Cleona Borough Police Department

cON ARTISTS

July 2008

It’s not always easy to spot con artists. They invade your home through the telephone, computer, and mail; advertise in well-known newspapers and magazines; and come through your door. Most people think they’re too smart to fall for a scam, but the opposite is true.

Tips

Make sure you understand how an online auction works before you bid on merchandise.

Investigate the seller as much as possible. Be wary if the seller has only a post office box address or an email address.

Bid at auction houses only if there’s insurance to protect the buyer or an escrow account where your money will be held until you receive your merchandise.

Always use a credit card for your auction purchase so that you can dispute the charge if necessary; never use a wire transfer, money order, or personal check.

To protect yourself against exorbitant charges, make sure you know the shipping and handling charges up front.

To foil identity thieves, never give out your Social Security number or other personal information.

Shred all bills, bank statements, and “pre-approved” credit card offers before you put them in the trash.

Don’t have new checks mailed to you at home; pick them up at the bank.

When someone asks you for a contribution to a charity, call the charity and make sure it is soliciting in your neighborhood.

Make your check out to the name of the charitable organization, never to the person who is doing the soliciting, and mail it directly to the charity.

SOURCE: National Crime Prevention Council.






			CRIME ALERTS


			Conflict Resolution July 2008 Are people fighting more these days, or does it just seem that way? Whatever the case, learning to resolve conflicts can help young people break down barriers, become leaders, and even prevent deadly confrontations. Conflict can be negative - in its ultimate form it can lead to war - but it can also be positive, depending on how it’s resolved. For example, it can help get feelings out in the open, help people learn from disagreements, resolve problems, gain someone more respect, or enable people to learn that others are willing to stand up for themselves and what they believe in. In fact, conflict is a natural human process that doesn’t have to lead to violence; conflict resolution and anger management techniques can provide opportunities for people to grow and improve their relationships and the quality of life of those around them despite the inevitable disagreements that arise. Tips Note that anger is a normal feeling. How we handle our anger and how we deal with other people who are angry can make the difference between managing conflict effectively and having conflict end in violence. Be aware of triggers, which are any verbal or nonverbal behaviors that result in anger or other negative emotional reactions that can get in the way of resolving conflicts. Triggers are like lightning bolts. When they strike, they can interfere with communication. To avoid pulling others’ triggers, pay particular attention to your own behavior, even your body language. Note that people already use strategies to control their anger (for example, walking away from a dangerous situation), and that all they need to do is build on that foundation. Point out that, even though we sometimes think of ourselves as being “out of control,” we often choose to blow up at some times and stay calm at other times. For example, there’s a difference between how we handle anger with our friends and anger with a parent or grandparent. To resolve conflict, you must stay calm to communicate. The less “hot” the anger, the more you can control it. Even though your anger may be legitimate, it usually doesn’t help to show your anger to the other person. Sometimes the other person will take you more seriously if you remain calm and courteous. Remember that your goal is to be able to get angry without becoming abusive or violent, and to communicate your wants and needs effectively without threatening others. SOURCE: National Crime Prevention Council.



			cON ARTISTS July 2008 It’s not always easy to spot con artists. They invade your home through the telephone, computer, and mail; advertise in well-known newspapers and magazines; and come through your door. Most people think they’re too smart to fall for a scam, but the opposite is true. Tips Make sure you understand how an online auction works before you bid on merchandise. Investigate the seller as much as possible. Be wary if the seller has only a post office box address or an email address. Bid at auction houses only if there’s insurance to protect the buyer or an escrow account where your money will be held until you receive your merchandise. Always use a credit card for your auction purchase so that you can dispute the charge if necessary; never use a wire transfer, money order, or personal check. To protect yourself against exorbitant charges, make sure you know the shipping and handling charges up front. To foil identity thieves, never give out your Social Security number or other personal information. Shred all bills, bank statements, and “pre-approved” credit card offers before you put them in the trash. Don’t have new checks mailed to you at home; pick them up at the bank. When someone asks you for a contribution to a charity, call the charity and make sure it is soliciting in your neighborhood. Make your check out to the name of the charitable organization, never to the person who is doing the soliciting, and mail it directly to the charity. SOURCE: National Crime Prevention Council.


			Advance Fee Scheme February 2008 An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return. The variety of advance fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them. They may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities." Clever con artists will offer to find financing arrangements for their clients who pay a "finder's fee" in advance. They require their clients to sign contracts in which they agree to pay the fee when they are introduced to the financing source. Victims often learn that they are ineligible for financing only after they have paid the "finder" according to the contract. Such agreements may be legal unless it can be shown that the "finder" never had the intention or the ability to provide financing for the victims. Some Tips to Avoid the Advanced Fee Schemes: If the offer of an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is. Follow common business practice. For example, legitimate business is rarely conducted in cash on a street corner. Know who you are dealing with. If you have not heard of a person or company that you intend to do business with, learn more about them. Depending on the amount of money that you intend to spend, you may want to visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau, or consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police. Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney. Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail drops and do not have a street address, or of dealing with persons who do not have a direct telephone line, who are never "in" when you call, but always return your call later. Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or no circumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying the bona fides of the people with whom you intend to do business. Con artists often use no circumvention agreements to threaten their victims with civil suit if they report their losses to law enforcement. AND REMEMBER: IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, THAN IT PROBABLY IS!


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