Police warn holiday shoppers to stay vigilant

(CNS): The RCIPS Financial Crimes Unit is warning holiday shoppers to be careful of card skimming and internet scams, especially when purchasing goods online. With an increase in wire transfers resulting from scams, police are urging people to be distrust banking instructions received over email purporting to be from genuine banks, treat any communications carefully and call the bank to verify the instructions received.

“Phishing emails have evolved and become more sophisticated, and can now include emails from the personal email address of a friend or acquaintance if their email has been compromised,” the financial cops warned, urging people to avoid sending personal financial or other information by email in all instances.

Card skimming is also more frequent at this time of year and can happen on the high street at ATMs or in stores. Skimming is when thieves fraudulently gather card and PIN data through devices designed to look like a genuine ATM interfaces and affixed to the surface of ATM terminals.

“Devices used in this fraudulent activity are now quite sophisticated and appear legitimate to the untrained eye,” police said. “If there is something suspicious or unusual about the ATM you are using, do not use it and call your bank.  Similarly, if for any reason your card has trouble being inserted or read by the machine, don’t continue inserting it into the machine.  Notify your bank.”

Other tips to avoid email scams:

• Do not click on links within emails that ask for personal or financial information. Hackers can retrieve information from your computer in various ways, including accessing stored information and monitoring keystrokes.
• If you receive any emails from senders whom you don’t know, do not open them, but delete them.
• You may receive an email message informing you that you have won the lottery. If you get a message informing you that you have won a contest you did not enter, the message is a scam.

Anyone aware of the activities described above as of late should notify the Financial Crimes Unit at 949-8797 or RCIPS.FCU@rcips.ky