Chief’s Beat 
Chief of Police Richard "Rick" Swann

Please find some holiday safety tips below. Have a safe Thanksgiving Holiday.

Holiday Online Shopping Scams

Due to COVID-19, 71% of consumers will be shopping online, with that being said, as real retailers roll out their seasonal deals, scammers seek to snare bargain-hunting shoppers with bogus websites and social media campaigns that impersonate major brands. These “spoofing” sites and fake posts entice you to spend money for products you’ll never receive.

Further, many are vehicles for harvesting credit card numbers and other personal data that fraudsters use to commit identity theft or sell on the dark web. Scammers may distribute malware-loaded links or attachments via supposed coupon offers or “order confirmation” emails. Frauds involving gift cards — which nearly two-thirds of shoppers buy during the holidays, according to a November 2020 AARP survey — also shift into high gear during the holidays.

Other hallmarks of the season provide grist for grifters:

• Charity scams: One-third of all charitable giving is done in December, fundraising software company Network for Good reports. That means more sham charities exploiting Americans’ goodwill via fake websites and pushy telemarketers.
• Delivery scams: As holiday packages crisscross the country, scammers send out phishing emails disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service notifications of incoming or missed deliveries. Links lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information or go to sites infested with malware.
• Travel scams: Despite the pandemic, nearly 2 in 5 Americans plan to travel during the holidays in 2020 (a survey by mobile-booking app maker Hopper found). Spoof booking sites and email offers proliferate with travel deals that look too good to be true and probably are.
• Letter from Santa scams: A custom letter from the jolly old elf makes a holiday treat for the little ones on your list, and many legitimate businesses offer them. But so do many scammers looking to scavenge personal information about you, or worse, your kids or grandkids, who may not learn until many years later that their identity was stolen and their credit compromised.

Warning Signs

• Huge discounts on hot gift items, especially when touted on social media posts or unfamiliar websites.
• Spelling errors or shoddy grammar on a shopping website or in an email.
• A shopping or travel site does not list a phone number or street address for the business and offers only an email address or a fill-in contact form.
• A site does not have a privacy policy.
• An unsolicited email asks you to click on a link or download an app to access a deal or arrange a delivery.

 Holiday Safety

Driving:

• Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in and out of the car.
• Remember to set your alarm.
• If you must shop at night, park in a well lit area.
• Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells or cars with tinted windows.
• Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.
• Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside. NOT EVEN FOR A SECOND!
• Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. (Lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight.)
• Locate your keys prior to going to your car.
• Keep a secure hold on your purse, handbag and parcels. (Try not to put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.)
• When approaching and leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area. (Ask mall or store security for an escort before leaving your shopping location.)
• Check the interior of your car before "hopping in."
• Biggest threat of holiday season is motor vehicle crashes. (Impairment, texting, speeding and being distracted in other ways greatly increase the likelihood of a motor vehicle crash.)
• Stay alert, be aware of other moving vehicles.

ATM:

• If you use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a mall or well lit location. (Be aware of bushes and blind spots. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.)
• Protect your pin number by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.