Use Blue Tooth? B.B.B.- Protect yourself from Hacking Scams

Use Blue tooth? Protect your self from hacking scams.

Scammers use specialized software to intercept your Bluetooth signal and hack into your device. It is called "bluebugging”. Doing this gives them access to all your texts, contacts, photos, call history and everything on your phone. For tips on protecting your device and personal information, click on the image below.

Better Business Bureau: Blue Tooth protection from scams

Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft: What to do if your Social Security # is stolen

The I.R.S. has reported a rise in social security number fraud cases this year. Individuals have had someone file an unauthorized tax return “online” using their social security number. If you have discovered that, you are a victim the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS have joined forces to help correct the problem. Click on the image below for details and resources.

Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft

American Poison Control Center: 2012, 2,654 calls of exposure to "Bath Salts"



American Association of Poison Control Centers

"Bath Salts- 2,654 calls about exposure to bath salts Jan.- Dec. 2012"

Synthetic cathinones, often marketed as “bath salts,” have names like Cloud 9 and Bliss. They are NOT the bath salts you use in your tub. These are powerful illegal drugs that have not been tested for safety, and users don’t really know exactly what chemicals they are putting into their bodies. The side effects they cause may be permanent.

Poison center experts say these substances are among the worst they have seen. Users have experienced many side effects and some have died from exposure to excessive abuse.

For more details and resources to help loved ones and your community click on the link below.

American Assoc. of Poison Control Centers " Bath Salts"



National Consumer Protection Week March 3rd – 9th 2013

N.C.P.W.'s website is more than a destination for consumer information; it is also a source for outreach tools to share with your family and friends. Thanks to 64 federal, state and local agencies and nonprofits that are putting the spotlight on the critical consumer protection work they do year-round, consumers have easy access to a tremendous variety of timely, useful information about recognizing and reporting frauds and scams, managing credit and debt, using technology, and staying healthy and safe. Click on the link below for more details.

National Consumer Protection Week 2013

2012 Consumer Sentinel Report- Michigan Data

The Federal Trade Commission's 2012 Consumer Sentinel national report was released on 2/26/13. This national data has been analyzed and broken down by state. The State of Michigan's data has been purged from the report and provided in this post (click on the link below to see the complete report). Contact a member of the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan or an officer from your local police department to get the latest information on how not to be a victim of any of the "reported" crimes listed below. R. Coleman, CPAM

Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Michigan Consumers = 49,501

1

Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Michigan consumers (49,501).

                                      

                                      MICHIGAN

    Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures

                        January 1 - December 31, 2012

 Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer   

                                Complaints = 61,576

                               Identity Theft Types Reported by Michigan Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Michigan Victims = 12,075

1

Percentages are based on the 12,075 victims reporting from Michigan. Note that CSN identity theft

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types.

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Michigan Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 44 of 102 Released February 2013

Rank Top Categories Percentage

1

1 Debt Collection                                                           7,330 15%

2 Banks and Lenders                                                      3,986 8%

3 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales                                3,109 6%

4 Impostor Scams                                                           2,194 4%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries                                1,829 4%

6 Telephone and Mobile Services                                    1,795 4%

7 Internet Services                                                           1,699 3%

8 Auto Related Complaints                                              1,493 3%

9 Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams    1,317 3%

10 Credit Cards                                                              1,106 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage

1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud                   6,512 54%

2 Credit Card Fraud                                                       1,380 11%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud                                               1,254 10%

4 Bank Fraud                                                                    630   5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud                                            387   3%

6 Loan Fraud                                                                    299   2%

Other                                                                             1,602 13%

Attempted Identity Theft                                                    770   6%

2012 FTC Consumer Sentinel Annual Report

National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA): Safety Tips Using Portable Generators

Portable electric generators can offer many benefits when a long-term electrical outage occurs due to a storm. However, if generators are not used properly things can turn deadly.

Carbon Monoxide deaths associated with generators have spiked in recent years. Running a generator in a closed garage or using a generator improperly are only two reasons why safety is key. Click on the image for NFPA’s tips on using a portable generator.

   

NFPA - Generator Safety use tips

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Tax-Related Identity Theft

The IRS uses your Social Security Number (SSN) to make sure your filing is accurate, complete, and that you receive any money due to you. Identity theft can affect how your tax return is processed. An unexpected notice or letter from the IRS could alert you that someone else is using your SSN.

The IRS does not contact taxpayers by sending emails, text messages, or using social media to ask for personal or financial information. If you get an email that claims to be from the IRS, do not reply or click on any links. Instead forward it to phishing@irs.gov.

For more details to avoid becoming a victim, or if you are a victim, click the image below.

FTC- Tax related ID Theft

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Inaccurate Credit Reports Found In 2013 Study.

The FTC recently completed its fifth national study on the accuracy of consumer credit reports. The agency found that one in five people surveyed found at least a single error on at least one of their credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. After completing the dispute process, the good news was that some people saw improvement in their credit score. A higher credit score means you are not as much of a risk and in turn, means you can get credit or pay less for it. Consumers are encouraged to check their credit report annually.

The time it takes to request a credit report is minimal and you can get them for free. Click on the link for more details from the FTC. 

FTC- Reports

Facebook: Website Hacked Into January 2013

Facebook was the recent victim of a sophisticated cyber-attack discovered in January 2013. In this incident, a virus or malware was installed on employee’s laptops. In a blog entry posted by Facebook Security on Feb. 15, 2013, the company said it found no evidence that Facebook user data had been compromised. For tips on protecting your personal data on social media sites click on the image below to watch an ABC News special regarding this topic.

ABC News - Facebook data comprised

Michigan Attorney General: Warns Consumers Against Buying Cars Flood-Damaged by Superstorm Sandy

Attorney General Bill Schuette has issued a consumer alert advising Michigan residents to exercise caution before purchasing their next used car to avoid being scammed into purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle. The warning comes amid an influx of flood-damaged vehicles on the national automotive market in the wake of Superstorm Sandy's devastation. For additional details, click the link below.

MI AG's website

2nd Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night Feb. 23, 2013

Brent Clark
Law Enforcement Ambassador (Michigan)
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Museum



The long wait is over! Hockey is back in Detroit and the Detroit Red Wings, along with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, are excited to present the 2nd annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night as we honor law enforcement officers from city, county, state and federal agencies at the Joe Louis Arena.

 

The Detroit Red Wings have put together 2 incredible ticket packages that are open to all law enforcement personnel, non-sworn law enforcement employees, EMT, dispatchers, family, friends and anyone who respects and honors law enforcement and their service to our communities.

 

For just $45.00 or $60.00 you will receive admission to the

February 23^rd, 2013 game against the Nashville Predators. The First 1,000 ticket orders will receive a special edition Detroit Red Wings Law Enforcement Commemorative Challenge Coin. $10.00 from each ticket will be donated to the National Law Enforcement Museum!

For tickets click on the link below.

Detroit Red Wings

Kelsey’s Law: Bans teens with level 1 and 2 driver’s license from using a cell phone

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has signed a bill that makes it illegal for anyone with a level 1 or level 2 probationary driver's license to use a cell phone while behind the wheel.

Known as Kelsey's Law, the measure makes it a civil infraction and imposes a $100 fine on anyone with a level 1 or level 2 licenses that is caught using a cell phone while driving. For details, click the link below.



Kelsey's Law- Ban Texting and Driving Level 1 & 2 Drivers



January 28th 2013 National Data Privacy Day

On January 28th, 2013 residents and businesses across the country are encouraged to learn more about protecting your personal information.  Everyday millions are impacted by identity theft, data breaches, email accounts being hacked into, and someone accessing personal information from a social network.

StaysafeOnline.org has been a leading source for helping to provide resources on what can be done to protect your personal information.  Our challenge as consumers is to make everyday "National Data Privacy Day". Click on the link below for more details.

StaySafeOnline

Michigan’s “Internet Privacy Act” House Bill - #5523

Michigan’s “Internet Privacy Act” House Bill - #5523:

Michigan House Bill #5523: “An act to prohibit employers and educational institutions from requiring certain individuals to grant access to, allow observation of, or disclose information that allows access to or observation of personal internet accounts; to prohibit employers and educational institutions from taking certain actions for failure to allow access to, observation of, or disclosure of information that allows access to personal internet accounts; and to provide sanctions and remedies”. To read the bill signed into law by Governor Snyder on December 28th 2012, click on the link below.

House/htm/2012-HNB-5523.htm

US Department of Education: Talking with your children about traumatic events

In response to the tragic events in Newtown Connecticut The U S Department of  Education has provided resources for parents and community with responding to traumatic events.

US Dept of Ed, Homeroom Blog

        

                                  

National Association of School Resource Officers & School Psychologists: Responding to Tragic Events

On behalf of the members of the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan are hearts and prayers are with the families of  Clackamas Oregon Shopping Center and Newtown Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary school after the reports of the tragic shooting events this week.  Officers are trained to engage and stop incidents such as these and both incidents weight heavy on all involved. At our recent C.P.A.M. conference, we had a representative from the National Association of School Resource Officers provide a presentation to our members and participated in a video interview that will be posted in an upcoming blog. We talked about the role of the School Resource Officer (SRO) and the importance of having police interact with students daily, information being brought to their attention, and students concerns about a rumor or something being planned that may cause harm to others. S.R.O.'s establish relationships and students trust them and are more willing to share a concern, a very important part of maintaining school safety.

Many of our school districts are having to eliminate the S.R.O. positions due to budget constraints but if there is any possibility to bring those officers back into your buildings, we strongly encourage school boards and administrators to adjust your financial forecasting to bring them back! We applaud police administrators and municipalities that make school safety a priority even during these tough economic times.

The National Association of School Psychologists has a list of great resources for schools, families and the community. I've added the link to their website for additional resources. We'd also like to recognize the tremendous acts of bravery by the teachers and staff today at the Sandy Hook Elementary school to keep the students out of harms way and to protect them. Schools across the country participate in lock-down and fire drills. Today exemplified why those drills are so important.

I've also provided a link to the N.A.S.R.O's website with resources and tips on protection in our schools.  Please, we need every person in our community to be the "eyes and ears" and report suspicious persons and activity that may impact others. Furthermore, students if you are reading a message forwarded from a  social network or text messages about a student planning to commit a dangerous act at a school or in the community, please tell a trusted adult immediately! Thank you, the life you save may be your own.

NASRO - 12/14, statement on school shooting

National Assoc.of School Resource Officers

National Association of School Psychologists

N.A.of School Psychologists

National Assoc. of School Psychologists

FTC- Kids' Data Still Collected, Shared without Parents' Knowledge, Consent

The FTC has published it's second report on Smartphone Apps targeted at teens and children that is a recommended read for parents, teachers and those who recommend Apps for teens use. The Federal Trade Commission issued a new staff report, “Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade,” examining the privacy disclosures and practices of apps offered for children in the Google Play and Apple App stores.  The report details the results of the FTC’s second survey of kids’ mobile apps.

I've provided the link to the report from the FTC for review.


FTC Report 2012, Mobile Apps for Kids

The Bully Project: Milan H.S. Peer Mediation / Life Saver's Program

The Bully Project movie released in April 2012 has opened the eyes of school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and communities across the country. Michigan's "Matt's Safe School Law" was signed into law providing a road map for schools to follow on addressing bullying in their schools and the reporting process. 

On May 5th 2012, schools throughout Washtenaw County were provided access to see the movie at the Rave Cinema in Pittsfield Township and sponsored by Sam's Club of Ypsilanti MI. Pittsfield Township D.P.S. host agency and municipality coordinated the viewing and there were two panel discussions prior to the showing. One with adults and elected officials and the second with youth from the local schools. 

The Bully Project movie will be available for purchase in Feburary 2013. Go to www.bullyproject.com for more details.

The Milan Police Department's School Resource Officer (S.R.O.) and students from Milan High School's message about their "Peer Mediation and Life Saver's" program were outstanding and featured in a Prevention Corner TV Show special. See what the students had to say about their programs. Click on the link to the YouTube channel.

 The Prevention Corner TV Show- Milan H.S. "Peer Mediation & Life Saver's Program"

I-Pad and Phone Security Tips 2012

I-Phone / I-Pad Safety Tips: Residents who own Apple products such as IPhones, I Pads and other devices should password protect your devices. You have access under the “I Cloud” menu to set your passwords and to activate “Find my IPhone” which allows you to locate the phone and remotely lock or erase the device. Click on the link below for details on the procedure.

Apple Support for Security Tips

Home Security Tip: Patio Doors

Home Security Tip – Patio Doors: 

Home Invasions through patio doors are on the rise. Securing your doors by locking them and using an "after market" device to prevent access to your home is important.  Residents are encouraged to lock your patio doors, use a “Charlie bar” in the base of the door, and auxiliary locks to prevent the doors from being lifted from the frame. For more tips on securing patio doors click the link below.

E How to secure your Patio Doors