October 25, 2020 through November
22, 2020
The Activity Report is a summary of what our FBAC Patrol
Officers do on their shifts
|
Directed
Patrols: 30
|
Drop
ins/Park and Walks: 29
|
Suspicious
person: 5
|
|
Alarm
Response: 3
|
Suspicious
Vehicle: 3
|
Parking
Complaints: 0
|
|
Noise
Complaints: 0
|
Out
of town Checks: 9
|
Abandoned
Auto: 0
|
|
VAHI
Patrol Member Contact: 4
|
Lost
Person: 0
|
Street
Obstruction: 0
|
|
Wanted
Persons: 0
|
Intoxicated
Persons: 4
|
Found
Property: 0
|
|
Criminal
Trespass: 0
|
Info
for Officers: 3
|
Shots
Fired: 0
|
|
Calls
for service (cell Phone): 4
|
|
|
News and Notes
NO SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS THIS REPORTING PERIOD
THRU 11/22/2020
Cyber Shopping Tips
Don’t open email attachments from retailers
and shippers
A common scam hackers use is introducing malware via email
attachments, and during the holiday sale season, they’ll often send malware
under the guise of offer emails and shipping notifications. Know that retailers
and shipping companies won’t send things like offers, promo codes, and tracking
numbers in attachments. They’ll clearly call those things out in the body of an
email instead.
Carefully review links and email addresses
A classic scammer move is to “typosquat” phony email
addresses and URLs that look awfully close to legitimate addresses of
legitimate companies and retailers. They often appear in phishing emails and instead of leading you to a great
deal, these can in fact link you to scam sites that can then lift your login
credentials, payment info, or even funds should you try to place an order
through them.
Watch out for copycat deals and sites
A related scammer trick that also uses typosquatting tactics is
to set up sites that look like they could be run by a trusted retailer or brand
but are not. These sits may tout a special offer, a great deal on a hot holiday
item or whatnot, yet such sites are one more way cybercriminals harvest
personal and financial information. A common way for these sites to spread is
by social media, email, and other messaging platforms. Be skeptical of any
links you see there—it’s best to go to the site directly and look for the deal
there.
Use protection while you shop
Using a complete security software suite can offer layers of extra protection
while you shop, such as web browser protection that will block malicious and
suspicious links that could lead you down the road to malware or a financial
scam.
Diversify and protect your passwords
Using the same narrow set of passwords only helps hackers. If
they hack one account, they can then hack others—simply because that same
password is in use over and over. Use a password manager that can create strong passwords and store them securely as
well. That’ll save you some hassle and keep you safer in the process.
Use two-factor authentication on your accounts
Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of defense on top of
your username and password. It adds in the use of a special one-time-use code
to access your account, usually sent to you via email or to your phone by text
or a phone call. In all, it combines something you know, like your password,
with something you have, like your smartphone. Together, that makes it tougher
for a crook to hack your account. If any of your accounts support two-factor
authentication, put it into place.
Use a VPN if you’re shopping on public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi in coffee shops and other public locations can
expose your private surfing to prying eyes because those networks are open to
all. Using a virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your browsing,
shopping, and other internet traffic, thus making it secure from attempts at intercepting your data
on public Wi-Fi and harvesting information like your passwords and credit card
numbers.
Use a credit card instead of your debit card
Specific to the U.S., the Fair Credit Billing Act offers the public protection against fraudulent charges on
credit cards, where citizens can dispute charges over $50 for goods and
services that were never delivered or otherwise billed incorrectly. Note that many
credit card companies have their own policies that improve upon the Fair Credit
Billing Act as well. However, debit cards aren’t afforded the same protection
under the Act. Avoid using those while shopping online and use your credit card
instead.
Consider getting a virtual credit card
Another alternative is to set up a virtual credit card, which is
a proxy for your actual credit card. With each purchase you make, that proxy
changes, which then makes it much more difficult for hackers to exploit. You’ll
want to research virtual credit cards further, as there are some possible cons that go
along with the pros, such as in the case of returns where a retailer will want
to use the same proxy to reimburse a purchase.
Keep a close eye on your credit reports
With all the passwords and accounts we keep, this is important.
Checking your credit will uncover any inconsistencies or outright instances of
fraud. From there, you can then take steps to straighten out any errors or bad
charges that you find. In the U.S., you can run a free credit report once a
year with the major credit reporting agencies. Just drop by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website for details
on your free credit report.
Shop happy! (Don’t give in to stress and
scarcity.)
One aspect of cybercrime that deserves a fair share of attention
is the human element. Crooks have always played on our feelings, fears, and
misplaced senses of trust. It’s no different online, particularly during the
holidays. We all know it can be a stressful time and that we sometimes give
into the pressure of finding that hard-to-get gift that’s so hot this year.
Crooks do too, and they’ll tailor their attacks around those.
So, while you’re shopping online this year, take a deep breath
before you dive in. Double-check those deals that may look almost too good to
be true. They may be a scam waiting to spring—and indeed be too good to be true
after all.
If you see someone or something suspicious, please report it to
the police. When driving or out walking keep an eye out in the
neighborhood, what you see and report just might prevent a crime.
Reminder: All members call 911 first if
you see a crime in progress or a suspicious person or activity, and then call
the Virginia Highland Security Patrol Phone.
