By Dale Gribow
There are many ways to get your money without taking it from you at gunpoint or breaking into your home while you are home.
Most burglars are not violent. They want the same things you have and they find safe ways to steal and then pawn your former property to get money for drugs or other necessities.
Thieves are creative as these scams suggest:
LONG-TERM PARKING SCAM
A thief breaks into a car left in an airport’s long-term parking and finds the car’s registration in the glove box. He then drives the car to the owner’s home uses the garage door opener to get in and robs it.
GPS
The same thing happens at a Dodger game or any other sports event with the same things stolen from the car including the garage door remote control, money and of course the GPS. The GPS leads them to the victim’s home where they use the remote to open the garage door. Knowing the owners are at a sporting event they feel comfortable taking their time to clean out the home and often bring a truck to steal everything.
Thus you should not put your home address in the GPS. Instead use a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.
CELL PHONES
After stealing a handbag the thief looks for the money and the cell where most of us list names and password. They then text “HUBBY”, with your phone, asking for Bank PIN number which allows the thief to clean out your bank account within minutes.
SAFETY LESSON
To be safe do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc.
It is very important when sensitive info is being asked for through texts, that you CONFIRM by calling back. Of course it is a good idea when texted by friends or family requesting to meet them somewhere that you be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don’t reach them, be very careful about going places to meet “family and friends” who text you.
PURSE IN THE GROCERY CART
A thief steals your wallet out of your purse in the shopping cart. The owner reports the theft to the store and upon returning home, receives a phone call from the Store Security saying they had your wallet and that although there was no money in it, it did still hold her personal papers. When the owner goes to pick up the wallet she is told by Security that they had not called her. Meanwhile the home had been broken into and burglarized. The thieves knew that by calling and saying they were Security, they could lure her out of her house long enough to burglarize it.
CALLER CONS
The caller claims to be an enforcement officer acting on behalf of the IRS, the Palm Springs Police or Riverside County Sheriff-sometimes the caller ID may even confirm the same. Note that the IRS does not call you, they send letters. If this happens to you, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 or forward their emails to phishing@IRS.gov<mailto:phishing@IRS.gov>.
The “City Official” or “Sheriff’s” Department may allege you missed Jury Duty and asks for money orders to correct this. They you call back with the information on the back of the suggested money order that you are requested to purchase, or ask you for a prepaid debit card. Don’t do it!
The caller may even threaten you with Arrest, Deportation or the Suspension of your Business License or Driver’s License. Hang up!
If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at 760 837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
DALE GRIBOW
“TOP LAWYER” – Palm Springs Life (DUI) 2011-2016
10.0 AVVO DUI Perfect Peer Rating
“Preeminent” – Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory
“Best Attorneys of America” Selected by “Rue” (Limited to Top 100/State)
