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Crime - Scams, Fraud, Sex Offenders and Safety

 

As our economy sinks further into the sunset, the robbers, thieves, scam artist, and fraud racketeers come out seeking who they can take advantage of and rob.   Summer safety should be primary on the minds of all as there is more traveling, kids outside more, and the added risk of becoming injured or a victim of crime. 

 

The Fayette County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Department has issued a warning through the Fayette Daily Citizen regarding an incident that took place at the Pavilion Mall in front of Marshall’s Department Store. See article written by John Munford of the Online Citizen. http://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/node/37718 

 

And elderly lady fell for the old lost and found money scheme and was robbed of $3,000 good faith money so that in case the owner of a large sum of money could not be found, it could be shared between her and the finder. When she became suspicious, the robber grabbed her money and ran.

 

 This is a scam that requires either fear or greed in the victim.  It is hard for me to understand how someone could fall for this old scheme as it has been around since it was televised many years ago in the 1950’s on a TV show called - what else, “Racket Squad,”  staring Reed Hadley.    At the end of the show each week the main character, a cop, would advise people to be safe and asked them to remember that. “Someone can pat you on back with one hand while they pick your pocket with the other. And it can happen to you.”

 

Another scam that is making rounds again is the call supposedly from the court house about you not appearing for jury duty.  This, too, is an old one, but sometimes effective.  The premise is that you failed to appear for jury duty; and if you protest by saying that you did not receive the summons, they will ask you for your Social Security number in order to verity it and stop the arrest warrant. This is where you hang up and call the non-emergency 911 number to report it. If you fall for any such scheme, you just gave away your identity and perhaps your bank account and/or set yourself up for identity fraud. But hey, thieves do not need a down turned economy or any excuse to rob you of your hard earned money. You can read the details of this scam by going to this FBI site. http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm   When at this site, you can click on the next page and find a list of various e-mail scams that are waiting to say, “gotcha.”

 

If someone calls on the phone telling you they have important information about your credit card or this is the last notice you will have about your credit card and they do not automatically tell you what company they are with – hang up. Get out your card and call the number on the back for more information. One elderly lady keeps getting such calls and she has never owned a credit card.

 

 

In the world in which we live today, “careful and safety” are the watch words. Slime balls know that the elderly and young are more vulnerable and are more gullible and are more apt to fall for these scams so they are sought out. A good rule is to never shop alone – no matter you age – but particularly if you are vulnerable.  There are predators out there who seek out young women and children as well.  Another piece of good advice is to never wear expensive jewelry when you are out shopping alone – this is a clue there may be more where that came from – always make sure when leaving a shopping mall that you are not being followed - if you have to take an alternate route to the police department. Another method of stealing jewelry is brutal – where the perpetrator will actually run up behind you and push you down to the street while ripping your necklace from your throat. 

 

The robbing of small businesses, hamburger places, and out of the way stores are always vulnerable – and used to take place late in the evening; but now they can take place anywhere from early morning to late evening. They are after money – don’t do anything rash that would make them take your life.

 

Since it is no longer politically correct nor legal to teach the Ten Commandments in school, many children have no moral compass when it comes to taking what is not theirs. Some people today have such a low standard they have no empathy for victims as long as they get what they want. Many teens are willing to take the risk if they are underage and do not have a record; for word on the street  is you will get off with probation. That is when the hatchling needs to be disciplined and corrected before they become the big rooster with a gun in their hand.  While it seems the majority of these criminals are young; it does not mean you won’t be ripped off by a crook at any age – or under any circumstance – take the Wall Street theft for example and Mr. Bernie Madoff.

 

Another crime familiar to most cities is the stealing of a lady’s purse from the buggy or cart in the grocery store. Take the safety belt that is there for children and run it through the loops on your purse – closed up and snap it to the buggy. They will have to take buggy and all if they grab the purse. Another ruse is when two people, usually women, who work together in a store where one will get the attention of the shopper while the other steals the purse or the wallet out of the purse. 

 

Twice I have had this attempted on me; once when a lady asked me to bend down and find her a small sewing item since she said she could not see very well; and another time when a lady kept trying to divert my attention away from my purse on the buggy by asking me about various types of potatoes.   Later that week, I read in the local paper about two women working in tandem with one another and they fit the descriptions of these two women.

 

When God gave Moses the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” it was for the benefit of the people not God Himself.”   If I don’t steal your stuff and you don’t steal mine – then we both get to keep our stuff, huh? And nobody gets killed and nobody goes to jail. 

 

Check with your local law enforcement; library,  recreation  centers, or senior citizens programs and see where there are classes being taught in self-defense – firearms – safety in the home - safety while traveling – and while alone. There may be classes offered in your community for child safety classes as well with fingerprinting and photos recorded.

 

Make sure everyone in your family knows now to swim and administer CPR. These classes are taught at most local Red Cross facilities. Avoid swimming in lakes and rivers where you cannot see the bottom.

 

 Check out your neighborhood regarding known sex offenders. You can go to your county, state and sex offender registry to see not only a picture of the person; but their address and a map as well. This is vital if you child walks to school to know where these people live. In Georgia, the link is http://www.georgia-sex-offenders.com/maps/offenders.php Type in your city and a map will appear with pinpoint balloons showing their location.   You can also sign up to receive an e-mail each time one moves into your community at this link. http://www.georgia-sex-offenders.com/CommunityAlerts.html 

 

Seniors can check with AARP offering safe driving courses for those over 50. http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/   

 

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