Sheriff Ted Sexton has some important Safety Reminders for you this Holiday Season.
IF YOU ARE LEAVING TOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS...
Thieves and Burglars will be on the prowl looking for signs that you have left your home for the holidays. There are a few simple steps you can take to avoid being a victim.
1. Do whatever you can to make it appear that someone is home.
2. Leave a light or two on inside. Light timers which allow lamps to go on at dark and off later in the night are an excellent deterrent. Leave a small TV on or radio in the garage.
3. Cut the grass and make sure garbage cans are brought in.
4. Alert neighbors (YOU TRUST) about your departure. Ask them to pick up your newspaper and mail. Allow the neighbor to park one of their cars in your driveway. Ask them to call 911 if they see anyone around or behind your home while you are gone. Don't forget to notify neighbors who live BEHIND you. A common point of entry for burglars is a rear door or window.
5. Don't post your whereabouts or pictures of your travels on Facebook UNTIL YOU RETURN.
6. Call our Victim's Assistance Division or Patrol Division and advise us of your address and expected dates of absence so we can help watch your home.
Otherwise, Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
- Layaway plans: While you can get your wish list by paying a little at a time, be careful. If you fall behind in payments, you could lose the item and the money you've put into it. Also, make sure it is a reputable store you expect to stay in business as it is difficult to recover money from a closed or bankrupt business. Finally, always make sure you fully understand all layaway terms before you sign up.
- Buying goods and services: When making a purchase, especially a big-ticket item, check return policies, restocking fees, and warranty agreements. Always read the fine print of warranty and finance agreements.
- Interest Free Financing: Make sure you fully understand the terms as there are usually many strings attached to this type of offer. For example, what happens if you still have a balance once the term expires? What many consumers do not realize about this type of financing is that, often, interest is charged on the balance owed from the original purchase date, not from the date the interest-free period ends.
- Advance fee loan scams: If you're looking for extra holiday cash, beware of advance fee loan scams in which con artists make false promises to give consumers a loan or line of credit. If you have to pay an upfront fee to secure, or qualify for a loan, it is probably a scam. Consumers who apply for online loans need to be particularly suspicious of this.
- Package scams: Beware of packages that unexpectedly land on your doorstep even if they're official looking. Scammers will send a counterfeit check or money order inside an official-looking package from a major company but there is always a catch. Also, watch out for the scam that appears to be from a shipping company, asking you to pay to for a package delivery.
- Email "phishing" scam: Beware of any email asking for you to pay for something, send money, or provide personal information. Never provide any information in this manner; no reputable company will require you to do business in this manner.
- Ticket scams: Special concert or football tickets would make a wonderful gift for someone on your list, just be careful where you buy them. Third-party ticket sellers through sites such as Craigslist, EBay or other Internet marketplaces sometimes provide consumers with counterfeit tickets. To ensure that tickets are legitimate, use an authorized ticket seller.
- Work-at-home scams: If you're looking for a bit of extra cash for celebration expenses, don't fall for the work-at-home scam offers that sound too good to be true. Consumers receive notice that they've been selected for a "mystery shopping job" or other employment opportunity. They're asked to evaluate a wire transfer company by wiring money or they're asked to set up a special account where the "employer" can deposit payment. If they are asking for money from you, always assume it is a scam.
- Online shopping: One in three of us will shop online this season. Check the seller's ratings and make sure the site is secure for payment. Also, review the return policy, because it may include additional fees.
- Gift cards: Buy gift cards that are kept behind a service desk and not out displayed on open racks. Thieves have been known to scan the code behind the magnetic or scratch-off strip on the back of the card. That, combined with the card number on the front, gives them everything they need to steal the value of the card even if they are not preloaded.
- Credit Card Charges: Scrutinize every item on your bill every month, and question anything you don't recognize, even the smallest of charges. If you think a charge is fraudulent, notify your card company as soon as possible but no later than 60 days after the charge appears.
- Remember: it's your information and your identity and you should protect it as such. If something doesn't seem or feel right, stop and re-evaluate. You should never feel uncomfortable for refusing to give out information without solid verification of who you are dealing with and no reputable company would expect you to do otherwise
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