Privacy For Cops

What you need to know to protect your money and your heart!

For years, people have been looking to get rich quick. And it seems like scam artists have always been there ready to answer the call. And now with cryptocurrency, it’s even harder to trace.

What is cryptocurrency anyway?

Let’s try to break this down. A cryptocurrency, aka crypto-currency, or crypto is:

• A digital form of currency
• It’s a digital data string that converts to money.
• The money is instant and practically untraceable.
• It’s designed to work as an exchange of funds through a computer network.
• Not monitored by any central authority, such as a bank or the government.
• There are more than 17,000 different types on the market

Can you see why it’s attracting scammers in a big way?!

Inside track on a real-life scam story and red flags you can’t afford to ignore!

When a single man went on the dating app Tinder to find companionship, he was swindled through a sophisticated crypto investment scheme. He started communicating with a female who quickly advanced her interest in him and convinced the man to leave Tinder. Instead, they started talking through instant text messages. The conversation quickly turned to money and she persuaded him to invest his money with a legitimate crypto site. Eventually, she encouraged him to move his money from the legitimate site to a different website (where she provided the link). Many months later, he realized that the profits he thought he was making – weren’t real.

Sadly, this scam is becoming more common. You might see earnings, and even be able to withdraw money at some point. But when you want to withdraw the entire balance – and can’t – that’s when people are realizing that they’ve been a victim of a scam.

Crypto Deposit

If someone asks you to make a crypto deposit at an ATM, don’t do it. No reputable company is going to ask you to make a deposit using just crypto. They will always have other options for submitting payment.

If you think it will never happen to you, you’re wrong! It can absolutely happen to anyone.

You’ve probably seen the videos caught on tape of unprovoked attacks on innocent people. They’re all over the news. Recent reports show violent crimes, including car jackings and assaults are on the rise all over the country. It’s all so shocking! A woman in Philadelphia was simply driving and sitting at a light when a person in another car pulled up next to her, opens her door, pulls her out of her car, and takes off with her vehicle. In another incident in San Jose, California, a person was sitting in their car in a parking lot when a man walks up, breaks the window on the passenger side, steals a purse, and runs off. What has come of this country that we don’t even feel safe while driving or sitting in our cars?

Here are some simple tips to help you avoid being the target of violence:

• Park close to locations. Especially if you are by yourself. At nighttime, park next to a lamp post. Bad guys don’t like to be seen, so they are less likely to target you in the light.
• Look at your surroundings and have your car keys ready before you leave the store. Don’t put them in your purse, because if someone snatches your purse, they have your keys too. If you just came out of the mall or a store and are loading things in your car, always look around. See if anyone is following you or watching you a little too closely.
• Don’t Fight! If someone approaches you and wants your wallet, your phone, or even your car – give it to them! Your life is more important.
• Never ever walk away from your car while it’s warming up! It’s an invitation for a thief to take your car.
• Wear only one earbud/earphone while walking. Bad guys like people who are distracted, so make sure you can hear what’s going on around you. If you are out running or walking and want to wear both earbuds, turn the volume so far down that you can hear well and even hold a conversation with someone next to you if needed.
• Lock your car door (even while driving). And make sure your windows are up high enough that someone can’t reach in.

Bonus Tip!

If you are parking at the mall, park near the security booth. It’s a little extra assurance that someone is looking out for you.

Spring break is upon us and thankfully, it is safe to travel again! Even though the airports are getting crowded, and flights seem to be packed, the world is almost back to its pre-pandemic mode. But it’s a new normal, because TSA is still requiring masks to travel on airplanes, trains, and public transportation.

A few things to consider!

• Think about your personal risk factor. Take the appropriate precautions to protect your family.
• With gas prices souring, many travelers are re-considering taking a road trip or any kind of trip for that matter. You might want to hold off on a vacation.
• The airline industry pre-purchases gas, so they can afford to keep prices relatively lower for now. But, in a few more weeks, ticket prices might go up, so be prepared for a possible sticker shock.

What’s the best way to score a last-minute spring break deal and stay safe?

• Consider off-peak travel dates. You’ll get better prices and will naturally avoid bigger crowds of people.
• Choose your activities carefully. Try to stay outdoors and avoid high risk areas.
• It’s a great time for international destinations. The overseas flights are low right now, but you should still factor in higher prices for food and meals.
• Be aware of travel hot spots like Miami and Las Vegas. These cities will cost more.

You never know where people are coming from or whether or not they are vaccinated. They might be coming from areas with higher COVID case rates, and infectious diseases can pass through the air, so for now, plan to mask up to stay safe.

Bossware, also known as tattleware, is software that allows companies to monitor and track employees who are working at home.

Initially, it started out as a way for supervisors to monitor what staff members were doing, because employers didn’t want them doing anything that could get the company in trouble, such as insider trading. But, it wasn’t thought through very well, because the downside of these choices and the message that they are sending to employees is loud and clear – that they don’t trust them. Employees who sense that they are not trusted, are probably less likely to trust you and therefore not be as productive.

And then there is the issue of an employees right to privacy. Just because an employer issues you with a computer and software, doesn’t give them the legal right to impede upon your workspace. Especially when you are working from home.

It’s completely natural to check your personal email and social media while working. Particularly if you are working at home.

If you have work issued technology at home, here are some tips to help keep your privacy under wrap:

1. Designate a private space at home where you can work.
2. Use a separate computer or phone for doing personal things.
3. Use a separate email account for sending personal emails.

Demand transparency, so that there are no surprises from your employer. If the company has less than 500 employees, they should not be spying on you. Review your ethics policy and know your rights. Bossware may be hazardous to your health!

The Apple Air Tag. It’s super small and very lightweight. Why would this be a concern? Because, it makes it quite easy to attach to almost anything without being detected. It also doesn’t cost much. You can buy one of these for about $30.00, which makes it too easy for bad guys to track your whereabouts, including your car, your home, and anywhere you go.

Most recently, model Brooks Nader says someone dropped an Apple AirTag in her coat pocket while she was at a crowded bar and used it to track her location. When she was almost home, a notification popped up on her phone alerting her to the fact that an unknown accessory had been detected and was tracking her. Whoever put the device in her coat could track her every move.

The AirTag links to a cell phone through the Find my app. Initially, it was designed to help you track your things, but now its being linked to concerns about privacy and safety.

AirTag Car Thefts
Law enforcement agencies have put out warnings across the country to let people know that these AirTags can be used to track cars, which allows criminals to steal the vehicle once they are parked.

What should you do if you find an AirTag on you?
If you find one of these devices or you get an alert on your cell phone, don’t go home! That could let the bad guys know where you live. Instead go to your local police department or a public space, and call the non-emergency police line from there. Ask them to come out and investigate. Each AirTag has a serial number that can help track who owns it.

Technology. It’s getting better and better and scarier and scarier.

Shopping online has never been more convenient. It’s fast, affordable, and reliable. But, porch pirate thieves are out there searching neighborhoods and watching for deliveries to be left on front porches, so that they can run up and steal packages.

Try these tips to ensure that your packages make inside your home!

Turn on your porch light!
As we all know, bad guys prefer the dark. They don’t want you to turn your lights on outside. But you must! It’s a natural deterrent, because you can see them and hopefully, so can your neighbors and/or passersby’s.

Install a Video Doorbell
Criminals don’t want to be caught on camera. So, just knowing that your home is equipped with a doorbell cam might dissuade a bag guy from choosing your home. Typically, video doorbells will alert you when a person, animal, or thing is detected. You’ll get an alert inside your home and on your smart device, so that you’ll know when a delivery person drops off a package (or when a porch pirate is lingering).

Request a Signature
This is usually an option depending on the type of item you are having delivered. Delivery companies such as FedEx and UPS will wait until someone answers the door and signs for the package rather than leave your shipment by your door.

Ship Packages Elsewhere
Consider having your package delivered to your job or your neighbors house who you know will be home. You can also send them directly to a mail center, such as a UPS Store. This way your items will be held in a P.O. Box until you can get there to pick it up. Retail stores will also allow you to ship items directly to their store when you are ordering their products. It’s typically free and you can pick it up onsite.

We hope your holidays will be filled with joy and laughter through the New Year!

Our office will be closed on the following days, so that our staff can spend time with their loved ones:

Friday, December 24, 2021
Monday, December 27, 2021
Friday, December 31, 2021
Monday, January 3, 2022

We appreciate your patience during this time and we will respond to your email inquiries upon our return.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

This holiday season is not like last year – thank goodness! This year, we all have masks. We have access to a COVID vaccination. We have access to a COVID booster. And we have data that proves that these are our best tools to protect ourselves and our family members from getting sick with COVID-19.

TIPS:

Up your mask game! Doctors and health professionals are recommending that we trade in our cloth masks for a higher level N95 or KN95 mask. Especially if you are spending time in crowded areas such as airports, trains, or concerts to name a few.

Ventilation is key! Consider investing in an air purifier. If you can’t, try and hold your family events outdoors. Or at the very least open your windows to keep the air flow circulating throughout your home.

Rapid At-Home COVID Tests. They are easy to use and sold in pharmacies and grocery stores. The cost range is $10.00-$30.00 and you can get the results in about 15 minutes.

In the end, be upfront with your family members and friends about what they can expect at your home or event. Be firm, polite, and direct. This way, people can make their own informed decisions, because you’ve been as transparent as possible.

A 16-year-old girl learned a hand gesture on the social media platform TikTok and was able to use the signal to get help. With any signal, you would have to be able to interpret what that signal means, or at least be with someone who does. You might not know that someone is trying to communicate with you or what a specific type of hand gesture means. But, in this case, law enforcement officers say it saved this teens life!

Here’s the back story …

On November 8, 2021, a teenage girl was sitting in a car looking out the window – next to her alleged kidnapper. Can you imagine the horror she must have been feeling at that time?! She couldn’t scream for help. She couldn’t open her door. She couldn’t wave her arms. Nothing.

But, what she could do to try and alert others that she was in danger (without alerting her abductor)—was use one hand to flash a signal toward the window. She did it hoping that someone, anyone, would know what it meant. She opened her hand, tucked her thumb in, bent the remaining four fingers down, and then repeated it over and over again. Is this American Sign Language you might ask? No. It’s a gesture that she learned on TikTok, thanks to the philanthropic organization called the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

The hand signal worked!

A passing motorist noticed the girl flashing hand signs and knew exactly what it meant. The motorist called 911, followed the abductors car, and kept authorities up-to-date by phone. Deputies were able to pull the vehicle over and box it in, so that it could not go anywhere. Thank goodness, it led to the rescue of the teen girl and the arrest of her abductor, James H. Brick, age 61.

Here is a YouTube demonstration of how to do the signal. Please share it with the women and girls in your life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFLZEQFIm7k

Now that the hand signal is more well-known, the hope is that it continues to spread universally. It is now being shared by partner organizations around the world: https://canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help/

You never know when it could save your life or the life of a loved one.

Did you know that millions of cargo items are inspected before they are allowed to be sold to the public? And that more often than not, knock off items are making their way into the United States? With Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals popping up, this is prime target for counterfeiters to strike!

Thankfully, we have Custom and Border Patrol Agents who use intel to intercept items BEFORE they can enter the market. Some containers hide fake goods. These are items that are cheaply made and designed to look authentic. Sometimes they are even dangerous.

To make sure they are legitimate and safe, Special Agents go through cargo containers one at a time. They are finding toxic levels of led and chemicals in toys, unsafe Christmas lights that can easily burst into flames, cell phones, handbags, jewelry, and so much more. In fact, children’s clothing (tested for led) and dolls are a big safety problem. Knock off dolls many times test positive for a high level of Phthalates (a substance used to make plastics soft and flexible). These items are cheaply made and designed to look authentic, but they are counterfeit.

What is the money funding?
Buying counterfeit items funds terrorism, human trafficking, and criminal organizations.

Why shouldn’t you buy counterfeit goods?
• They’re not safe!
• Criminals are breaking the law by importing and selling these goods.
• Identity Fraud can come into play.

What can you do about this?
• Buy from reputable stores and websites
• When you shop online, make sure the company has a real address and phone number
• If the price is too good to be true, that’s a red flag. Be smarter than the criminals.