Police urge vigilant forethought to counteract thieves
MADISON – To keep a positive atmosphere during the holidays, residents should follow certain procedures and precautions, according to Madison Police Department.
Police officers know that these suggestions will increase a person’s odds for safety:
• In today’s environment, thwart thieves with safe delivery of packages. — Don’t be a victim of ‘porch pirates.’ Individuals should have packages delivered to a trustworthy neighbor or friend who will be at home.
• Don’t leave valuables visible in your car. – Police officers often state this caution; the practice is important. Even if you lock your car, don’t leave valuables inside the vehicle.
• Watch your back. – Always be aware of your surroundings, and be cautious about carrying extra cash during holiday shopping. Thieves can take advantage of distracted shoppers.
• Exercise safety habits while driving. – Drivers should anticipate possible hazards on roadways, and drive defensively.
• Don’t advertise. – Hide your holiday trash. Thieves look for this tipoff and could target houses that have boxes at the curb.
In addition, individuals should have heightened importance during the holidays to avoid scams:
• Family Emergency Scam or “Grandparent Scam” — Scammers use fake emergencies to steal a person’s money. This scam starts with a phone call or a text. The caller identifies himself or herself as a relative or close friend who’s in trouble and needs money.
However, does an emergency actually exist? The scammer masquerades as a grandchild in trouble to increase pressure to send money quickly. However, you should verify the situation.
The scammer may know details about you or the person they’re pretending to be. They may know your name, where you live and other information found on social media or by hacking a relative’s email, according to Madison Police.
• Phone call from IRS or Department of Revenue – In a phone call, someone identifies themselves as a representative with the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Revenue or similar government agency. The caller explains that you are responsible for a tax issue.
Next, the caller tries to convince you that you must pay money to avoid legal proceedings. The scammer may threaten to arrest you and states that the issue must be resolved immediately by phone.
In reality, the IRS or state revenue department will not call a person with threats for a tax debt.
• Student loans – In this scenario, a person calls, pretends to work as a federal employee and states that you are eligible for a federal educational grant. However, you must pay an amount of money to process and approve the loan.
The scammer asks for your checking account and routing numbers to pay the fee. The caller also may require you to buy a pre-paid credit card (known as a green-dot card) and state the card number for payment.
For help in situations that are not emergencies, call Madison Police Department at 256-722-7190.
