Scammers send fake text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information – things like your password, account number, or Social Security number. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers.

The scammers use a variety of ever-changing stories to try to rope you in. They may

• promise free prizes, gift cards or coupons
• offer you a low or no interest credit card
• promise to help you pay off your student loans

Scammers also send fake messages that say they have some information about your account or a transaction. The scammers may

• say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity on your account
• claim there’s a problem with your payment information
• send you a fake invoice and tell you to contact them if you didn’t authorize the purchase
• send you a fake package delivery notification

The messages might ask you to give some personal information — like how much money you make, how much you owe, or your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number — to claim your gift or pursue the offer. Or they may tell you to click on a link to learn more about the issue. Some links may take you to a spoofed website that looks real but isn’t. If you log in, the scammers can then steal your user name and password.

Other messages may install harmful malware on your phone that steals your personal information without you realizing it.

What to Do About Spam Text Messages

If you get a text message that you weren’t expecting and it asks you to give some personal information, don’t click on any links. Legitimate companies won’t ask for information about your account by text.

If you think the message might be real, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. Not the information in the text message.

There are many ways you can filter unwanted text messages or stop them before they reach you.

How to Report Spam Text Messages

If you get an unwanted text message, there are three ways to report it:

• Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
  • How to report spam or junk in the Messages app
  • How to report spam on an Android phone
• Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

<p>The post SPAM TEXT MESSAGES AND PHISHING first appeared on WCPPA - Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association.</p>

.The Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association is hosting an important one day Media Training and education program on Friday, September 14, 2018. We have invited award winning and nationally recognized Media Trainer Joe LaBarbera to lead this important seminar.

To learn more, check https://www.wicrimeprevention.com/?p=2285

Further, we discuss the WCPPA Symposium in Sturgeon Bay (Door County), Wisconsin in October. We run through the agenda and highlight the fantastic speakers there!

To learn more, check https://www.wicrimeprevention.com/?page_id=30

<p>The post WCPPA Trainings on “Police on the Scene with a Crime Prevention Lean” first appeared on WCPPA - Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association.</p>

2025 WCPPA Agenda

…and just so you have it, here’s the form to sign up:  2025 registration form

• We have some great speakers for this year’s conference!

…not to mention networking events and more!

Get your spot now! We can’t guarantee a spot for everyone…limited space is available.

Remember to sign up with this form: 2025 registration form

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Book your group rate for WI Crime Prevention Practitioners

<p>The post 2025 WCPPA Conference Agenda first appeared on WCPPA - Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association.</p>

To see video, click link above.

MILWAUKEE — Buying and selling items online is a fast-growing trend. But the risk of being ripped off was high — until now.

From Greenfield to Glendale, Waukesha and many other cities in between — police are watching.

Several law enforcement agencies have created so-called “internet purchase exchange locations” — under video surveillance.

“You’re at a police department and your chances of getting help quick if something went wrong is immediate,” said Joel Dhein, Glendale Police Department and WCPPA president.

Police say more people are now meeting up with strangers to conduct transactions after connecting on sites like Craigslist. When you are conversing on the phone, oftentimes the deal seems like it is going to be on the up and up. But when you finally go to meet in person, that is when things can get shady.

Jacob May

Unfortunately, Jacob May was scammed. May was attempting to sell some pink rims online. He met up with a buyer at a Watertown gas station.

“They were nicely dressed. They were clean-cut, clean-shaven and wearing nice clothes and drove a nice car,” May said.

But their actions proved untrustworthy.

“They looked over the rims I had for sale and said, ‘yeah, we want to buy them.’ They handed me the money, I counted it and didn’t think anything about it,” May said.

It wasn’t until later that May realized he was given funny money.

Counterfeit $100 bill

“When I got home, I had another actual real $100 that was in my dresser drawer. I went to stick the rest of the money with it and it just looked different. It didn’t have the same coloring,” May said.

It was a costly exchange with no recourse. May was never able to get hold of the suspects again. He wishes he would have went to a site on law enforcement property where there is video surveillance.

Capt. Dan Bauman

“We upgraded our surveillance system at the police department to be able to view our whole parking lot,” said Capt. Dan Bauman with the Waukesha Police Department.

Bauman said the Waukesha Police Department has been offering the online exchange site for about four years.

“I think this is something every municipality should be able to provide on some level,” Bauman said. “We do see, unfortunately, an increase in crime and fraud or counterfeiting when these are held not in public places.”

Joel Dhein is also the president of the Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association. He wants to help spread the word — and help agencies statewide jump on board.

“Overall in general, it’s a win-win,” Dhein said.

Jim Luty

“I’m hoping we can become the conduit for it. We can provide the signage for departments who want to put something in the lot, provide education tools they can give to the public,” said Jim Luty, a former auxiliary officer who has also worked with law enforcement agencies for mobile forensics.

Luty has worked on many cases where transactions went awry. He is now partnering with Dhein to present the idea at the next WCPPA meeting in May. As the pair works to figure out logistics, they are confident more agencies will join the effort.

For those who travel to exchange sites, Luty is in the process of producing more tools to help you on the go.

“Even as far as creating a Facebook account where people can go look or order something available in their community. These departments can list themselves. Even coming up with an app,” Luty said.

Until the statewide list is up and running, you can always check with your local jurisdictions. Many agencies already allow transactions to happen in their parking lots or lobbies.

<p>The post Sign of the times: Police departments offer sense of security with internet exchange sites first appeared on WCPPA - Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association.</p>

<p>The post Someone in your community is probably receiving this call right now. Don’t be a victim! first appeared on WCPPA - Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association.</p>