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LINKS
Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Inc.
Welcome to the Crime Prevention Tips Page
Knowledge is Power - Be Aware!
Berks County Scam Alerts!(Added January 17, 2003) HOME VISIT SCAM Several residents in Oley Township, Berks County have been getting phone calls from someone who stated that they represent THE BERKS COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING. They ask to come to their home to explain the new probate law. So far none of the people called have allowed them to come to the home. The Office of Aging said that they do not do this types of visits and that it is apparently a scam. Residents should never let anyone to come into their home who they don't know. I you are suspicious about the nature of any visit from someone identifying themselves as representing any organization, you should first call that agency by looking up the phone number in the phone book or calling the information operator for the number of the agency to verify the identity of the person who called you and verify the nature of the visit. Never use a phone number furnished by the person claiming to want to visit for fear that they misdirect you to call a conspirator at a bogus phone number who is part of the scam. To contact the Berks County Office of Aging, located in the Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA. 19601, please call 610-478-6500. NIGERIAN ADVANCE FEE SCAM LETTERS, FAXES & E-MAIL MESSAGES (Added January 17, 2003) The fraud scheme known as the Nigerian Advance Fee Scam or “4-1-9,” which refers to the section of the Nigerian penal code that deals with fraud has resurfaced again. The scheme has been around for several years and is usually sent in the form of a letter, fax and now e-mail. In this scam, a company or individual will typically receive an unsolicited “advance fee letter” from someone claiming to be a Nigerian senior civil servant or a representative of a foreign government. The letters include an offer to transfer millions of dollars into your bank account. To complete the transfer, you must provide an up-front fee or personal identifying information, such as your social security number or bank account number. Unfortunately, many people fall victim to this scheme in hopes of making easy money. If you receive any correspondence that fits the description of Advance Fee Fraud, DO NOT RESPOND. You should discard the correspondence or file a complaint with the Financial Crimes Division of the Secret Service. The Secret Service has established “Operation 4-1-9” to investigate international Advance Fee Fraud. For more information on Advance Fee Fraud schemes, please visit the Secret Service’s Public Awareness Advisory at the following web address: http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml The Secret Service website provides a mailing address, telephone number, and email address to contact if you have been a victim of an Advance Fee Fraud or if you have any information regarding the scheme. SEE SAMPLE LETTER BELOW WHICH WAS E-MAILED TO CRIME ALERT! MR.Kingsly Mbekey, I am Kingsly Mbekey,the Auditor General of one of the prime banks here South Africa, during the course of our auditing,I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1990 and since 1993 nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files in the records I discovered that the owner of the account died without a [heir] hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing. The owner of this account is Mr. Gordon G. Scott, a foreigner, and an industrialist, and he died, since 1993. and no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that Gordon G. Scott until his death was the manager Diamond Safari [pty]. SA. We will start the first transfer with twenty six million [$26,000.000] upon successful transaction without any disappoint from your side, we shall re-apply for the payment of the remaining rest amount to your account. The amount involved is (USD 126 M) One hundred and twenty six million United States Dollars only. I want to first transfer $26,000.000 [Twenty six million United States Dollar] from this money into a safe foreigners account abroad before the rest, but I don't know any foreigner, I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local person here, without valid international foreign passport, but can only be approved to any foreigner with valid international passport or drivers license and foreign a/c because the money is in US dollars and the former owner of the a/c Mr. Gordon G. Scott is a foreigner too,and the money can only be approved into a foreign a/c. However, we will sign a binding agreement, to bind us together. I got your contact address from the Girl who operates my computer, I am revealing this to you with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business, you are the first and the only person that I am contacting for this business, so please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take urgently. Send also your private telephone and fax number including the full details of the account to be used for the deposit. I want us to meet face to face to build confidence and to sign a binding agreement that will bind us together before transferring the money to any account of your choice where the fund will be safe. Before we fly to your country for withdrawal, sharing and investments. I need your full co-operation to make this work fine, Because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you, upon your positive response and once I am convinced that you are capable and will meet up with instruction of a key bank official who is deeply involved with me in this business. I need your strong assurance that you will never, never let me down. With my influence and the position of the bank official we can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending our physical arrival in your country for sharing. The bank official will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place and to build confidence you can come immediately to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this remittance in your presence and three of us will fly to your country at least two days ahead of the money going into the account. I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account. I will use my position and influence to obtain all legal approvals for onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance from the relevant ministries and foreign exchange departments. At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 35% of the total amount, 60% will be for me, while 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during the process of transferring. I look forward to your earliest reply through my email address or tele/fax numbers, Private Email:{mbekey_kingsly@yahoo.com}. FRAUD AGAINST SENIORSEach year hundreds of seniors over the age of 60 fall victim to a wide variety of fly-by-night house repair and investment scams. Such scams range from the sale of misidentified rare coins and the telemarketing of nonexistent oil wells to the sale of worthless or overpriced insurance policies and misrepresentations used to sell unnecessary and overpriced living trusts and personal emergency response systems.There are many common practices con artists use to defraud seniors, but most are a variation of these three: telemarketing, mail and door-to-door sales. While many scams involve both mailings and telemarketing, some use all three methods. For example, many con artists will generate leads by mailing a survey to gauge interest in a product or service. Consumers, who show interest, usually by returning a postcard, are then contacted by telephone or a traveling salesperson who makes the sales pitch. Below are examples of current consumer scams you should be aware of. Study the examples and learn the warning signs of a con artist at work. This knowledge will help to thwart activities of con artists. 1.
Home Improvement Schemes:
The home improvement worker may drive a car or truck through a
neighborhood where seniors live looking for residents outside of their
home. The worker offers to pave the driveway, repair the roof, or paint
the house with supplies left over from another job. In some cases,
services may be offered through ads, fliers, or handouts. The work is then
completed quickly and is often shoddy. A warning sign to the consumer is
when the worker announces a serious problem. You should also be aware of
any offer that is good only for that particular day, a demand of cash
payment, or a refusal by the home improvement worker to provide
references.
Please note that if you are confronted with such suspicious behavior, you should contact the Police immediately. Also, before signing a contract for home repairs, get a second opinion and take at least 24 hours to consider the purchase. 2.
Living Trust Schemes: A living
trust is designed to allow the maker to identify his or her heirs and to
share with them money or other possessions upon death of the maker. Often
seniors are targeted by unsolicited visits, phone calls, and mail. In
addition, a number of seniors are targeted by unsolicited visits from
untrained salespeople who tell them they need a living will or trust. The
salesperson will offer membership into an organization that falsely
alleges that probate can be avoided through a living trust.
The salesperson will often emphasize that a living trust avoids inheritance tax to heirs. The membership organization will often offer prepaid legal benefits, medical benefits, and other services that are grossly exaggerated and often are not honored when needed. A warning sign to seniors regarding this type of scam is when membership offers "peace of mind benefits" that seem too good to be true. If the benefits seem too good to be true, they probably are not true. Contact an attorney to have a living trust drafted. Do not rely on door-to-door sales or accepted unsolicited offers by telephone or through the mail. 3.
Auto Repair Schemes:
Auto repair scams upon seniors are lucrative for the con artists. Several
characteristics of auto repair scams are when the facility does not give
written estimates or a completion date for the repair. Further, the
facility does not make replaced parts available and performs repairs not
contracted for. When the senior citizen goes to pick up the automobile,
the repairperson presents a bill much larger than expected. The
repairperson then holds the auto until the bill is paid in full. Be aware
of warning signals that may help you from becoming a victim of auto repair
scams.
If a facility refuses to warranty the work or fails to offer a work or a satisfaction guarantee to the customer, you should steer away from that facility. Another warning signal is if the repair facility fails to get authorization to use rebuilt parts as opposed to new parts or if there is a constant delay in returning the car. Through education
and awareness, seniors can be empowered to use reasonable precautions in
avoiding con games and scams.
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Protect Yourself From Con GamesEvery year unsuspecting citizens are swindled out of their savings by con artists; smooth talking, often convincing criminals who seek by various schemes to separate honest people from their money. While these criminals prey primarily on the elderly, every one of us is susceptible; men and women, the successful and the unemployed, working people and the retired. You could be approached by a con artist almost anywhere, out-side a bank or savings and loan, at a bus stop, at a Senior Citizens meeting, while you're shopping, or at your home. While approaches may vary, and the con artist may appear perfectly normal and friendly, there inevitably comes a time when you will be asked to withdraw money from your savings. The reason for this may seem logical; to show your "good faith"...to help in the investigation of a "dishonest employee." BE ON YOUR GUARD. If you do turn over money to one of these people, even for a moment, you will never see it again. The
following are three common "bunco" schemes: THE BANK
EXAMINER SCHEME - If a stranger tells you that he or she is an
examiner or investigator and asks you to help catch a dishonest employee, BEWARE.
If you seem interested, the con artist will say he or she will re-deposit
your money in such a way that the "dishonest" teller will be
caught red-handed. The phony examiner will pick up your money and give you
a fake receipt, never to be seen or heard from again.
A simple preventative measure would be to call and check with your
financial institution before doing anything. Banks never involve their
account holders in investigations. THE PIGEON
DROP SCHEME - If a stranger or strangers tell you they have found
some money, and try to convince you that it was ill gotten by the loser
(maybe a gambler) and can be kept, BEWARE. You will be told you may
share the find if you withdraw money from your savings to show "good
faith" and responsibility. You may think you have your money in view,
but the envelope or bag will be quickly switched. Only on going back to
re-deposit your money do you discover you have only pieces of blank paper. THE AUTOMOBILE AND HOME REPAIR SCHEME - Vagabond thieves frequently do auto body repair work to earn extra money. They will drive around town looking for dented vehicles and, after locating one and its owner, they inform the owner that they can make the repairs cheaply. After the work is done the thieves may then say the job was complicated and charge an exorbitant fee. Vagabond thieves also use various introductory statements to induce homeowners to allow them to repair or tar roofs, or resurface driveways. |
HOW
TO AVOID BECOMING A VICTIM
DO tell your friends and neighbors about bunco schemes. |
Personal Safety TipsPersonal ProtectionMost of us have been the victim of either a burglary or theft and have felt the emotional and financial effects of such property crime. Violent crimes such as murder, rape, assault and robbery have a much greater impact on our lifestyle. Our inherent fear of a violent confrontation causes most of us to make everyday decisions based on our personal safety. "Is this a safe Neighborhood?" or "Is it safe to take a walk at night" are frequent questions that reflect a concern that controls our behavior. How can we minimize our fear of violent crime? What steps can be taken to actually reduce our vulnerability to crime such as street robbery? The following will shed some light on these questions. AVOIDING TROUBLEPedestrians: Plan so that you are most visible to other people. This means that if you must walk alone, choose open, well-lighted and well-traveled areas. Crooks don't like to strike where eyewitnesses can provide the police with a detailed account. Leave your purse at home if possible. If you must carry one, hold it firmly, close to your body. Purse-snatchers prefer to grab from behind. If you walk or jog, especially at night, consider getting a dog that can accompany you on a leash. Criminal offenders relate that a dog is one of the most effective crime deterrents. If you work late hours, arrange to leave at the same time as a co-worker. Try to avoid parking far away from your worksite. Be aware of your surroundings at all times by making eye contact with passersby and glancing occasionally behind you. This type of "body language" will make you less attractive to a prospective mugger. If you sense that you are being followed, change direction or cross the street. If the person persists, run to the nearest place where you'll find people. DON'T allow a stranger to follow you to your doorstep. Go to a public place where you can call the police whenever you feel threatened. When fleeing from danger alert others as well as the person posing a threat. Yell "Fire...Fire...Fire!" or activate an alarm device such as an aerosol shriek alarm. This device is a hand held noisemaker that, when carried, may dissuade a crook from choosing you in the first place. Drivers:
Avoid fumbling for your keys; have them in your hand as you approach your
car. Always check the back seat for uninvited guests before getting
inside. Keep enough gas in the tank so you won't get stranded. Keep all
doors locked and windows rolled up most of the way. Stay on well-traveled,
well-lighted roads. If you are being followed by another car, drive into
an open gas station, stay in your car, and ask the attendant to call the
police. Better yet, drive straight to the nearest police station for
assistance. Park only in well-lighted areas at night. Check for strangers
who might be "casing" the area before you exit your car. Honk
your horn and drive away if such a person advances toward you. At
Home: Check for signs of forced
entry such as broken glass, a torn screen or pry marks before venturing
inside. Make it a habit to leave a few dollars out in the open near your
entryway. Back out quietly if you see the money is gone. NEVER feel
reluctant to call the police if you sense a possibility of an intruder
inside. Screen all strangers knocking at your door. Interview them through
a one-way peephole while your door is locked. Anyone who refuses to
present his or her employee I.D. upon request should be reported to the
police. Properly secure all openings at nighttime. "Cat burglars" are deterred when the only means of gaining entry would require breaking glass or smashing a door. Don't assume that upper floor windows are too high for a burglar's reach. If
You Become a Victim... Some confrontations are unavoidable. When you consider that 4 out of
10 violent crime victimizations by strangers involve an armed offender,
it's vital that you be prepared to minimize your risk of injury. Be
willing to give up your valuables. A purse, wallet or jewelry is not worth
fighting for when facing someone wielding a weapon. Carry only as much
cash, as you need. If confronted, try to stay calm. An assailant will be
less likely to attack you if you appear controlled and self-confident. Try
to mentally note your assailant's appearance without staring. Victim/Witness
Assistance: Being the victim of
a violent crime can have lasting emotional effects. If you are a victim,
don't suppress your feelings of anger or frustration. If you are the
friend or relative of a victim, lend your emotional support by being
available to listen. There are a number of agencies that provide support
to victims of violent crime. |
