and locked, even when at home. It only takes a moment for a burglar to enter your home and take something.
2. Lock your windows, doors and use your alarm system when both home and away.
3. If you park your vehicle outside overnight, remove your garage door opener from view. Burglars could use it to enter your home while you sleep. Never leave valuables in your vehicle. 
4. Place your purse/wallet in a location that is out of view. Burglars are known to look into homes prior to breaking in to see what they can take.
5. Photograph and record the serial and model numbers to your electronics and other items of value. For items that do not have serial #'s, consider marking them in a unique way to help prove ownership if recovered. 
6. If going on vacation, have a neighbor watch your home and pick up the mail and newspapers and participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program offered by the Dayton Police Department.
7. Report suspicious activity when you see it without delay. There are officers on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to your call.

• The FTC will provide you with an official Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan.
• The FTC report is a critical document that you will need when dealing with credit bureaus, financial institutions, and the police.
• For questions, you can call the FTC directly at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338). 

• To file a police report: Please bring the following documents to our station.
  • Your FTC Identity Theft Report
  • A valid government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of your address (such as a utility bill or mortgage statement)
  • Any other proof of the theft, such as credit card statements or notices from the IRS
• What to expect: We will take your report and provide you with a case number. This can help initiate the investigation process. 

• Placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Contacting companies where the identity thief fraudulently opened or tampered with accounts.
• Responding to tax-related identity theft with the IRS. 

• Shred documents with personal information.
• Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Monitor your credit reports regularly for any suspicious activity. 

• IdentityTheft.gov: The official federal government website for reporting and recovering from identity theft.
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Run by the FBI, this is the central hub for reporting internet-enabled crimes.
• AnnualCreditReport.com: A centralized place to request your free annual credit reports. 

The internet is a wonderful tool that helps families in many ways, like finding information fro school projects, keeping in touch with relatives who live far away, and enjoying fun games and videos. However, we also need to be careful of risks like cyberbullying, accidentally seeing things that aren't for kids, and the possibility of talking to strangers who aren't who they say they are. By communicating openly and setting clear family rules, we can enjoy the great benefits of the internet while staying safe.

• Avoid oversharing personal information. Remind everyone that once something is posted online, it can be permanent. Never share personal details like your home address, phone number, or school name with strangers online. Never share photos you would not want family or friends to see.  Once they are out there, it can be difficult and in some cases impossible, control what happens to them or to get them back. 
• Be cautious with links and downloads. Teach everyone to be wary of suspicious links in emails or pop-up ads, even if they seem to be from a known contact. Only download apps and files from trusted sources to avoid malware.You should also verify emails are actually from who they say they are from.  You can hover or click of the From: area and see the email address the message was sent from. Be aware, some scammers will use names of businesses or websites that are close to the original.  Verify the authenticity before opening any attachments or links. 
• Verify images and information. Teach critical thinking skills and the importance of fact-checking online information. Use tools like reverse image search to verify photos and encourage consulting multiple, reputable sources. 
• Talk to people you know. Remind children not to talk to strangers online or agree to meet up in person without your explicit knowledge and supervision.
• Keep devices in common areas. For younger children especially, keeping computers and other devices in shared family spaces allows for easier supervision and helps maintain a healthy balance between online and offline life.
• Keep software and applications up todate.  Software and applications have frequent updates to try to ensure best security.  Stay on top of updates to limit the chances of an internet or email security threat affecting you. 

 

• If you do not recognize a number, you can let it go to voicemail and then return the persons call.
• If you do not know the caller, do not volunteer information. Genuine organizations will not ask for sensitive details like Social Security numbers, credit card information, or bank account numbers over the phone.
• Independently verify the caller’s identity before acting. Call the official number of the organization or person the caller claims to represent, using contact information from a reliable source, not from the caller or an email they send. 
• Should the caller ask “Who is This?”  If they say, do you know who this is, say no and ask them to tell you. This is a common action with scammers where they get you to offer the information in order to fool you.
• You should respond “Whom are you calling?” If you do not receive an appropriate response, hang up.
• Be skeptical of unexpected calls, especially those claiming to be from government agencies or utility companies. Scammers often use fear tactics to manipulate victims, such as threatening legal action or immediate service disconnection.
• Seek assistance from a trusted family member or friend if you are unsure about a call or feel pressured. Having an extra set of eyes and ears can help evaluate the legitimacy of a situation.

• Lock your doors and windows.
• Do not let strangers in your home.
• Do not judge a book by its cover, well-dressed people commit crimes and so do women.
• If you have not called or signed up for social services, free groceries or medical attention, do not let a stranger convince you that you need their services.
• If you have called for services, check the person’s identification before they enter your home.
• Never let anyone know that you live alone or are at home alone.
• Work out a “buddy” system with a friend to check on each other.  As soon as a stranger appears, call a trusted neighbor to come over.
• Consider a home alarm system that provides monitoring for burglary, fire, and medical emergencies.

According to the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, here’s how you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud:

• The IRS and other government agencies do not send unsolicited text messages. If you receive a call from a government agency and question whether it is legitimate, hang up with them and call a number you have looked up yourself to ensure it is accurate. 
• No honest business/govenrment agency is going to request you pay in gift cards.
• Be skeptical of “too good to be true” telephone offers.
• Resist pressure for an immediate decision and ask for written follow-up materials that explain the offers.
• Agree to pay no more than the price of a postage stamp when notified about “winning” a sweepstakes.  All legitimate sweepstakes  must allow a “no purchase necessary” way to play the game and collect the prize.
• Never provide your credit card or checking account numbers to a caller from an unfamiliar company without first checking the company out with your Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agency or state Attorney General.
• Never allow yourself to be drawn into a conversation with an unknown caller in which you reveal your name, address, marital status or anything to indicate you are alone.
• Ask to be placed on the company’s “do not call” list to reduce the number of  unwanted telephone calls.