Charity Scam pic FTC website 12-15-17

Don’t Give to a Charity Imposter: Here Are Some Tips for Avoiding That

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When you give to a charity, you’re giving because you care and want to help — and you want to be sure your money actually gets to those you’re trying to help. But scammers who pretend to be a charity try to get to your wallet. So consider these tips before you give:

Rule out anyone who asks you to send cash, pay with a gift card, or wire money. Confirm the exact name of the charity and do some research, especially when donating for the first time. Search for the name of the charity online — plus the word “complaint” or “scam.” That’s one way to learn about a charity’s reputation.

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Federal Trade Commission Advice After that Equifax Data Breach: What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

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You shred your sensitive financial documents. You’re careful about not letting too many people know your Social Security number. You cover your hand when you’re punching in your credit card passcode. And then Equifax, the credit reporting agency, gets sensitive financial data for 143 million people stolen from it by a hacker. After this has been done, you may think there’s no hope.

Telephone Scam Cops 09-08-17

If You Get a Call Demanding an Immediate Tax Payment, It Isn’t from Darien Police

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You get a call from someone purporting to be an official, or even someone in law enforcement, who demands that you pay a tax bill or face dire consequences — and the caller is demanding that money now. That’s what happened to a Darien resident who recently received a call from someone purporting to be a police officer — and Caller I.D. indicated the call was coming from the Darien Police Department. THAT’S how clever these scammers can be. Darien police just issued a warning about it. Here’s an announcement from Darien police about the problem and the incident:

The Darien Police Department would like to warn residents about a sophisticated phone scam that is targeting taxpayers not only in Darien, but throughout the country.

Greenwich Police Detective Mark Solomon GFP 05-21-17

Skimming Devices That Let Thieves Steal from Your Card Accounts Can Be Pretty Sophisticated

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Greenwich police Detective Mark Solomon recently shared an overview of recent frauds using “skimming”  that steal credit or debit card information from unsuspecting victims.

The devices can be disguised as parts of ATM machines or work inside gas pumps and other point-of-sale devices. Even the machines on train station platforms have been rigged by greedy criminals eager to access credit card information. The machines often are set up by criminals, frequently in gangs of 20 to 30 members from Eastern Europe. ___________

— This article previously was published by Greenwich Free Press. ___________

Solomon is a member of the Connecticut Financial Task Force — which includes the IRS, the U.S. Postal Service, state police and local agencies — said it’s a challenge to keep on top of the ingenious strategies that target credit card and bank account information.

Scam Online Reviews and Recommendations video FTC 03-22-17

New Scam for Small Business Owners: Social Media Notices of Government ‘Grants’

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If you’re a small business owner, you’re not getting a government business grant notice through Facebook. And if you get a message from a friend on Facebook asking them to “confirm” a business grant, it’s not coming from that friend. These are just new ways that have recently popped up to scam you, the Federal Trade Commission says. Don’t even reply to them — there’s some risk in even doing that. Here’s what the FTC has to say about it:

Scammers try to contact you in many ways.

IRS Logo 03-19-17

Income Tax-Related Identity Theft Scams Down But Not Out: How to Protect Yourself

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The good news is that ID theft scams are less prevalent than they were in previous years. The bad news is that there’s plenty still around. Both the Internal Revenue Service and Better Business Bureau have (overlapping) advice about protecting yourself from scammers who want your personal information for identity theft and tax fraud. “Everyone should guard their personal information by protecting their computers and using extreme caution when viewing emails or getting surprise phone calls,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “We also encourage people to share this information with their friends and family,” he said.

FBI Infographic thumbnail part 02-22-17

How to Lower Your Chance of Getting Scammed by an ATM Skimming Device

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You can make it less likely that you’ll become the victim of a skimming device placed on an ATM by a thief by following these steps, according to the FBI. Here’s the FBI’s list of tips:

Inspect the ATM, gas pump, or credit card reader before using it — be suspicious if you see anything loose, crooked, or damaged, or if you notice scratches or adhesive/tape residue. When entering your PIN, block the keypad with your other hand to prevent possible hidden cameras from recording your number. If possible, use an ATM at an inside location (less access for criminals to install skimmers). Be careful of ATMs in tourist areas — they are a popular target of skimmers.

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Skimmer Found on Darien Bank ATM

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For the second time in four weeks, someone tried to attach a skimming device to an ATM at a Darien bank, and in this case, the thief was successful, and money was later removed from a customer’s account. The device was attached sometime between 2:15 p.m., Feb. 11 and 11 p.m., Feb. 12 to an automated teller machine at Darien Bank & Trust at 777 Post Road (at the intersection with Sedgwick Avenue), according to police. In the previous incident, on Jan.

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Man Tries to Attach Skimmer to Bank ATM, Returns Next Day & Steals $2,500-Plus with Phony Cards

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Bank officials at Fairfield County Bank at 714 Post Road, doing a regular check of their video surveillance recordings, found that a man was trying to attach a skimming device to an automated teller machine at the bank, failed, then returned to scam the bank out of $2,500 to $3,000. The bank branch manager reported the incidents to police on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Police gave this account of what happened:

At about 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, according to the video surveillance record, a man walked up to the ATM and tried to attach a skimming device, or skimmer, to it.

Computer Keyboard 8-2-16

How to Protect Yourself from Online Threats: Talk at Darien Library

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Learn how to protect yourself from online threats at Darien Library at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31. Cyber security has been the focus of much attention lately, from email hacks to stolen credit card numbers. It can seem like a scary world when you’re constantly under attack by scammers, hackers, skimmers, spear phishers, spoofers, or even digital vandals. ___________

— an announcement from Darien Library

___________

But if you’re armed with a little information and some tools and habits to protect yourself, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a target and empower yourself to feel confident as you navigate your digital lives.