RISD Safety Alert!
December 15, 2008 RISD Safety & Security is working with Dallas Police on a recently reported incident of a man exposing himself to a female student walking home from school in the 7400 block of Arapaho Road, which is in the Westwood Junior High attendance area. According to the Dallas Police, the individual is a Latin male, approximately 30, with dark hair and acne scars, driving a small gray 4 door car, possibly a Dodge Neon or Pontiac.

If anyone sees this individual, please contact Dallas Police via 911, and attempt to get a license plate number.

Craigslist Scams
On August 27, 2008, there was a robbery in Richardson where the victims responded to a posting on Craigslist.com. We have learned that prior to our robbery, Garland PD also had two robberies using the same method to set-up a meeting between potential buyers (victims) and suspects posing as "sellers." Those robberies took place on July 17th and August 1st.

Here is how they are using this Internet auction / listing site to set up victims for robbery:

The suspects post a big ticket item on Craigslist, like a big screen TV or car. The victim(s) respond to the "seller's" ad and express an interest in purchase. The victims are directed to the purported home address of the "seller", which turns out to be either a foreclosure property or a vacant house "for sale" that the suspects have entered illegally. The suspects remove all signs and postings, and even go so far as to tell the buyers, "Don't worry if the house looks vacant. We're moving." The victims are told that the item needs to be sold quickly and to bring cash with them. When the unsuspecting buyers arrive at the address to close the deal, the "sellers" answer the door, invite them inside, and rob the buyers at gunpoint. If they do not have cash with them they are forced to go to an ATM and withdraw money.

We want the public to be aware of this type of crime. It has the potential to be very dangerous and we want to give the public some tips on how to avoid being the victim of a crime like this.

While thousands of Internet transactions take place safely and without incident each and every day, realize that criminals are also using the Internet to set up victims for fraud, Identity Theft, and now robbery. Treat Internet transactions as you would any other with a stranger, especially those that result in a face-to-face meeting to close the deal. You do not know with whom you are dealing nor their intentions, much like an anonymous phone call from a stranger.

Even today, the old advice still applies-- do business only with those you know and trust. A known retailer or catalog house might be a consideration, especially for the big ticket items. Be cautious with transactions that might mimic these robberies. Look and listen for any signs of a set-up. If you feel uncomfortable with a meeting, trust your instincts and leave immediately.

Residents should keep an eye on vacant homes on their streets. Be alert to suspicious activity beyond what one would associate with normal home buyer interest. Jot down license numbers of any vehicle that tweeks interest, and call police if you suspect someone has no legitimate business on or inside a vacant property.

ROTC Fundraising Scam in RISD
Richardson Independent School District has learned that unknown individuals are currently canvassing RISD neighborhoods, claiming to be raising funds to start an ROTC program at Richardson High School. These claims are not legitimate, and no one associated with the district, including the Junior ROTC program at Berkner HS, is involved in any such fundraising efforts.

RISD wants people to know that if they are approached by anyone claiming to be raising funds for an ROTC program, they should not give money, but should instead report the solicitors to the police. A police report is being filed and RISD asked RPD to assist in getting the word out to residents.

Protect your home while on vacation

Help protect your home while you are away by signing up with the Richardson Police Department Volunteer Security Check. While you are out-of-town, volunteers with the RPD will periodically check your residence to make sure doors are locked, and there are no signs of break-in or surprise damage (like water leaking from under the garage door). Click here to sign-up with the Richardson Police Department Volunteer Security Check.

 

Scam Alert!

A message from David Spigelmyer, Crime Prevention Officer, Richardson Police Dept

Good Afternoon,

Below is a scam alert being sent out by the Federal Trade Commission. There are many other cons and scams going around that are very similar to this one especially dealing with citizens who are selling items like furniture, cars, boats, or other items that are advertised in publications or on-line. This scam can also be used against people who think they are being hired to work out of their home to use their bank account to transfer money or to repackage items and are told to deposit the check and send a specific amount of money to a third person.

The bottom line is you must research and verify everything and don't believe everything you are told or read on the internet. You must be your own security advocate to keep yourself and your family safe.

Now the cold weather is fast approaching please don't leave your vehicles running without being occupied. We had a vehicle stolen the other day because the keys were left inside the ignition over night while the car was parked on the driveway. One in five cars that are stolen in Texas has the keys inside the vehicle. Don't let the crooks "key" on you so let's leave them out in the cold instead of them leaving us out in the cold!

The holiday shopping season will really kick off next weekend during the Thanksgiving break. Please do not carry large sums of cash with you and if you have some large sums of cash please tell me where I can find some! Just kidding but seriously don't set yourself up to become a target. Try to go shopping with a friend, stay alert to your surroundings, and take your time and enjoy the season. When we begin to rush around we miss the clues of danger and we drop our guard to what is going on around us. Try to carry only one credit card, small amounts of cash, no purse (if possible) or if you must carry a purse, place your valuable items like your DL and credit card inside a business card holder and place that inside a pants pocket and leave the tissues and breath mints inside the purse. That way if someone does steal your purse they only stole a purse full of tissues and the suspect will not be able to harm you when it comes to identity theft or a loss of money. Dress down and don't wear your Rolex Watch or other expensive items that will draw attention to yourself.

When Santa does arrive at your house and if you have been good and he gives you a new television, computer, or other high dollar item, break down the boxes and place those boxes inside a nearby recycling container instead of your local trash pickup. Avoid advertising to the entire world you just received an expensive fancy item that may catch a suspect's attention while they are driving around in the alleys.

Santa Clause will be in Richardson on Saturday Dec 2 for our Christmas Parade and then he will make his yearly appearance later that night at the opening of Santa's Village. I know with all of the great achievements we have made this year within our Crime Watch program that Santa has many nice treats for our Crime Fighters of all ages so please make those lists out early and mail them in or have them ready for the parade so Santa's workshop will have everything completed on time for the big day.

I know this is a long message but I wanted to make sure you had the information from the FTC along with some holiday shopping tips to stay safe. While you are out running around please don't forget to stop by a neighbor's house and share a smile with them. Let's all work together to make sure our holidays are happy and safe while we keep the turkeys for our dinner tables.

Have a wonderful afternoon!

David Spigelmyer

Crime Prevention Officer Richardson Police Dept.

972-744-4908

fax-972-744-5941

david.spigelmyer@cor.gov

Rob McKenna ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON 1125 Washington Street SE * PO Box 40100 * Olympia WA 98504-0100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2006

Consumer Alert: Beware of Cons that Claim You've Received Payment for a Lawsuit Settlement

SEATTLE - Attorney General Rob McKenna today warned consumers about a new version of a counterfeit check scam in which victims are told they received a restitution from a lawsuit settlement.

The Attorney General's Office was contacted by a California resident whose elderly father last month received a letter addressed to his home in San Bruno, CA, along with a check for $2,915 that bounced shortly after it was deposited.

"The woman who contacted our office was smart to be suspicious," McKenna said. "Counterfeit check scams are on the rise. They take many forms but always end the same way - the check eventually bounces, sometimes weeks after it's deposited. Meanwhile, the victim is usually told to send additional money as a wire transfer or provide personal information that can be used to commit identity theft."

The letter states that "court evidence supports the fact that you may have been a victim of fraud. ... A class action suit was filed against the corporation indicted for fraudulent activity. And thus a declaration of settlement out of court was signed to compensate you of punitive damages. Thereof, you are to receive a legal claim for the amount of $125,000."

The letterhead reads "Law Office of Issacs and Weissman PLLC" and includes addresses in downtown Seattle and Vancouver, BC. The Attorney General's Office contacted the owner of the Seattle building, who confirmed that no law firm by that name is located there. The Canadian address does not exist.

The letter encourages the recipient to contact the law firm immediately "in order to obtain your settlement quickly and avoid any confusion." It includes a phone number with a Canadian area code. The Attorney General's Office dialed the number and received an automated message stating that the party could not be reached.

The check was written on a legitimate account belonging to a Massachusetts corporation that manufactures equipment used for industrial and medical purposes. A company representative said that at least 25 bogus checks but possibly as many as 250 were sent to homes throughout the country, along with several versions of letters indicating they were settlement payments. He said that the bank was able to stop the fraudulent checks from clearing, sparing the company from any financial harm. But he did not know if any victims had sent money to the cons.

Counterfeit checks are also commonly linked with foreign lottery scams and with swindlers who browse classifieds then contact sellers claiming to be an interested buyer.

"Help protect your family and friends. Tell them to never wire money or provide personal information to a stranger," McKenna said.

Report cross-border fraud to the following agencies:

* The Federal Trade Commission: Call toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or file a complaint online at www.ftc.gov <http://www.ftc.gov>

* Mail fraud - U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Call 1-800-372-8347 or file a complaint online at http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/welcome.htm <http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/welcome.htm> .

* Online fraud - FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center: www.ic3.gov <file:///\\www.ic3.gov\> * Phonebusters, the Canadian anti-fraud call center: 1-888-495-8501, www.phonebusters.com <http://www.phonebusters.com> * Attorney General's Office: Washington residents who believe they are victims of a scam can file a complaint online at www.atg.wa.gov <http://www.atg.wa.gov> or call 1-800-551-4636.

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