BANK EXAMINER SCHEME
In the bank examiner scheme, con artists pose as FBI agents, bank examiners, police officers, detectives or bank officials. These con artists contact you pretending to need your help to conduct an investigation. As a valued bank customer or upstanding citizen, you are asked to withdraw your money and hand it over. They promise to redeposit it or return the money to you after they have completed their investigation. Of course, you never see your money again.

PIGEON DROP SCAM
In the pigeon drop scam, swindlers work in pairs or in teams. One befriends an unsuspecting consumer, the "pigeon," while the other approaches them with money or valuables he claims just to have found. After some rehearsed conversation, the con artists agree to split the money three ways with you and arrange to meet at a lawyer's office or somewhere else of their choosing. But can they trust you, they ask. To get your share, you'll need to put up some "good faith" money, which they will return to you after the goods are divided. To prove yourself trustworthy, you turn over a large sum of money to them and, later, go to meet them at the designated spot. Soon after arriving, you realize the pair is long gone--and so is your money.

TIPS TO AVOID BANK EXAMINER AND PIGEON DROP SCAMS
If the situation seems unusual or if you feel uncomfortable, just walk away. No financial institution or government agency ever uses customers to conduct internal investigations. Many financial institutions request that their customers read and sign a form when they wish to withdraw a large amount of cash. The form alerts consumers to these scams and encourages them to talk to a bank or law enforcement officer if these conditions are present. This is not an attempt to keep your money or control how it's spent--it is an effort to protect you from fraud.

Trust only people you know. Do not trust someone because he or she has a friendly voice or appears to be an authoritative figure. Swindlers usually are friendly and have honest faces and pleasant personalities. That is how they gain your trust--and steal your money. Talk to a law enforcement officer or your banker before withdrawing large sums of money at someone else¹s suggestion.

CREDIT CARD SCAMS
Have you ever received a phone call or mail solicitation from someone telling you that you've won a prize or a trip? If so, you probably know that to collect your prize they want your credit card number to verify your identity, or to bill your account for a deposit, shipping or membership fee or merchandise. The most common complaints involve telephone solicitors who attempt to sell pens, travel packages, water purifiers or filters, vitamins or other health products using a sweepstakes to entice you to respond. For some of the thousands of consumers who have given the credit card numbers to strangers over the phone, the results have been expensive and troublesome. Trips rarely, if ever, materialize. Products and prizes may be overvalued and ridden with extra charges that make them anything but free.

Giving your credit card number to someone is like handing over a signed, blank check. Unless you initiate the call and expect to be charged for something, don't give your credit card number to anyone for any reason. If you suspect someone illegally has used your credit card number, send a letter to your credit card company within 60 days of receiving your first bill. Include your name, credit card number and disputed charge. The biller must investigate and correct the mistake or justify the charge within two billing cycles.

GET RICH QUICK PYRAMID SCHEMES
A pyramid is an investment scheme in which a participant primarily makes money by recruiting members who, in turn, make money primarily by enticing others to join. The focus is on recruiting participants, not on selling a product. Products that are sold are overpriced or nearly worthless. If you are considering a product-selling investment, be cautious. If the opportunity for income is primarily derived by recruiting more investors or salespersons rather than by selling a product, the plan probably is illegal.

Claims that a promoter makes concerning the investment opportunity often are exaggerated and misleading. Since few products are sold, most of the money generated is through recruitment of members. When recruitment slows, the marketing system collapses, leaving most participants with losses.

CHAIN LETTERS
The chain letter, a common type of pyramid operation, involves sending letters to individuals, sometimes requesting a small sum of money. A promise is made to persons responding that they will receive many times their investment by following the same procedure.

HOME EQUITY LOAN SCHEMES
For many people, home equity is one of their primary financial assets. Scam operators are all too aware of this and are willing to do whatever it takes to steal this equity. Techniques used in home equity schemes vary, but they typically involve the same key features. The first step is for the con artist to get the owner to sign a first, second or third mortgage. Frequently this isn't difficult because all that's required is the homeowner's signature. The loan documents, including the mortgage, are written in fine print and many homeowners have no idea what they're signing.

The loan's terms are usually incredibly unfavorable to the consumer with enormous up-front costs and high interest rates (sometimes exceeding 50 percent). They frequently are coupled with a balloon payment a few years down the road. With a loan like this the unscrupulous lender can't lose. If consumer pays off the note, the creditor makes a tremendous profit. If the consumer defaults, the lender forecloses and immediately recoups the loan amount plus points and fees paid up front, and gains the opportunity to buy the home at a fraction of its real value.

HOW TO STOP HOME EQUITY LOAN FRAUD
• Be wary of any business that actively solicits you, particularly if the firm already seems to be aware of your financial plight.
• Watch out for businesses that say they're not concerned with your ability to repay the loan. The ads may say, "No income or credit check. If you have equity, we'll guarantee the loan." These catch phrases may be a tip-off to an unfair scheme.
• Look for discrepancies between the promised or stated interest rate and the annual percentage rate (APR) figure required in all consumer loan contract (Truth in Lending). If that figure is significantly higher than the rate state in the contract, the loan contains hidden interest charges. • Determine who the lender is. A lender could be nothing more than a few individuals in for a quick score. Does the agent have an office? Is the company old and established one with community ties?
• Have a financial adviser such as an attorney or accountant review all papers before signing anything. Paperwork involved in a loan contract is often technical and unclear.
• Don't assume you will be denied a traditional (non-mortgage) loan. Apply first and find out.

HELP FOR FRAUD VICTIMS
Try first to resolve the matter directly with the original creditors if you need cash to pay off creditors. Most creditors are more interested in negotiating an affordable repayment schedule than in taking expensive legal action. Check with your local legal aid office, state and country bar associations, city or county consumer agency administrator, county prosecutor's office of consumer affairs or state Attorney General's office for brochures and explanations of specific laws in your state on this issue.

Also, because lenders quickly sell these loans to other financial institutions on the secondary market, speed is of the essence to retain your full legal rights. Under the federal Truth in Lending Act, a homeowner is entitled to rescind a mortgage contract for three business days after receiving certain disclosures concerning the loan. If the disclosures are not properly made or if notice of the right to rescind is not given the debtor, the borrower can rescind the contract for up to three years.

INVESTMENT SCAMS AND BROKERAGE ABUSES
Promises of huge financial returns from securities investments such as stocks and bonds, oil and gas leases, or limited partnerships are often nothing more than that--empty promises. A growing number of consumers, primarily seniors, are targeted by fraudulent securities promoters and persuaded to invest their life savings. Although most securities investments are not fraudulent, people should be leery when a promoter promises huge returns on an investment.

The National Council of Individual Investors (NCII) is the nation's watchdog organization holding brokers and brokerage houses accountable in cases where class actions are ineffective because of prevailing individual issues involving an investor's account. If you've been ripped off, scammed, or misled in your investing efforts by brokers who either should have known better or were taking advantage of you, NCII is the place to turn. The Investor's Rights section guides you in solving your investment problems and offers an excellent overview of arbitration, which is mandated by most brokerage contracts. This is a substantial, worthwhile and extremely valuable site.

TIPS TO AVOID INVESTMENT SCAMS
• Don't invest unless you can afford what lose what you invest.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• No legitimate promoter ever will claim to offer a risk-free investment--a commodities or securities investment is basically a form of speculation or risk-taking, solicitation that claims there is little or no risk is a dangerous "red flag."
• Verify that the brokerage firm is registered with the Commissioner of Securities. In most instances, firms that trade commodities also are required to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and are subject to its regulations. Be suspicious of firms that trade commodities and are not registered. However not all registered firms are honest ones. (You also should consider consulting with a trusted adviser.) Registration simply means that the CFRC will be able to tell you whether there are any past or present legal actions pending by the government against the company.
• Make sure the broker's address and phone number match the company for which he claims to work.
• Never give money to collector/messenger who comes to a consumer's home following up on a phone sale. Never write the broker's own name on a check as the payee; use the company's name.
• Ask the firm to send a prospectus or other literature about the firm. Don't be swayed, however, by the glossy brochures con artists produce. Also, ask for a written proposal describing conditions of the contract and a form outlining the risks involved with the investment.
• Ask a phone solicitor to explain the investment to your lawyer or accountant. Even if you don't have an attorney or accountant, ask anyway because the salesperson¹s response might be a tip-off to his real identity.
• A legitimate broker will have no objections while a con artist will say something like, "Normally I'd be glad to, but there just isn¹t enough time for that," or "Those people give investment advice."
• Arrange for a meeting at the broker¹s or your attorney¹s office. It is never a good idea to do business with a faceless person over the phone. Ask a third party to attend.
Investment Scams--How One Scam Works

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Consumers sometimes may be attracted to a business opportunity that offers extra cash for a modest investment of time and money. Such offers may include distributorships, work-at-home opportunities, franchises or other investment plans. Treat any such business opportunity with extreme caution, especially when you are promised a lot of profit for a small risk or little work.

There are several warning signs of business opportunity fraud. These include:
• Pressure to sign a contract quickly and pay a large sum of money before you can check out the offer.
• Promises of a large return on the investment with low risk.
• Evasive answers by sellers or an unwillingness to give disclosure documents required by law.

If you are considering buying a franchise or business, you should know about a Federal Trade Commission rule that requires people who sell franchise and business opportunities to provide certain information to potential investors. Under the FTC rule, anyone who tries to sell a franchise or business opportunity must provide you with a detailed disclosure document at least ten (10) business days before you pay any money or legally commit yourself to a purchase. This document gives 20 important items of information about the business, including:
• The names, addresses and telephone numbers of other purchasers.
• A financial statement of the seller.
• The background and experience of the business's key executives.
• The cost required to start and maintain the business.
• The responsibilities you and the seller will have to each other once you buy.

BEFORE BUYING OR FRANCHISING A BUSINESS
• Study the disclosure documents and proposed contracts carefully.
• Talk to the current owner if buying a business.
• Investigate earnings claims.
• Shop around.
• Listen carefully to the sales presentation.
• Be sure all of the seller's promises are in the contract or sales documents.
• Check to see if the investment is registered with state and federal agencies.
• Talk to a professional or someone you trust.

SOURCE: Richard Alexander, Esq.

Distraction burglars - also known as bogus callers - are responsible for a distressing crime often aimed at the more vulnerable members of society. These people's actions can have serious consequences on the quality of life of many victims. They will use every trick in the book to get inside your house and rifle through your possessions - taking anything of value they can find.

Bogus callers can appear to be very credible. They dress as utility workers, contractors, salesmen, or even police officers. They are particularly persuasive and articulate and can easily talk their way into people's homes. Once in they will steal money and valuables. Current research shows that older people are their main targets.

HOW CAN I STOP THEM?
There are a few simple steps you can take to keep the bogus callers out and prevent yourself from being taken in by their act. When answering the door:

• STOP - and think, are you expecting anybody?
• CHAIN - put this on before you open the door, it will give you that extra 'safe space' and barrier between you and the caller and then,
• CHECK - ask for their identification card, take it and look at it carefully. Close the door and ring the number on the card if you are unsure

• GO - take the door chain off to let them in only once you are sure they are genuine. If not, close the door, they will go away.

LINES TO WATCH OUT FOR
• I'm here to check the pipes
• I need to check the water/turn the water off (I'm laying pipes up the road)
• The water is unfit for drinking
• I need to check for damp
• There has been a gas explosion up the road
• I've lost my football/kite/puppy/rabbit
• Can I use your toilet?
• Can I have a glass of water?
• Can I borrow a pen/a piece of paper to write a note?
• Can I see Michael/Fred (or any other fictitious name)
• I'm interested in buying books or antiques
• You have won a prize in a raffle - can I measure up for the prizes/write down your details?
• I'm from Age Concern - can I take down the number of your pension book

REMEMBER
• Try not to keep lots of cash in the house and keep things like your pension book, savings book, checkbook and cards well hidden.
• Most utilities and service staff will make an appointment prior to coming to your house and should not turn up unannounced.
• If someone unexpected who you do not know comes to your house do not let them in until you are absolutely sure they are genuine.

SOURCE: Akron Police Department

BEGIN WITH THE EXTERIOR
Clean out or cut back shrubbery and trim trees which obstruct a clear view of entrances and windows of your home. Why give a burglar cover and more time to work unobserved.

HOUSE NUMBERS
House numbers should be at least 3 inches in height and of a contrasting color to the background. The intent of this is to enable persons reporting suspicious activity to furnish accurate information to the Police Department and allow responding officers to locate the source of the complaint easily.

LOUVERED OR JALOUISE WINDOWS
The individual glass panes in these windows are easily removed from the outside. There are several options available to deal with these type windows.
• Remove and install another type window that provides more security.
• Install ornamental bars or security screening.

BASEMENT WINDOWS
Another favorite point of attack for the burglar is the basement window. We recommend hinged security bars that can be opened in case of emergency.

WINDOWS WITH EXTERIOR AIR CONDITIONERS
It is recommended that ornamental steel bars be installed to fit around the air conditioning unit. This protects the unit and prevents entry.

ALARMS
There are many types of alarms. We recommend you decide the cost effectiveness of installing any alarm system, then contact several reputable alarm companies for estimates. When you compare estimates be certain comparable goods, materials and services are given so you may be certain that the lowest estimate is your correct choice.

PLAN AHEAD WHEN LEAVING FOR VACATION OR EXTENDED ABSENCE
Newspapers, flyers, and a build up of mail are sure signs to a burglar that the home is unoccupied. Arrange with a neighbor to pick up the newspapers, flyers, and mail. Apartment dwellers should also follow this recommendation.
• Have someone mow your lawn or shovel your walk.
• Leave a key with a trusted neighbor or relative. Have them vary the position of the shades and/or drapes.
• Don’t publicize your planned absence.
• Contact the Akron Police Department and let them know you will be gone for an extended time and who will have a key if needed in an emergency.

THE CONTENTS OF YOUR HOME
• Don’t keep large sums of money in the home.
• Mark your valuables with your Social Security Number, record serial numbers and make an inventory of the items. A second copy should be kept in a secure location outside the home.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Join a neighborhood block watch. If one is not established in your neighborhood, start one. Phone the Springfield Township Police Department (330) 784-1609, we will be happy to assist you.

A FINAL THOUGHT
Although the Springfield Township Police Department recommends procedures for making your home and garage burglar resistant, there is no guarantee your home will not be entered. However, by implementing the recommendations, you will be practicing the 4 D’s of crime prevention.

• DETER THE BURGLAR
• DELAY THE BURGLAR
• DENY THE BURGLAR
• DETECT THE BURGLAR

If, despite taking these suggested precautions, you discover your home has been burglarized, do not enter your home. Call the police 9-1-1 or (330) 733-1061 from a safe location and stay outside of your home until it has been searched and is known to be safe for your entry.

View/Download PDF-Home Security

MINIMIZE YOUR RISK
While you probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY
Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized. The law allows credit bureaus to charge you for a copy of your credit report.

CREDIT BUREAUS
EQUIFAX > www.equifax.com
To order your report, call: 1-800-685-1111
or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285
and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

EXPERIAN > www.experian.com
To order your report, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
or write: P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013
To report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
and write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013

SECURE YOUR PASSWORDS
Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. When opening new accounts, you may find that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother’s maiden name. Use a password instead.

SECURE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AT HOME AND WORK
Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.
Ask about information security procedures in your workplace. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that records are kept in a secure location. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well.

MAINTAIN VIGILANCE
Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year. By checking your report on a regular basis you can catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step. One of the most common ways that consumers find out that they’re victims of identity theft is when they try to make a major purchase, like a house or a car. The deal can be lost or delayed while the credit report mess is straightened out. Knowing what’s in your credit report allows you to fix problems before they jeopardize a major financial transaction.

PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact or are sure you know who you’re dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs) and even government agencies to get you to reveal your SSN, mother’s maiden name, account numbers and other identifying information. Before you share any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization. You can check the organization’s website as many companies post scam alerts when their name is used improperly, or you can call customer service using the number listed on your account statement or in the telephone book.

GUARD YOUR MAIL AND TRASH FROM THEFT
Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you’re planning to be away from home and can’t pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it.

To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you’re discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.

BE AWARE OF WHEN YOUR BILLS SHOULD ARRIVE
Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks. Be wary of promotional scams. Identity thieves may use phony offers to get you to give them your personal information.

COMPUTER SECURITY
You may be careful about locking your doors and windows, and keeping your personal papers in a secure place. But, depending on what you use your personal computer for, an identity thief may not need to set foot in your house to steal your personal information. SSNs, financial records, tax returns, birth dates, and bank account numbers may be stored in your computer – a goldmine to an identity thief. The following tips can help you keep your computer and your personal information safe.

Update your virus protection software regularly, or when a new virus alert is announced. Computer viruses can have a variety of damaging effects, including introducing program code that causes your computer to send out files or other stored information. Be on the alert for security repairs and patches that you can download from your operating system’s website.

Do not download files sent to you by strangers or click on hyperlinks from people you don’t know. Opening a file could expose your system to a computer virus or a program that could hijack your modem.

USE A FIREWALL
Use a firewall program, especially if you use a high-speed Internet connection like cable, DSL or T-1, which leaves your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. The firewall program will allow you to stop uninvited guests from accessing your computer. Without it, hackers can take over your computer and access your personal information stored on it or use it to commit other crimes.

Use a secure browser – software that encrypts or scrambles information you send over the Internet – to guard the security of your online transactions. Be sure your browser has the most up-to-date encryption capabilities by using the latest version available from the manufacturer. You also can download some browsers for free over the Internet. When submitting information, look for the “lock” icon on the browser’s status bar to be sure your information is secure during transmission.

DON'T STORE FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON YOUR LAPTOP
Try not to store financial information on your laptop unless absolutely necessary. If you do, use a strong password – a combination of letters (upper and lowers case), numbers and symbols. Don’t use an automatic log-in feature which saves your user name and password so you don’t have to enter them each time you log-in or enter a site. And always log off when you’re finished. That way, if your laptop gets stolen, it’s harder for the thief to access your personal information.

DISPOSING OF A COMPUTER
Before you dispose of a computer, delete personal information. Deleting files using the keyboard or mouse commands may not be enough because the files may stay on the computer’s hard drive, where they may be easily retrieved. Use a “wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive. It makes the files unrecoverable. For more information, see Clearing Information From Your Computer’s Hard Drive from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Look for website privacy policies. They answer questions about maintaining accuracy, access, security, and control of personal information collected by the site, as well as how information will be used, and whether it will be provided to third parties. If you don’t see a privacy policy, consider surfing elsewhere.

SOURCE: Federal Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm)

SOURCE: Internet Fraud Complaint Center

PREVENTING AUTO THEFT
• Take your keys. One out of every five vehicles stolen had the keys in it.
• Lock your car. Approximately half of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
• Never hide a second set of keys in your car. Extra keys can easily be found if a thief takes time to look.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Park in attended lots. Thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
• If you park in an attended lot, leave only the ignition/door key, not your entire set of keys.
• Never leave your car running, even if you'll only be gone for a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATM's, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up. Leaving your car unattended while running is also a crime in Ohio.
• Completely close car windows when parking.
• Don't leave valuables in plain sight in your car.
• Don't leave your car keys in plain sight in your home.
• Be very careful to whom you loan your car.
• Don't keep the original title or registration in your car. Make copies to keep in your car and keep the originals in a safe place at home.
• Invest in a car disabling device (e.g. The Club).

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority

When Shopping
· Keep gifts and valuables out of sight in your car. Lock your packages in the trunk.
· At night park in a well-lighted area, and remember where you’ve parked.
· Shop with a friend, especially at night. If you are alone try to walk near other people.
· Make sure your children know to go to a store employee or security officer if lost.
· Lock your doors immediately after entering your vehicle.
· Place wallets in your front pants pocket, instead of a back or jacket pocket.
· Have your keys ready to enter your vehicle when you approach it. Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.
· Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.

In The Mall
· Carry only receipts and small change in your purse.
· If you take a break in a restaurant or restroom, don't place your purse or packages on the floor.
· Never let your child use a public restroom alone; these are favorite places for kidnapers and people who like
harming children.
· Try to make your most expensive purchases last. This will reduce your exposure to costly losses.
· Never use a video arcade or toy store as a baby sitter. Predators are on the prowl for unattended children. Malls
and shopping centers are prime locations for abductions according to the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children (NCMEC).
· Avoid using bathrooms that are tucked away in a back area of a mall concourse or department. If you can, find a
bathroom near the mall's food court.

Credit Card Precautions
· Make sure your card is used only for one transaction, watch transactions carefully. Be aware of card skimming.
· Never give out information about your credit card to any phone solicitor.
· Immediately report the theft or loss of credit cards.
· Never give out your social security number to a phone solicitor or store clerk.
· Do not carry your social security card in your wallet or purse. Keep it at home in a secure location.
· Do not use your credit card to purchase items on the internet unless you initiated the contact and make sure the
site is secure and encrypted.
· Cancel all credit cards that you haven’t used in the last six months. Open credit accounts with a zero balance are
prime targets for identity theft.

When Driving Around Town
· Keep your vehicle doors locked at all times. Carjackers often target vehicles at stop signs and traffic lights.
· Drive in the center lane to make it harder for would-be carjackers to approach your vehicle.
· At intersections leave room between your vehicle and others for an escape.
· Don't stop to help someone with car trouble, use your cell phone to call police.
· Don't stop for flashing headlights. Police don’t use this method to stop vehicles.
· If your car breaks down, stay inside until police or a road service arrives.
· If someone motions that your car has a problem or your vehicle is "bumped," don't stop. Stay in your car, ensure
your doors are locked, and drive to a public place. Carjackers will sometimes use this method to get you out of
your vehicle. It’s called the “Bump and Rob”.
· Park in well lit areas where there is plenty of pedestrian traffic.
· Wait until you get to your vehicle before deactivating your alarm. Deactivating the alarm prior to arriving at your
vehicle; will give a criminal your intended destination.
· If you feel that you are being followed to your vehicle, re-enter the store and have security escort you to your
vehicle.
· When you arrive at your vehicle, look under and in the back seat of your car before entering.

At ATM Machines
· When possible, use ATMs during the day.
· Avoid using ATMs late at night, most ATM crimes occur after normal banking hours.
· If you need to use an ATM at night, use one inside a busy establishment.
· Before using an outside ATM, make sure no one is loitering in the area..."Be aware of your surroundings. "Use
only well lit, secure ATM locations.
· Make sure you block the view of others nearby when you enter your personal identification number (PIN).
· After the transaction be sure to remove your card from the ATM, take receipts with you, and quickly place your
card and money in your pocket.
· Do not count your money at the ATM. Criminals have been known to watch ATM transactions and size-up
potential victims.
· If you are followed after making an ATM transaction, go immediately to a heavily-populated, well-lighted area
and call the police.
· If you are attacked at an ATM don't resist. Cooperate and give up your money, then notify the police.

Traveling Out Of Town
· Leave a house key with a trusted neighbor.
· Make your home look occupied. Use timers on your lights, radios and TVs.
· Do not stop newspaper and mail delivery. Have a friend or trusted neighbor pick up your newspaper and mail
each day.
· Plan your route in advance and choose well-traveled roads.
· Tell someone where you are going, the route you are taking, and your expected times of departure and arrival.
· Become aware of the latest weather reports for your local area, the route you will be traveling, and your
destination.

In a Hotel or Motel
· Use all locking devices on your door.
· Don't answer a knock on the door (or open the door) without verifying who is there.
· Ensure all sliding glass doors, windows, and any connecting room doors are locked.
· Don't display room keys or swipe cards in public or leave them where someone can steal them.
· When returning to your room late at night, use the hotel main entrance.
· Report all suspicious activity to the hotel management.
· Don't draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.
· Place all valuables in a hotel/motel safe deposit box.