Central West EndNeighborhood Security Initiative

Public Security Forum

January 29, 2014

Ground Rules

• This meeting will only last 1 hour.• Cell Phones and other electronic devices on

silent.• Be mindful of our one hour time limit.• Be respectful of our guests.• Questions not comments.

Agenda

• Officer Recognition: Sgt. Jim Sanders and PO Dwaine Wallace.

• Guest Speakers: Major Ronnie Robinson, Commander, North Patrol Division.

• Captain John Hayden, Commander, District 5• Fraud Prevention Task Force, Circuit Attorney’s

Office alerts.• Closing remarks and reminders.

Major Ronnie Robinson, Commander, North Patrol Divisionand

Captain John HaydenCommander, District 5

“New” 5th District

• The Fifth District includes the neighborhoods of Academy, Central West End, DeBaliviere Place, Fountain Park, Hamilton Heights, Kingshighway West, Lewis Place, Skinker/DeBaliviere, The Ville, Vandeventer, Visitation Park, Wells/Goodfellow, West End and portions of the Greater Ville and Kingsway East.

Major Ronnie Robinson

• 24 year police veteran.• He served as the

Commander of the Second District and the Special Operations Unit.

• North Patrol Commander since January, 2013.

Captain John Hayden

• 26 year police veteran• Commander, District 8• Commander, Internal

Affairs• Executive Aid to the

Chief of Police

Utility Company Scam• Occurs most often in the winter and during peak air-conditioning

season. Scammers will contact customers and tell them their utility account is overdue.

• They then say that the utilities will be shut off unless the customer pays by credit or prepaid debit card immediately (Green Dot Card). This scam has been happening for years. However, in recent months, the callers are demanding payment for several past months, even if the account is up to date.

• These callers are convincing, even using “spoofing software” so that the customer’s caller ID reflects the number of their local utility. Your utility company will have sent at least one, and usually several, overdue notices before your service is cancelled.

• If you get a cancellation notice by telephone, hang up on that caller and contact the utility directly at the phone number listed on your bill.

Watch out for these Scams!

• The Pigeon drop• You won money• Craigslist• Grandparent Scam• Utility Scam

The Pigeon DropThere are various ways this scam works, but the following is a typical scenario. The conartists work in pairs and have thoroughly rehearsed their story in advance. Their con usually begins in a parking lot or shopping center. One befriends their victim, known as the "pigeon.” The second con artist approaches them with money or other valuables, claiming he just found the items. The two scammers convince the victim to split the money or goods three ways, but first the victim needs to put up a sum of “good faith” money which will be returned after the money or goods are divided. The victim is taken to his/her bank and withdraws the money. The group then meets at a designated location where the victim hands over his money and is then given his share in a wrapped package. The con artists quickly leave when the victim opens the package only to discover nothing of value is in it.

You Won Money ScamEmail said she was entitled to an award of $850,000 resulting from a settlement “due to corruptGovernment Officials” in Nigeria. Our citizen was to send a fee of $135 to claim her winnings, but first needed to email a specific person to get more details about where to wire transfer the fee. She was told to act quickly in order to avoid the normal fee of $420. The email’s first paragraph read,“Dear Beneficiary,Series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization. This ended 3 days ago. It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is to the tune of $850,000.00 due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.”

This is another example of the “International Lottery” scam. The email is a fake! The FBI posted a warning on their website in January 2008 to alert us of this and similar scams that claim to be from their agency.

Craigslist ScamThe internet can be a useful tool when trying to buy or sell things, but there are risks involved. Extreme caution should be used anytime you arrange to meet an unknown person for an exchange. Craigslist offers these tips on personal safety when meeting some for the first time:• Insist on meeting at a public place, like a restaurant, busy parking lot or street corner.• Do not meet in a secluded area or at your home. Do not give your home address.• Be especially cautious when selling or buying high value items.• Tell a friend or family member where you are going. Take someone with you.• Take your cell phone.• Trust your instincts. If the area does not look safe, leave.

Grandparent ScamFacebook /Phone call scam in which the victims received fraudulent messages from friends and relatives in need via the social networking site. Recently, a man reported his grandmother was defrauded out of $4,600 when she wired money to Mexico; falsely believing the funds would be used to bail her grandson out of jail.Also referred to as “Emergency Scams” and “Friends in Need Scams,” criminalspracticing these cons use the telephone or email to entice people into sending money— typically out of the country — to help relatives or friends who are in trouble. Victims of this scam receive an unexpected call or email from a loved one saying he orshe needs you to wire cash to help them out of a jam — without letting anyone elseknow. The call or e-mail will often say the money is needed to fi x a car, get out ofjail, or leave a foreign country. Unfortunately, this caller or e-mailer is likely to be a scammer using a relative’s name.

Utility Scam• In the most common utility con, which happens every winter and

during peak air-conditioning season, customers get phone calls warning that their service is about to be shut off because of unpaid bills.

• The callers claim to be billing representatives from your utility company. They tell you that to avoid an immediate shutoff, you need to settle an overdue bill by providing them with your credit card number or a prepaid debit card.

• They may use "spoofing" software that lets them falsely display the name and phone number of your utility company on your Caller ID. But you should know that most utilities will mail at least one, if not several, past-due notices before terminating service.

Crime Update

• Two armed robberies on Saturday, January 18th, 7pm and 7:30pm, Near Maryland and Taylor.

• Video and partial plate of suspect vehicle.• TCF, NSI and SLMPD detectives identify the

vehicle involved.• James M. Scott arrested on Tuesday, January

21st.

James M. Scott

• Warrants issued for (7) counts of Robbery 1st Degree, (8) counts ACA, (1) count Kidnapping.

• $500,000 CASH ONLY bond.

• Released from MoDOC on 12/06/13 after serving 19 years for Armed Robbery.

In closing…

• Like us on Facebook.• Web site www.cwensi.com• Don’t leave valuables in your car.• Call 9-1-1 to report a crime of suspicious

behavior. It benefits everyone.

Next Meeting

March 26, 20145:45pm

Schlafly Library