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’Tis the season to be wary
By Danny Smith
Like or not, it’s that time to hit the shops, fight the lines and engage in that all-American tradition of holiday gift-giving. Although the season can be joyous, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office warns that ‘tis the season for shoppers to be wary.
The melee to the mall can pump up incidents of crime.
“It puts a concentrated amount of individuals in the shopping malls for the specific purpose of purchasing gifts,” said chief of the Law Enforcement Bureau Joe Breister. “It becomes a target-rich environment.”
Rushed shoppers and busy stores make it easier for criminals to take advantage of the increase in transactions.
Breister said during economic downturns like we are currently seeing, the amount of parking lot attacks increase and shoppers should be mindful of their surroundings when entering and exiting stores.
Credit card fraud and identity theft also rise during the holidays because thieves know that credit card companies expect their customers’ balances to go up during this time of the year and take advantage of that, Briester said. Normally the companies will call if someone’s balance shoots up in a way that is inconsistent with their normal patterns but will not check as often during this time of the year.
The amount of transactions can make it easier for thieves to get someone’s credit card number and more counterfeit bills are passed because thieves take advantage of rushed cashiers, according to Breister.
Electronic and online scams also rise during this time of year and Briester said when making online transactions make sure the company is using a secure page.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has the following recommendations for having a safe holiday:
When shopping
Go with a friend.
Park in well lit areas.
If alone, don’t hesitate to ask a store employee to walk you to your vehicle.
Have your keys in your hand before you leave the store.
Be aware of who is around you.
Do not leave your personal items unattended.
Do not leave purchased items visible in your car, put them in the trunk or covered in the rear of an SUV or van.
Avoid Identity theft
When making purchases:
Monitor all of your bank accounts for unfamiliar/inaccurate transactions.
Review all credit card statements and compare them against your receipts for accuracy.
As often as possible it is recommended you use cash to make transactions to avoid these types of theft.
Retailers/ Employers
Be vigilant when screening new employees.
Watch new employee behavior when they have access to monetary transactions of any kind.
Have a process in place for inspecting cash to detect counterfeit bills.
Internet/E-mail Awareness
Be alert to scams where criminals are trying to obtain your personal information.
The melee to the mall can pump up incidents of crime.
“It puts a concentrated amount of individuals in the shopping malls for the specific purpose of purchasing gifts,” said chief of the Law Enforcement Bureau Joe Breister. “It becomes a target-rich environment.”
Rushed shoppers and busy stores make it easier for criminals to take advantage of the increase in transactions.
Breister said during economic downturns like we are currently seeing, the amount of parking lot attacks increase and shoppers should be mindful of their surroundings when entering and exiting stores.
Credit card fraud and identity theft also rise during the holidays because thieves know that credit card companies expect their customers’ balances to go up during this time of the year and take advantage of that, Briester said. Normally the companies will call if someone’s balance shoots up in a way that is inconsistent with their normal patterns but will not check as often during this time of the year.
The amount of transactions can make it easier for thieves to get someone’s credit card number and more counterfeit bills are passed because thieves take advantage of rushed cashiers, according to Breister.
Electronic and online scams also rise during this time of year and Briester said when making online transactions make sure the company is using a secure page.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has the following recommendations for having a safe holiday:
When shopping
Go with a friend.
Park in well lit areas.
If alone, don’t hesitate to ask a store employee to walk you to your vehicle.
Have your keys in your hand before you leave the store.
Be aware of who is around you.
Do not leave your personal items unattended.
Do not leave purchased items visible in your car, put them in the trunk or covered in the rear of an SUV or van.
Avoid Identity theft
When making purchases:
Monitor all of your bank accounts for unfamiliar/inaccurate transactions.
Review all credit card statements and compare them against your receipts for accuracy.
As often as possible it is recommended you use cash to make transactions to avoid these types of theft.
Retailers/ Employers
Be vigilant when screening new employees.
Watch new employee behavior when they have access to monetary transactions of any kind.
Have a process in place for inspecting cash to detect counterfeit bills.
Internet/E-mail Awareness
Be alert to scams where criminals are trying to obtain your personal information.
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