Latest Scam Alert
Good Afternoon,
Below is some information from my partner Officer John Corbitt on a new e-mail scam that is going around. Have a safe day!
Crimefighters-
A new e-mail scam is not only making the rounds on the Internet , but is making some recipients very nervous. The "Hit Man" or "Hired Hit" scam purports to be from a "hit man" hired to "terminate" the recipient (YOU, should you receive such an e-mail). The recipient is instructed to respond and eventually send the "hit man" some money so he will not carry through with the "contract." This new SPAM starting appearing in December '06, initially targeting business and medical professionals. The message resembles nothing more than other typical "cast - and - hook" schemes that depend solely upon your reply to identify a willing participant. Now that the "Hit Man" scam is expanding all over the world via the Internet, you could eventually find such an e-mail SPAMMED to your in-box.
You can read more about it by visiting the provided "UrbanLegends" link below. Should you receive the "Hit Man" scam, DO NOT RESPOND to the sender.
The "UrbanLegends" summary provides full text examples of the "Hit Man"
scam mails for comparison, commentary from the FBI, and several links to recent news stories on this scam. The summary also features a quick and convenient way to report on-line to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Certainly, no one should take lightly any death threat or extortion attempt. If you receive such an e-mail, take the time to compare the content to the "Hit Man" scam e-mails currently circulating. Should you desire to speak with a Police Officer about this, or any threatening communique, contact the Richardson Police Department at (972) 744-4800.
For more information---
http://urbanlegends.about.com
John C. Corbitt
Crime Prevention Unit
Richardson Police Department
(972) 744-4952
David SpigelmyerCrime
Prevention Officer
Richardson Police Dept.
972-744-4908f
ax-972-744-5941
A message from David Spigelmyer, Crime Prevention Officer, Richardson Police Dept
Good Afternoon,
I hope this day is going well for you. Below is an alert I received from the Federal Trade Commission regarding a new e-mail scam that is going around. As before mentioned anytime you receive an e-mail asking for personal information or directing you to click on a link asking for personal information, please don't do it. Call that company direct and confirm the information. Remember companies, banks, and the government will not send out e-mails asking for this type of information. Many of us have parents or grandparents that may have e-mail and may fall victim to this type of scam. Please share this information with your family and neighbors.
Regarding recent crime trends. We have seen an increase in vehicle thefts, trailer thefts, and other vehicle related crimes in the area of Nortel, Countrywide, Verizon, the area of Lakeside, N. Glenville, North Greenville Ave and the side streets nearby. Many if not most of these crimes are taking place during the day time or normal day shift hours. The suspect group(s) are targeting Suburbans, Tahoe's, and the Dodge Ram Trucks with the fancy wheels and rims. Other suspects are going for the car stereos.
Having good access control, good natural surveillance, parking in a well lit areas, and not leaving valuables inside your car could help deter this type of crime. Please be on the lookout for individuals who just happen to walk onto a property and walk to an area where vehicles are parked. Also look for vehicles occupied by someone or a group of people and one person gets out and approaches another vehicle while the first vehicle is waiting or parked as to block visibility onto the victim's vehicle. Being aware of little things like this can assist us in catching these suspects.
On a positive note I received information from the North Pole PD that Santa will be coming to our Santa's Village this year. If you drive by City Hall you can see that we are getting ready for the "big guys" return to our city! We only have a few weeks left before he arrives in town so please take a few minutes and sit down with the kids and put those goodie lists together so he will have his list prepared for when he returns to his toy factory after his visit with us is complete.
I would like to thank the good folks who reside in the 700 block of S. Grove for a wonderful Crime Watch meeting the other night and the good people who reside at the Camden on Buckingham for coming out this past Monday night. It is a pleasure to meet and speak with such nice people.
The holiday season is fast approaching so please take your time when you are out running around and pay attention to your surroundings. Keep that purse at home if at all possible and don't let yourself fall victim to someone who may be going door to door or approaching people in parking lots looking for money. Report all suspicious activity immediately to the police and keep those garage doors closed at home. If you put yard decorations out please put your DL number on the decoration if at all possible. It is amazing how many Frosty's and Rudolph's end up moving around from yard to yard so help us to avoid the island of misfit toys by having proper ID on your property so we are able to return it to you faster than Santa can fly around the world.
We will have more holiday tips as the season approaches.
Below is the e-mail scam report. I hope you have a super day!
Beware of new e-mail scam
The Commissioner of Social Security and the Inspector General of Social Security issued a warning Tuesday about a new e-mail scam that is bilking e-mail users of their personal information. The alert came after the Social Security Administration received several reports of an e-mail message being disseminated with the subject "Cost-of-Living for 2007 update" purporting to be from the federal agency. The message provides information about the 3.3 percent benefit increase for 2007 and contains the following:
"NOTE: We now need you to update your personal information. If this is not completed by November 11, 2006, we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely."
The reader is then directed to a Web site designed to look like Social Security's Internet Web site. Once directed to the fake Web site, people are asked to register for a password and to confirm their identities by providing personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank account and credit card information.
Jannette M. Gosha Senior Investigator Federal Trade Commission Southwest Region 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 2150 Dallas, TX 75201 Office: (214) 979-9377 Fax: (214) 953-3079
David Spigelmyer
Crime Prevention Officer Richardson Police Dept.
972-744-4908
fax-972-744-5941