Menomonee Falls "Neighborhood Watch" | "Crime Prevention"

Business / Crime Alert

Menomonee Falls Crime Alert

Sometime during the night of Tuesday, March 2^nd, 6:30 pm, and Wednesday, March 3^rd, 8:30am, unknown subjects used force to enter two businesses in the W16400 block of Main St. At this point, it is unknown if this was a one time incident, or if the unknown subjects may commit other burglaries in the uptown business area. Thus, we request you be more watchful.

Do not be hesitant to call the police on any suspicious vehicles/subjects or incidents. If you have any information or questions, please call the police department at 262-532-8700 and ask to speak to Detective Torn. Please refer to case number 10-000475.

IRS Scam Alert!

Internal Revenue Service Scam Alert!

With income tax filing time upon us, the Internal Revenue Service has issued the follow Scam Alerts: THE I.R.S. DOES NOT INITIATE CONTACT WITH TAXPAYERS THROUGH E-MAIL!

A scheme in which a tax refund form is e-mailed, supposedly by the Taxpayer Advocate Service(a genuine and independent organization within the IRS which assists taxpayers with unresolved problems), is particularly blatant in the amount and type of information it requests. The top of the form tells the recipient that they are eligible for a tax refund for a specified amount. The form asks for name, address, and phone number and a substantial amount of financial information, such a bank account number, credit card number and expiration date, ATM PIN number and more. It also asks for mother’s maiden name (frequently used by many people as an account security password). At the bottom is a phony name and signature, claiming to be that of the Taxpayer Advocate. The implication is that the taxpayer must fill in and submit the form to receive a tax refund. In reality, taxpayers claim their tax refunds through filing of an annual tax return, not a separate application form.

A new e-mail scam claims to come from the IRS and the US Government for charitable contributions to victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. A link in the e-mail, when clicked, sends the e-mail recipients to a Web site that looks like the Official IRS Web site, but isn’t. They are then directed to click on a link that opens a donation form that asks for personal and financial information. The scammers can use that information to gain access to the e-mail recipients’ financial accounts. The IRS does not send e-mails to taxpayers soliciting contributions to a charitable cause.

In another recent scam, consumers receive a “Tax Avoidance Investigation” e-mail claiming to come from the IRS “Fraud Department” in which the recipient is asked to complete an “investigation form,” for which there is a link contained in the e-mail, because of suspected fraud that the recipient may have committed. Delete this, and any other e-mails that appear to have come from the IRS. The Internal Revenue Service does not initiate contact with taxpayer through e-mail!

The Internal Revenue Service does not initiate contact with taxpayer through e-mail!

Suspicious Activity

The following suspicious activity took place on 01/25/2010 at about 4:30 p.m. at CarQuest, N86 W16300 Appleton Ave.

A single male black entered the store and asked questions about buying a tail lamp. He appeared to be distracted while speaking with the employee, as though he was not listening to the employee’s recommendation and advice.

At one point, he made some sort of signal with his hand above his head, at which time a second M/B entered the store and asked to use the bathroom. From the bathroom, the second M/B would have been able to see behind the counters (at the safe, registers, etc.).

An employee looked out the window and observed a third M/B standing in the parking lot looking around.

Once the second M/B exited the bathroom, he was observed looking at the registers and safe. The first M/B then said that he needed to go get change and to forget about the tail lamp.

All then left the area in a dark blue Volkswagen Jetta, unknown license plate number. Employees observed that all tail lamps were functioning on the car.

Suspect Descriptions: 1st to enter store – 600/185, “round head”, dark coat and knit hat, possibly bald, approximately 30 years, 2nd to enter store – 510/160, “baby faced”, 18-19 years old, large puffy jacket (dark colored), 3rd (did not enter store) – Blue jacket, back trim near pockets.

If you experience similar activity, contact MFPD as soon as it safe to do so. Please try to obtain license plate number and vehicle description, if possible.

Christmas Parade - Sunday November 29, 2009

Come and join Menomonee Falls Neighborhood Watch in this year’s Christmas Parade on Sunday, November 29th.

We are group number 604 and will be meeting beforehand on Harrison Ave. south of Main St. in the parade staging area.

Please arrive before 4:00 PM, as the parade begins at 4:30 PM. No need to bring anything but yourselves and anyone that wants to join us!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and hope to see you on Sunday!

Your Menomonee Falls Neighborhood Watch Board of Directors

Phising Text Messages

Text messages are being received by customers and non-customers advising them that their debit card with Citizens Bank of Mukwonago has been suspended due to fraud. They are asked to call 1-800-821-4255 to reactivate their cards. If they do, they are prompted to enter their card number and other information which would allow the scammers access to their accounts. These messages are NOT being originated by Citizens Bank of Mukwonago.

Caution: Scammers may possibly use names of other financial institutions. Always contact your financial institution directly by using their listed phone numbers or in-person if you have any questions.

Armed Robberies

ARMED ROBBERIES – MENOMONEE FALLS

Menomonee Falls has experienced two armed robberies within the past week. The first occurred on Tuesday, November 10th at around 7:56 PM at Papa Murphy’s Pizza located at W156 N5522 Pilgrim Road. The second occurred on Sunday, November 16th at around 7:53 PM at the Cousin’s north store.

It appears that the same suspects are responsible for both:

SUSPECT #1: Male, black, late teens to early 20’s, 5’ 6” to 5’ 8”, 160 lbs., black hair with corn rows Suspect was wearing a collared thin black down winter coat that had a black criss/cross pattern, dark faded jeans, black ski cap, and using a black material to mask his face.

SUSPECT #2: Male, black, late teens to early 20’s, 5’ 6” to 5’ 8”, 160 lbs., with light skin tone. Suspect was wearing a shiny smooth nylon coat with hood, baggy faded black jeans, and tan Timberland style boots. Possible name on “Kwan.”

In both incidents a witness made mention of the suspect(s) possibly pulling their shirts up over their face to mask it. In both robberies a black semi auto handgun was displayed and pointed at the victims. Also, the suspect with the gun makes a point of working the slide action of the gun to possibly chamber a round. In both incidents the suspects flee via the back door of the business. No vehicle has been seen in either robbery.

If you are approached by someone who is armed, please cooperate with their robbery demands. Try to obtain a good physical description, clothing, and any vehicle, along with the last known direction of travel. Call 911 immediately.

If you have any information about these robberies, please call the Menomonee Falls Police at 262-532-1700

Criminal Damage to Property

The Menomonee Falls Police Department is actively investigating over 30 incidences of Criminal Damage to Property that occurred sometime between 5:00 PM on Friday, October 23rd and 5:00 AM on Saturday, October 24th. Thousands of dollars in damage was done to residential lawns by someone driving over them. The suspect(s) were possibly operating a small SUV type vehicle or a pickup truck. Germantown experienced a large number of similar incidences during the same time frame. Homes on the following streets were targeted: St. Thomas Drive, Prudence Drive, Joper Road, Terriwood Drive, Longwood Street, Stonewood drive, Pinewood Circle, Tamarack Trail, Hiddenmeadow Drive, Paseo Lane, Grand Avenue, and Cumberland Road.

If anyone has any information that would be helpful in this investigation, please call the Police Department at 262-532-1700 or Waukesha County CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-888-441-5505. Case number is 09-2484.

Bank, Credit Union customers targeted in Phone Scam

Bank, credit union customers targeted in phone scam

By Paul Gores of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Oct. 28, 2009

Customers of several banks and at least one credit union in southeastern Wisconsin are being targeted by "vishing" thieves - callers who try to trick people into giving them confidential financial information over the telephone.

Citizens Bank of Mukwonago, Park Bank in Milwaukee, Burlington's First Banking Center, Maritime Savings Bank and Educators Credit Union are among area financial institutions that have reported such calls since Saturday, said Debby Bartolerio, security officer for Citizens Bank of Mukwonago. The calls are catching people off guard because they are coming on their cell phones, she said.

The automated caller leaves a message on phones in the 414 and 262 area codes claiming to be from a financial institution's security department and warning that the customer's debit card has been compromised. It then prompts customers to reveal their account information.

"They are continuing," Bartolerio said Wednesday. "I had a customer call me this morning saying she received one last night at 10:30."

Bartolerio said she was unaware so far of anyone's information being used by the scammers for fraudulent activity.

"One of our customers did follow the initial instruction and press 1 and enter her debit card number. She was then asked to confirm it and starting thinking better of it and hung up and then immediately called and closed her card. So we haven't suffered any losses that we're aware of at this time, although I'm not sure we would know yet," Bartolerio said.

The vishing scam is similar to Internet "phishing" attacks in which thieves send out authentic-looking e-mails telling people there's been a problem with a financial account and that they should submit confidential information online to help resolve it. The "v" in vishing stands for the word voice.

The data then is used by scammers to tap bank accounts or make online purchases. The technology-savvy thieves mask their identities and are very difficult for authorities to catch.

Bartolerio said that in the current scam, caller ID typically shows the call coming from an "unknown" number.

"The information that I'm receiving is that it's an auto-dialer - that it's an automated voice that says your debit card or your credit union debit card has been suspended due to fraudulent activity, press 1 to reactivate your account," Bartolerio said.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association said no bank, credit union or legitimate business would call and request that a customer verify personal information such as PINs, account and card numbers or Social Security numbers over the phone. The bankers group said people can protect themselves when they get such calls by not responding immediately, and thinking first about why the bank would need information it already has.

Customers targeted by such scams should call the financial institution at the number listed in the phone book or on their monthly statement - not at a number provided by a caller.

"Most people have just hung up, although if they thought it was a legitimate call, I'm not sure they'd be reporting it to us yet," Bartolerio said. "Which is why I think it's important it gets out in the media - so they do call us."

The fraudulent calls can sound convincing and prey on people's tendency to act quickly to help resolve the issue. Two years ago over Thanksgiving weekend, a vishing campaign eventually traced to thieves in Spain placed about 40,000 calls in Manitowoc County and persuaded some customers of Manitowoc-based Bank First National to give up private data that allowed their accounts to be tapped.

Blocking vishing

No bank, credit union or legitimate business would call and request that a customer verify personal information such as PINs, account and card numbers or Social Security numbers over the phone.

People can protect themselves when they get such calls by not responding immediately.

Customers should call the financial institution at the number listed in the phone book or on their monthly statement - not at a number provided by a caller.

Source: Wisconsin Bankers Association

AN URGENT CALL FOR YOUR OLD CELL PHONES

Menomonee Falls Neighborhood Watch (MFNW) has teamed up with the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Association of Triads and the 911 Cell Phone Bank to help provide that critical link between law enforcement and someone in trouble. MFNW will collect used phones, no matter what condition they are in, and send them to the 911 Cell Phone Bank. In return, MFNW receives free, clean, working emergency cell phones that include an extra battery and charger. The refurbished phones will then be distributed, free of charge, to seniors and victims of abuse in our community. Your old cell phones can be dropped off at the Menomonee Falls Police Department Business Office, W156 N8480 Pilgrim Rd., Monday – Wednesday (8:00 am to 6:30 pm) and Thursday and Friday (8:00 am to 4:30 pm). Please visit www.911cellphonebank.org for more information.

Thank you!
Jim Kirchberger

Census Cautions

2010 Census Cautions

by Susan Johnson - August 3, 2009 12:07 pm

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data. The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.