Avoiding common scams

By:  Rob Baquera, Public Information Officer, Roseville Police Department

Overwhelmed by all the scam calls, emails and pop-up offers? Welcome to the club. Fraud is a thriving industry—the Federal Trade Commission received loss reports totaling $5.8 billion dollars last year. With help from Consumer Reports, here are some of the most common types of scams, and how to avoid them.

1. You owe us money!  “This is the [fill in the blank: IRS, Social Security, ABC Bank, XYZ Police department] and we’ve been trying to reach you about a [fill in the blank: warrant for your arrest, cancellation of your Social Security, freezing of your bank account.] Call us immediately!” If you talk to them, they’ll pressure you to pay immediately to prevent terrible things from happening. They’ll ask you to pay by unconventional means, like buying gift cards and reading the card numbers to them over the phone.  NOPE: Government agencies never call consumers about money owed or threaten arrest. No legitimate business asks for payment in gift cards—ever. Just hang up.
2. What a great deal! You’re scrolling through Facebook or Insta and you see an ad for something you want. You’ve never heard of the company, and you can’t find their address, phone number or refund policy, but the price is amazing, so why not? You pay with your credit card or Venmo…and the merchandise never arrives, or when it does it’s poor quality or some cheap thing you didn’t order.  NOPE: Don’t click on links in ads. If you’re shopping online, go to known, reputable businesses. You may not get “amazing deals” but you’re more likely to get the merchandise you paid for. Always pay for online purchases with your credit card—if you get defrauded, you can contact your credit card company to dispute the charge and potentially get a refund.
3. What a great job! Scammers prey on job-hunters, and they even post fraudulent jobs in popular job-hunting sites. Red flags include an employer sending you a large check up front, then claiming they overpaid you and asking you to refund a portion of it (their check will bounce); or asking you to pay them for work-related equipment and supplies. The actual job never materializes.  NOPE: Hiring applications shouldn’t ask for social security numbers or bank account information. Employers should never ask you to pay for training or work supplies or ask for refunds of checks they sent you. If you gave up this information, call your bank immediately to flag or freeze the account, and take immediate steps to prevent identity theft (here’s a link to the FTC for more information.) Be wary of “work from home,” “mystery shopper” and shipping/warehouse job offers. Look up the company online and check out their job page to make sure the job is legit.
4. What a great investment opportunity! You get a call from an investment adviser or even an acquaintance with a can’t miss investment opportunity. You’re going to get so rich! But you must act now, and you’ll pay with an unconventional method like wire transfers, gift cards, a Venmo account or cryptocurrency.  NOPE: Anytime you’re rushed into a decision, promised huge returns, or asked to buy in via unconventional, untraceable methods, stop. You can check out whether investment advisors are properly licensed or have a history of disciplinary actions on the Security Exchange Commission’s investor.gov website. You can check out brokers at BrokerCheck.finra.org.
5. You won! You get a text, email or call telling you you’ve won a sweepstakes, lottery, gift card or iPad. The only catch is that you have to pay a small handling or administrative fee. They might even ask for your credit card or bank account number to pay the fees and transfer your winnings.  NOPE: Legitimate government lotteries or the Publisher’s Clearing House won’t ask for administrative fees or your account information. If you’ve fallen for this one, contact your bank and report the loss to the FTC immediately.

You’ve probably noticed similar tactics among all these scams. Their cover stories will change, but their methods won’t. The common red flags are:

• Offering something that’s too good to be true.
• Applying pressure, talking fast, threatening and rushing you into a decision. Scammers don’t want you to have time to think about what they’re saying, or time to talk to a trusted friend.
• Asking for sensitive personal information, like your social security number or bank account information.
• Asking for payment by unconventional, untraceable methods, like gift cards or wire transfers.

Arm yourself with information and a big dose of healthy skepticism, and you can protect yourself from even the cleverest scammers.

Summer Vacation Safety Tips

By:  Rob Baquera, Public Information Officer, Roseville Police Department

Summertime fun is quickly approaching. The school year is wrapping up, and vacation plans are well underway. Make sure your plans also include how you will secure your home and belongings while you enjoy that much deserved time away. Whether you are gone for one night, or a few weeks, here are some suggestions to secure your home and protect yourself while you’re on vacation.

At home safety tips:

• Ask a trusted friend, or family member, to regularly check on your home.
• Make sure all windows and doors are closed and locked. If possible, try adding a dowel or security bar as an added safety measure.
• If you get regular deliveries try to put them on hold, or have someone retrieve them, while you are gone. Check out the www.USPS.com website for information about putting your mail on hold.
• Install motion-sensor video doorbell or security cameras that can send you alerts or text messages.
• Set a timer on a light inside your home to give the impression someone is inside.
• Avoid discussing future vacation plans on social media. This can give would-be thieves too much information. And, try not to post vacation photos or details until you return.
• Set up a Vacation House Check through the Roseville Police Department website. This program is a free service offered by your Police Department. The checks are performed by volunteers and is supplemental to your own safety and security efforts but can help deter possible thefts or damage to your property.

Away from home safety tips:

• Share your travel plans with a trusted friend or family members, including hotel and flight information in case of an emergency.
• Double lock your hotel door by using the extra bolt or safety latch.
• Be friendly when you are out sightseeing; but remember not to give your personal information, your hotel room number, or travel plans to strangers.
• Keep your valuables close to you or securely locked in a hotel safe. Purses should be zipped up and worn close to the body. Try not to put loose dollars, credit cards, or your ID in your back pocket, those can easily be pick-pocketed. Use your front pockets if necessary.
• When dining out, bags, purses, or backpacks are most safe on your lap or on the floor between your legs. Do not hang the bags on the back of your chair.

Many of these safety tips are common sense simple steps that can be followed year-round. If you see suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, contact Roseville Police Department or file an online crime report. Safe travels, and we hope you enjoy a crime free vacation.

Spring Cleaning and Selling Online

By:  Rob Baquera, Public Information Officer, Roseville Police Department

Spring is in the air and many of us are working on our annual spring cleaning. As we start to clean out our garages and decide what we want to get rid of, many of us will decide to use online sites as a platform to sell our items.

Here are a few tips safety tips for selling online:

• If possible, try to sell locally. Avoid selling to buyers that require you to ship your goods. This can often have fake buyers or scammers that promise to pay, but never follow through. Meeting a local buyer increases the likelihood of positive sales transaction.
• Avoid posting your address on social media sites or providing your address to strangers. When selling items, it’s usually best to meet in a public location that offers plenty of lighting, people, and access to help if needed, such as a grocery store or police station parking lot.
• If possible, avoid accepting personal checks, cashier’s checks, or even money orders. Using digital forms of payment, such as CashApp, Popmoney, Venmo, Paypal, etc., might better protect you from fraud because many digital banking services offer fraud protection. If you opt to meet the buyer at your financial institution, it’s best to deposit the method of payment into your account right away.
• Most importantly, trust your gut. If something seems “off” or “not right,” you’re probably right. Recognizing that something isn’t right and stopping the communication is much better than continuing with the transaction. It truly is “better safe than sorry” to discontinue the communication with the potential scammer.

It’s wise to prepare for scammers when selling online. Remember, always sell with caution; and if something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and walk away.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

By:  Rob Baquera, Public Information Officer, Roseville Police Department

Spring has arrived, flowers are in bloom, and now is the time to reduce your risk of being victimized. Utilizing the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), you can protect your home and decrease opportunities for criminal activity in your neighborhood.

Whether you live in a single-family home, a condo, or an apartment, when CPTED principals are used together they can provide an effective defense mechanism. Criminals do not like to be seen or heard; so when you reduce places to hide, light-up dark areas, and reduce opportunities for easy access, you’ve successfully hardened your target. The five main overlapping strategies of CPTED are: natural access control, natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, activity support, and maintenance.  

• Natural access control - controlling the number of access points to a property.
  • Fencing around a property helps control access points.
  • Create walkways or pathways to intentionally guide visitors to proper entrances, and away from private areas.
• Natural surveillance - a design intended to make intruders easily visible to people on the property or walking by on the sidewalk.
  • Install lighting and fully illuminate all walkways, pathways, and doorways.
  • Avoid landscaping (plants, fountains, or yard decor) that might create blind spots.
• Territorial reinforcement - a strategy intended to clearly mark the edge of the private space from the public space. This can be done by using landscaping, pavement designs, signage, or fencing to create boundaries.
  • Clearly identify homes or apartment units with numbers that are visible from the street, high off the ground, and well-lit at night. This is also helpful to emergency responders when they are trying to locate your home, or the correct unit when responding to a call for service.
  • Define property lines with landscaping but use low shrubbery and fences to allow visibility from the street.
• Target hardening - enhance the physical security of a property by using locks, security alarms, video monitoring systems, or other crime prevention methods.
  • Displaying ‘Beware’ decals can be an indication that the property is equipped with a home monitoring system.
  • Exterior door hinges should have the “pin” side facing inside so that the door swings out. Having the “pin” inside prevents an intruder from pushing the pin out and removing the door.
• Maintenance - performing regular maintenance on the property and well-kept property helps to create a sense of guardianship and helps to deter criminals.
  • Prune trees and shrubs back from windows, doors, and walkways to ensure clear visibility.
  • Use and maintain exterior lighting, either permanently on lighting or motion sensor lighting.

Using CPTED designs can help implement effective use of landscaping and outdoor decorations to enhance the security and safety of your home. Some designs may require drastic changes, but many are simple steps that most residents can start doing right away. If you happen to notice someone suspicious peeking around your neighbor’s house, or activating their motion sensor lighting, contact the Roseville Police Department or call 9-1-1.

Avoiding Identity Theft Scams

By:  Rob Baquera, Public Information Officer, Roseville Police Department

After the whirlwind of the holidays and start of the new year, many of us are preparing to do our tax returns. Since the pandemic started, consumers have had to adjust how they buy groceries, order take out food, and conduct financial transactions. Criminals are aware of the mass changes and have been quick to adapt their tactics to trap or trick us into giving them our private information.

Here are a few ways you can protect your personal information:

• Avoid responding to emails from unknown senders, unfamiliar email addresses, or “odd” looking emails. When you receive an email from a company you do regular business with, check the sender’s email. Confirm that it is a legitimate email address from the company. Do not click any links in the email, rather go to the company’s website to search for the information referenced.
• Avoid clicking downloads for unknown applications or games onto your cellphone, laptop, or other mobile device. To download an app or game, go to your device’s app store (e.g., Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store). This can help protect devices from malware or viruses being installed.
• Be cautious of pandemic scams. We have seen an increase of vaccine-related scams or health insurance scams. Some scams involve bogus cures, selling of at-home rapid test kits, or charging for tests administered at free testing sites. Check with your insurance company for the latest testing methods.
• Beware of Impostor Scams.  These are scams when criminals may call and pose as someone from a recognizable company, charity, organization, etc. They may express an urgency to their call due to an overdue bill, compromised account, sick loved one, support for a special cause, or even good news, like winning the lottery. To resolve the problem or address the concern, they will often ask for private and personal information. They may act quickly and brashly, threatening and domineering, or even friendly and complimentary. Avoid scammers that call repeatedly to influence you or try to pass you from one representative to the next to get you to do their bidding. If there’s a true concern, problem with a bill, or compromised account, hang up and call the originating company directly. Contact the charity or non-profit directly if you want to donate to a special cause. Reach out directly to your loved one if you’re concerned about their health.

Scammers will often try repeatedly until they are successful. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that scammers successfully stole $547 million in 2021. The more difficult we make it for them to succeed with their current strategies, the more likely they are to try new methods. If you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. If impostor scammers are coming to your door and soliciting and violating Roseville Municipal Code 10.36.030, you can contact Roseville Police Department or file an online crime report.

Winter Precautions

By:  Rob Baquera, Public Information Officer, Roseville Police Department

The new year brings new resolutions and opportunities for change. Winter in the Sierra Foothills and Sacramento Valley can cause a variety of weather conditions. It is always best to take precautions when driving, but also be sure to be prepared in any situation.

Keep Yourself Safe at Home:

• Check your home’s heating system; ensure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide systems are working properly.
• Keep an emergency “go bag” in case you need to suddenly leave at a moment’s notice. Many emergency kits include canned foods, water, cellphone charger, extra batteries, first-aid kits, extra medicine, baby items (if applicable), etc. Ready.gov provides some helpful tips on how to start and maintain a kit.
• Check windows, fence lines, and security systems for tampering.

Keep Yourself Safe When Driving:

• Park your car in a safe, well-lit area or inside your garage if possible.
• Keep your gas tank full and regularly check your tire tread and tire pressure. Running out of gas or bad tires and poor weather conditions can lead to car accidents. Safe driving is always a top priority.
• Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle in case anything happens, or you need to pull to the side of the road. Having a portable charger, extra batteries, flares, booster cables, a tire pump, compass and map, flashlight, and battery-powered radio could help emergency responders get to you more quickly. CHP has some recommendations on some basic kit items for a roadside emergency kit, including some nice-to-have extras.

Keep Yourself Safe Outdoors:

• Wear appropriate outdoor clothing for the weather – our weather changes from morning to afternoon to evening. Pack a jacket in case the weather changes or have a spare change of socks in the car in case it gets cold.
• If going to a new place for the first time, or meeting someone new, let a friend or relative know when and where you will be. Share your destination and who you will be meeting in case anything happens people know where you should be.
• Make sure when you head out for the day that your cellphone is fully charged or that you have a backup option to charge your cellphone.

Staying safe in the winter is more than just scraping ice off our windshield or driving with low beams on a foggy morning. Keeping ourselves safe at home, when we’re out driving, and when we’re traveling are all important ways to protect our families.