Crime Prevention

Senior citizens are often targeted by criminals because they are viewed as trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report crimes. Fraud schemes continue to evolve, using phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, and even in-person deception to steal money and personal information.

The good news is that awareness is one of the strongest tools for prevention.

Common Fraud Schemes Targeting Seniors

Scammers may pretend to be:

Government agencies such as the IRS or Social Security Utility companies Banks or credit card companies Tech support representatives Law enforcement officers Family members in distress

These callers often create urgency by claiming:

• Money is owed immediately
• Accounts will be frozen
• Utilities will be shut off
• A loved one has been arrested or injured

Remember:

• Legitimate agencies do not demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
• Law enforcement will never ask for payment to avoid arrest.
• Never give personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call.

A caller pretends to be a grandchild or relative needing emergency money for bail, medical treatment, or travel expenses. The scammer may already know family names gathered from social media.

Before sending money:

• Contact the family member directly
• Verify the story with another relative
• Be suspicious of requests for secrecy

Fraudulent emails and websites may:

• Ask you to “verify” passwords or banking information
• Claim you won a prize or lottery
• Offer fake investment opportunities
• Contain links that install harmful software

Safety tips:

• Do not click suspicious links
• Never provide passwords through email
• Use strong, unique passwords
• Keep antivirus software updated

Criminals build emotional relationships online through dating sites or social media before asking for money.

Warning signs include:

• Requests for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
• Excuses for never meeting in person
• Stories involving overseas travel, military deployment, or medical emergencies

Scammers may appear after storms or disasters offering quick repairs at discounted prices.

Protect yourself by:

• Getting written estimates
• Verifying licenses and insurance
• Never paying the full amount upfront
• Avoiding high-pressure sales tactics

• Slow down and verify information
• Never feel pressured to act immediately
• Discuss major financial decisions with trusted family members
• Monitor bank and credit card statements regularly
• Shred documents containing personal information
• Register phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry

• Stop communication immediately
• Contact your bank or credit card company
• Report the incident to the Pittsville Police Department
• Preserve emails, text messages, receipts, and phone numbers
• Warn family members and friends about the scam

Fraud crimes are often underreported because victims may feel embarrassed. Criminals rely on that silence. Reporting suspicious activity can help protect others in the community.

If you suspect fraud or believe you have been victimized, contact the Pittsville Police Department or your local law enforcement agency.

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information—such as your Social Security number, bank account, passwords, or medical information—without permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Here are the most common types and ways to protect yourself.

Criminals use your information to:

• Open credit cards or loans
• Access bank accounts
• Make unauthorized purchases
• File fraudulent insurance claims

Warning signs:

• Unfamiliar charges
• Bills for accounts you never opened
• Debt collection calls for unknown debts

Someone files a fake tax return using your Social Security number to claim a refund.

Warning signs:

• IRS rejects your tax return because one was already filed
• IRS notices about unknown income or accounts

A criminal uses your identity to get a job or pass background checks.

Warning signs:

• IRS notices about income from an unknown employer
• Problems with Social Security records

Someone uses your insurance or identity to obtain:

• Medical treatment
• Prescription drugs
• Health insurance benefits

Warning signs:

• Incorrect medical records
• Bills for treatments you never received
• Insurance benefit limits unexpectedly reached

A person gives your name or information when stopped or arrested by law enforcement.

Warning signs:

• Warrants or court notices unexpectedly appear
• Background check problems

A child’s Social Security number is used to open accounts or obtain services because it often goes unnoticed for years.

Warning signs:

• Credit reports exist for a minor
• Debt notices addressed to a child

Criminals combine real and fake information (for example, a real Social Security number with a fake name) to create a new identity.

Warning signs:

• Strange activity tied to your SSN
• Credit issues with unfamiliar names or addresses

Hackers gain access to existing accounts such as:

• Banking
• Email Shopping apps
• Social media

Warning signs:

• Password reset emails you didn’t request
• Locked accounts
• Unauthorized transactions

Someone impersonates you online to scam others or steal more information.

Warning signs:

• Fake profiles using your photos or name
• Friends receiving suspicious messages from “you”

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

• Create different passwords for every account
• Use long passphrases
• Consider a password manager

Examples of password managers include 1Password, Bitwarden, and Dashlane.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Use MFA whenever possible, especially for:

• Banking
• Email Shopping accounts
• Social media

Authentication apps like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator add extra security.

Monitor Financial Accounts

• Review bank and credit card statements regularly
• Set transaction alerts
• Watch for small “test” charges

Check Your Credit Reports

You can get free reports from:

AnnualCreditReport.com  (opens in a new tab)

Review reports for unfamiliar:

• Accounts
• Addresses
• Hard inquiries

Freeze Your Credit

A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without permission.

Major U.S. credit bureaus:

• Experian  (opens in a new tab)
• Equifax  (opens in a new tab)
• TransUnion  (opens in a new tab)

Be Careful With Phishing

Do not click suspicious:

• Emails
• Text messages
• Links Attachments

Scammers often pretend to be banks, delivery companies, or government agencies.

Protect Personal Documents

• Shred sensitive paperwork
• Store important documents securely
• Avoid carrying your Social Security card daily

Secure Your Devices

• Keep software updated
• Use antivirus protection
• Lock devices with PINs or biometrics
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions

Limit Information Sharing

Be cautious about posting:

• Birth dates
• Addresses
• Vacation plans
• Phone numbers

on social media

Immediately:

• Contact affected banks and credit card companies
• Change passwords
• Freeze your credit Report fraud to: IdentityTheft.gov  (opens in a new tab)
• File a police report if necessary

Continue Monitoring

• Review credit reports frequently
• Watch mail and account statements
• Keep records of all fraud-related communications

The strongest protection combines:

• Credit freezes
• MFA
• Password managers
• Frequent account monitoring
• Skepticism toward unsolicited messages

Most identity theft succeeds because attackers obtain reused passwords, stolen personal information, or access through phishing scams. Reducing those opportunities dramatically lowers your risk.

Credit card fraud against consumers has evolved from simple card theft into a wide range of digital and social-engineering attacks. Most fraud falls into a few major categories, each targeting weaknesses in payment systems, online behavior, or consumer trust.

This is now the most common type of consumer credit card fraud. It happens when someone uses stolen card information to make purchases online, over the phone, or through apps without physically possessing the card.

How it works

Fraudsters obtain:

• Card number
• Expiration date
• CVV/security code
• Sometimes billing ZIP code or account credentials

They then make unauthorized online purchases.

Common ways criminals get card data

• Data breaches at retailers or companies
• Phishing emails and fake websites
• Malware or spyware
• Account credential leaks
• Fake shopping sites

Why it’s common

Online purchases do not require the physical chip card, making stolen numbers highly valuable.

Warning signs

• Small “test” charges
• Unknown online merchants
• Purchase confirmations for items never ordered

In these scams, criminals trick consumers into voluntarily giving away sensitive information.

Typical methods

Fraudsters impersonate:

• Banks
• Credit card companies
• Government agencies
• Delivery services

They send:

• Emails
• Text messages (“smishing”)
• Phone calls (“vishing”)

Example

A consumer receives a text claiming:

“Your card has been locked. Verify your account immediately.”

The link leads to a fake login page that steals credentials.

Why it works

These attacks exploit urgency, fear, and trust.

Instead of stealing just the card number, criminals gain access to the entire online credit card account.

How attackers gain access

• Reused passwords from other breaches
• Credential stuffing attacks P
• Phishing
• Malware

What happens next

The criminal may:

• Change passwords or contact information
• Request replacement cards
• Redeem rewards points
• Add authorized users
• Make large purchases

Risk factor

Consumers who reuse passwords across websites are especially vulnerable.

These are physical theft techniques used at ATMs, gas pumps, or point-of-sale terminals.

Skimming

A device captures magnetic stripe information when the card is swiped.

Shimming

A thinner device intercepts data from EMV chip cards.

Common locations

• Gas stations
• ATMs
• Tourist areas
• Unattended payment terminals

Warning signs

• Loose card readers
• Unusual attachments
• Hidden cameras
• Keypads that feel thick or unstable

This is the traditional form of fraud involving physical theft of a card.

How it happens

• Wallet theft
• Mail theft
• Lost cards
• Pickpocketing

Modern trend

While chip technology reduced counterfeit fraud, thieves still use stolen cards for:

• Tap-to-pay purchases
• Small transactions under verification limits
• Quick retail spending before cards are frozen

Criminals use stolen personal information to open entirely new credit accounts in someone else’s name.

Information commonly stolen

• Social Security number
• Address
• Birth date
• Driver’s license information

Consequences

Victims may discover:

• Unknown accounts on credit reports
• Collection notices
• Damaged credit scores

Common data sources

• Massive corporate breaches
• Dark web marketplaces
• Mail theft

Fraudsters intercept credit cards before the consumer receives them.

Methods

• Mail theft
• Change-of-address scams
• ccessing apartment mailrooms

Why dangerous

The consumer may not realize the card was issued or delivered.

Tap-to-pay systems use Near Field Communication (NFC).

Reality vs myth

True wireless “drive-by theft” is relatively rare because:

• Transactions require close proximity
• Modern systems use encryption and tokenization

More common issue

Fraud often occurs after:

• Phones are stolen
• Mobile wallets are compromised
• Device passcodes are weak

This combines real and fake information to create a new identity.

Example

A criminal may combine:

• A real Social Security number
• Fake name
• Fake address
• Fake birth date

Why difficult to detect

The identity does not belong to a single real person, making detection harder for lenders.

Consumers may unknowingly:

• Sign up for hidden recurring charges
• Use fake merchant websites
• Fall for fraudulent “free trial” offers

Monitor accounts frequently

• Enable transaction alerts
• Review statements weekly

Use strong authentication

• Unique passwords
• Password manager
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Prefer secure payment methods

• Chip cards
• Mobile wallets with tokenization
• Virtual card numbers when available

Avoid risky behavior

• Don’t click suspicious links
• Don’t share codes or passwords
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for purchases

Freeze credit reports

Helps prevent fraudulent new accounts.

Act quickly if fraud occurs

Under U.S. law, consumer liability for unauthorized credit card charges is generally limited if reported promptly.

As consumers rely more on digital wallets and payment apps, attackers target:

• Phone account recovery systems
• SIM-swap attacks
• Weak device security

By overall frequency, current consumer fraud trends are generally:

1. Card-not-present (online) fraud
2. Phishing/social engineering
3. Account takeover fraud
4. Identity theft/new account fraud
5. Skimming/shimming
6. Lost or stolen card fraud

The growth of e-commerce and digital banking has shifted fraud away from physical counterfeit cards toward credential theft and psychological manipulation.

Criminals increasingly use AI to:

• Generate convincing phishing emails
• Clone voices
• Create fake customer service chats
• Automate fraud attempts

Protecting your home from crime is a combination of deterrence, awareness, and preparation. Most burglars and scammers look for easy opportunities, so visible security and consistent habits can significantly reduce risk.

• Install solid-core or metal exterior doors.
• Use deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
• Reinforce sliding doors and windows with security bars or pins.
• Keep garage doors closed and locked.

• Install motion-activated lighting around entrances and walkways.
• Trim shrubs and trees near windows and doors to remove hiding places.
• Keep valuables out of sight from windows.

• Consider alarm systems and smart security cameras.
• Video doorbells can help monitor visitors and package deliveries.
• Use timers or smart lights when away from home.

• Lock doors and windows even when home.
• Do not hide spare keys outside.
• Shred documents containing personal information.
• Avoid announcing vacations on social media until after returning.

• Track deliveries and bring packages inside quickly.
• Use secure delivery lockers when available.
• Ask trusted neighbors to collect packages if you are away.

• Secure Wi-Fi with strong pa sswords and WPA3/WPA2 encryption.
• Track deliveries and bring packages inside quickly.
• Use secure delivery lockers when available.
• Ask trusted neighbors to collect packages if you are away.
• Use unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
• Monitor bank and credit card statements regularly.
• Be cautious of phishing emails, texts, and phone scams.

• Get to know neighbors and report suspicious activity.
• Participate in or start a neighborhood watch program.
• Share emergency contact information with trusted neighbors

If you own valuables:

• Store jewelry, cash, and important documents in a safe.
• Keep an inventory with photos and serial numbers.
• Use safe-deposit boxes for irreplaceable items.

Children:

• Teach them not to open doors to strangers.
• Create family emergency plans and safe meeting points.

Seniors:

• Warn about phone scams, impersonation fraud, and fake contractors.
• Encourage verification before giving money or information.

Be alert for:

• Strangers repeatedly surveying homes.
• Unexpected “utility workers” without identification.
• Unsolicited repair offers demanding immediate payment.
• Missing mail or unfamiliar charges on accounts.

Keep:

• Emergency phone numbers accessible.
• Flashlights, batteries, and first-aid kits ready.
• Copies of important documents stored securely.