October is Crime Prevention Month and a time to Celebrate Safe Communities!

Once again, NSA is supporting the National Crime Prevention Council and the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the U.S. Department of Justice, to encourage and promote communities across the country to take part in an activity or several events to help encourage crime prevention, recognize what communities are doing right, and get safety messages out to the community. Each week has a theme to help agencies plan events. The themes are Home Safety; Crime Reporting and Community Engagement; School and Campus Safety; and Drug Abuse Prevention. NSA encourages you to create an event and to register at www.celebratesafecommunities.org!

New Identity Theft Resource Available

Today Consumer Federation of America launched a new website, www.IDTheftInfo.org. It's an easy-to-use gateway to the best resources about identity theft from CFA and other reputable sources (including many resources from nonprofit and government members of this group). The website features CFA's Best Practices for Identity Theft Services and tips for consumers about how to protect their personal information and what to look for, and what to look out for, in shopping for id theft services. It also provides information about what consumers should do if they become id theft victims and quizzes that consumers can take to test their id theft savvy. In addition there is information for businesses about how to keep customer and employee data secure. CFA will update the "Latest News" section of the site frequently and add more resources as they become available. We welcome suggestions for new articles. Please link to the website and spread the word!

 Identity Theft Victim Assistance Network Coalitions Project is a cooperative agreement by OVC to the Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc., to help OVC create or support regional or statewide coalitions to assist victims of identity theft. OVC encourages crime victim advocates to learn more about identity theft by getting connected to 1 of the 10 newly launched coalitions across the country. To learn more about coalitions forming in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, or Wisconsin, visit the project's Web site. Contact and join a coalition in your area!

 Guide to Assisting Identity Theft Victims was developed by the Federal Trade Commission to help pro bono attorneys and victim service providers chart their way through and resolve legal problems that clients may have following the theft of their identity. This comprehensive guide is full of checklists and links to applicable laws and sample letters for victims who need to contact credit bureaus and creditors. It's a "must-have" for any victim service provider. Add it to your resource library today.

National Service Agency Announces 2012 AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has released three funding notices for its 2012 AmeriCorps grant competition.   The grant competition carries out the goals of the bipartisan 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and the agency's 2011-2015 Strategic Plan to achieve greater impact by targeting resources on a core set of challenges and using performance measures to assess and demonstrate impact. 

Applications are due January 18, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

To learn more about each funding opportunity and to download an application, please go to http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp

VETERANS PROMOTION

To recognize and thank veterans for their dedication and commitment to service, the AARP Driver Safety Program (DSP) is proud to offer a FREE classroom course to ALL veterans, regardless of age, from November 1 through November 30, 2011.  

Who is eligible to receive the free AARP Driver Safety Program classroom course?

Any military personnel-active duty, retired, guard, or reserve-are eligible to receive a free DSP classroom course during the month of November (November 1-November 30, 2011). Veterans include those individuals who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard/Reserves, or Coast Guard.  

Are spouses, widows and widowers of military veterans eligible to receive a free classroom course?

Spouses (including widows and widowers) are eligible to take the classroom course, free of charge, so long as they present a valid military spouse/widower identification, such as a dependent ID card (DD Form 1172), or a membership card to organizations such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Prospective participants should be considered on a case-by-case basis, based on the Instructor's discretion.  

I'm a veteran and I've taken the DSP course before. Can I still take the course for free in November, even though I'm not a first-time participant?

Yes. Any veteran may take any version of the DSP classroom course for free in November. This includes the four-hour, four-hour refresher, six-hour, or eight-hour classroom course.

Is the promotion valid for the Online Course?

No; the Veterans Promotion is only valid for the classroom course. There are no exceptions to this rule.  

I'm a veteran. How do I receive the free classroom course?

Instructors and host organizations of the DSP course should accept any individual who presents a valid form of military identification. The types of military IDs vary, but examples include: Military ID, discharge papers (DD Form 214), American Legion card, dependent ID card, or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) card. Prospective participants will be considered on a case-by-case basis, based on the Instructor's discretion. All participating veterans must complete a Veteran Participant Form, to be provided by the Instructor during the course. All registrations for any given course should be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.  

How do I register for a course?

You may register for a course by visiting DSP's Online Course Locator at: www.aarp.org/findacourse.  

Note: In order to receive the free course, the entirety of the course must take place during the month of November. Two-day courses that start in October and finish in November, or start in November and finish in December, do not qualify for this promotion.

A JOLT from the Blue: Jamaican Fraudsters Using Telemarketing to Target U.S. Consumers

Fraudulent telemarketers based in Jamaica are calling people in the U.S., telling them that they've won a sweepstakes or foreign lottery. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Jamaican Constabulary Force say most of these promotions are likely to be phony - a trick to get you to part with some money - and they are working together to stop them.

The fraudulent telemarketers typically identify themselves as lawyers, customs officials or lottery representatives, and tell people they've won vacations, cars or thousands - even millions - of dollars. "Winners" need only pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties or taxes before they can claim their prizes.

Cross-Border Phone Fraud

It's no wonder fraudulent telemarketers often target citizens across national borders. Some believe they won't get caught if they target citizens in another country. They assume that their country's law enforcement officials aren't interested in building a case when the victims are in another country. They also believe that officials in the victims' country won't have the authority to investigate fraud calls from outside their borders. But U.S. authorities say these assumptions are dead wrong.

Partnerships among law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Jamaica are making it tougher for cross-border scam artists to ply their deceitful tricks. The organizations are cooperating in an initiative called Project JOLT (Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing), sharing information, investigators, and other resources; gathering consumer complaint information; and contributing to the legwork involved in building a case, including surveillance and interviewing victims. As a result, fraudulent telemarketing operations in Jamaica are being exposed and shut down.

People who report complaints about cross-border telemarketing fraud are providing information that is critical to putting these boiler rooms out of business. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. If you experience telemarketing fraud of any type, report it to the FTC. Visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

Recognize and Report Phone Fraud

More than ever, telephone hucksters are preying on consumers' financial vulnerabilities and economic uncertainty. Here's how you can recognize phony prize promotions and foreign lotteries:

Phony Prize Promotions and Sweepstakes Schemes

Fraudulent telemarketers often "guarantee" that you've won valuable prizes, like vacations, cars or large sums of cash. But they want you to pay "fees" for shipping, taxes, customs or other supposed expenses. If someone asks you to pay to claim a "prize" or "free" gift, it's a trick. You may get a cheap gift that is worth far less than the "fees" you paid, or you may not get anything at all.

If you get a call from out of the blue telling you that "you're a winner":

• don't pay any money to collect supposed sweepstakes winnings. If you have to pay to collect your winnings, you're not winning - you're buying. Legitimate sweepstakes don't require you to pay "insurance," "taxes" or "shipping and handling charges" to collect your prize.
• hold on to your money. Scammers pressure people to wire money through commercial money transfer companies because wiring money is the same as sending cash. When the money's gone, there's very little chance of recovery. Likewise, resist any push to send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier. Con artists recommend these services so they can get their hands on your money before you realize you've been cheated.
• remember that phone numbers can deceive. Internet technology allows con artists to disguise their area code so it looks like they're calling from your local area. But they could be calling from anywhere in the world.
• Foreign Lottery Scams
• If you get a call offering you the chance to play a foreign lottery or telling you that you've won a foreign lottery, odds are good it's a scam. First, it's against federal law to play a foreign lottery. Second, most scam operators don't buy the promised lottery tickets. Third, other scam artists buy the tickets, but keep the "winnings" for themselves. Finally, lottery hustlers use their victims' bank account numbers to withdraw money without authorization or their credit card numbers to run up charges.
• If you're solicited to participate in a foreign lottery, say no. Instead, remember:
• playing a foreign lottery - on the telephone or through the mail - is a violation of federal law.
• buying even one foreign lottery ticket puts your name on "sucker lists" that fraudulent telemarketers buy and sell to each other. You will get many more bogus offers for lotteries or investment "opportunities."
• keeping your credit card and bank account numbers to yourself is your best course of action. Scam artists often ask for this information during an unsolicited sales pitch, and then use it to commit other frauds against you.
• if you get what looks like lottery material from a foreign country, give it to your local postmaster.

To learn more about cross-border fraud, visit www.ftc.gov/crossborder .

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.   

Free Vehicle Safety Checks scheduled

Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister, in conjunction with Sauk County police chiefs and the Sauk County TRIAD Program, recently announced the 11th annual Vehicle Safety Check occurring throughout Sauk County.

TRIAD is a cooperative effort between seniors, police departments and the sheriff's department to work together to reduce victimization of senior citizens.

Sauk County TRIAD has teamed up with sponsors including Glacier Valley Ford-Mercury in Baraboo, Hartje Farm, Home & Tire in LaValle, Hovland's BP-Amoco in Lake Delton, Ballweg Ford in Sauk City, Fedderly's in Reedsburg and George's Auto Body in Spring Green, to conduct free winterization checks for senior citizens. These businesses have volunteered their services and expertise in checking vehicles to make sure they are properly prepared for winter driving.

Service includes the checking of fluids, hoses, belts, lights and equipment on their vehicles. No appointments are necessary, and refreshments will be provided.

Locations and dates are:

Baraboo: 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 30, Sauk County Law Enforcement Center (with Glacier Valley Ford-Mercury).

Spring Green: 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 7, Spring Green Township Hall (with George's Auto Body).

Sauk City: 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 14, Ballweg Ford (837 Phillips Blvd.).

Reedsburg: 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 21, Fedderly Chrysler Dodge Jeep Inc. (2500 E. Main St.).

LaValle: 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 28, Hartje Farm, Home & Tire Center (state Highway 33, just north of LaValle).

Lake Delton: 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 4, Lake Delton Fire Department (with Hovland's).

If you have any questions, contact Meister or Deputy Shelly Backeberg of the Sauk County Sheriff's Department at 355-3212; Officer Peggy Porter of the Reedsburg Police Department at 524-2376; or Al Zipsie of AARP at 356-3785.

Senior Driver Safety Program Planned for October in Geneva

Seniors who attend will learn about age-related changes that may impact driving ability and other topics in the session at Delnor Hospital's 351 Building.  

Central Kane County TRIAD will sponsor a Driver Safety for Seniors program at 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 26 at Delnor Hospital's Building 351, 300 Randall Rd. in Geneva.

Seniors who attend will learn about age-related changes that may impact driving ability, state requirements for driving and safe driving for seniors, including when they should retire from operating motor vehicles.

Seniors who wish to attend are required to register by Oct. 21 by calling the Geneva Senior Center at 630-232-3602. Free coffee and doughnuts will be served before the program and a free lunch will be provided afterward.

Central Kane County TRIAD includes the Kane County Sheriff's Department, local Kane County police departments and Senior Services Associates.

Fall programs focus on crime prevention, safety for all ages

Members of the Chesterfield County Police Department will be on hand at Chesterfield Towne Center's third annual Fall Family Safety Fair on Saturday, Sept. 24.  

The event will take place in the parking area in front of the food court at Chesterfield Towne Center, 11500 Midlothian Turnpike, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chesterfield police will display law enforcement equipment and McGruff the Crime Dog will make an appearance. Chesterfield County Fire and EMS will display an array of trucks and gear, and the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office will display equipment and share information about child safety identification kits.  

Chesterfield police, in partnership with SAFE, Chesterfield's substance abuse prevention coalition, will also help residents safely dispose of expired and unneeded medications at this event. During the safety fair, residents can turn in unused or expired prescription, over-the-counter and veterinary medications. Residents should leave medications in their original containers.   

Also, the Chesterfield County Police Department, in partnership with area law enforcement agencies, the Central Virginia Crime Prevention Association and Shred-it, will offer residents a chance to securely dispose of personal documents.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents can bring personal documents to L.C. Bird High School, 10301 Courthouse Road, to be shred for free. Residents can bring up to two boxes measuring 10 inches by 13 inches by 18 inches or three paper grocery bags of documents.  

Henrico, Prince George County and Richmond police and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office will also host free shredding events next month. For more information about the Oct. 1 event, call (804) 501-4838.

TRIAD Training for Older Adults: Senior Fraud Prevention,  will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m., Midlothian YMCA, 737 Coalfield Rd., Midlothian.   

This free training will teach participants how to identify and avoid common scams targeting seniors. Topics will include an overview of the Better Business Bureau, its Senior Fraud Program, and other services it offers to the public.  Learn to identity theft and scams targeting older adults, including home-improvement, charitable-solicitations and home-repair scams.

The program will be presented by Better Business Bureau's Senior Fraud Program manager, Jack Saunders and Education and Special Projects manager, Jen Durham. The Chesterfield TRIAD will be sponsoring the event.

Chesterfield County Police Department

Southern States Crime Prevention Conference Announces First Ever Community Track

The Florida Crime Prevention Association is excited to announce their 2011 state crime prevention conference; Southern States Crime Prevention Conference. The Conference will be held October 17th  - 21st at the Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hilton.  For the first time ever, the FCPA is inviting members of the community to join the Conference in their own educational track. This three-day community track, running October 19th - 21st, will highlight several important and current trends that are essential for business owners, community association presidents, neighborhood watch participants, police volunteers, condominium boards, community and school leaders.

This community conference track will provide tips on how law enforcement and members of your community can work together to help fight crime and how to understand what tools are at your disposal to help safeguard your community.

There are a limited amount of spaces available for citizens interested in attending the community section of the conference. Attendance will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. There are two ways to register for this education:

1. On the Web

www.conference.FloridaCrimePrevention.org

2. Fax Registration to:

772 220-7159

Attn: Laura Passanesi

The cost to attend the conference is only $30 which includes the Thursday Night Awards Dinner (NOTE:attendee is responsible for hotel accommodations which can be booked through the website and will be available at the discounted conference rate.)

Join us October 19 - 21, 2011 at the Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hilton for the best educational seminar in the state for members of the community!For further information, please call FCPA Region 6 Board Representative Nell Hays at 402-7369.