CCPD Offers Tips to Prevent Identity Theft during Income Tax Season Public Safety Report

As taxpayers are rushing to file their tax returns before the deadline, they should be aware of the potential for scams to take place. Co-op City Department of Public Safety (CCPD) offers useful precautions residents should take to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Unscrupulous criminals have even found a way to use Americans’ eagerness to receive their tax refund as a means to attempt identity theft. The following information will help prevent you from becoming the victim of identity theft in all situations.

Federal, state and local agencies are constantly investigating incidents where another person’s Social Security number may be used to file fraudulent tax returns. There have been instances where an active tax filer’s Social Security number was used, a dependent child’s Social Security number was used and even a deceased person’s Social Security was utilized to file a fraudulent tax return. Thieves may buy and sell these Social Security numbers from individuals, employers, hospitals, nursing homes, schools or other sources. All of these instances are serious crimes and can result in severe penalties.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recommends filing your tax return early to beat the scammers to your refund. After filing, check the status of your refund at www.irs.gov/Refunds. Make sure you know and trust your tax preparer. Never give out personal information unless you are 100% sure of who you are speaking with. Always shred any documents or mail which contains personal information.

With many American households anxiously awaiting a Federal and State tax refund, criminals have attempted to gain access to people’s bank accounts. E-mails and phone calls have been received requesting bank account information. The caller promises that payment will be deposited right into your bank account. We are receiving reports this year that scammers have found a way to have fraudulent information appear on the caller identification on your telephone. This is a new technique, but it is the same old scam with a new face. The scam artist will not deposit money into your account but rather will make a hefty withdrawal. No United States government agency will call you to request your bank account number. The Internal Revenue states that they make initial contact by mail in all cases.

It is very important for everyone to remember to never give out bank account numbers, Personal Identification Numbers (P.I.N.), Social Security numbers or other confidential numbers which can provide access to financial records, unless you initiate the contact. Legitimate bank employees should never call up customers requesting this information. Bank employees should be aware that cus-

Public Safety Blotter

March 19 – March 25, 2023

March 20

100 Debs Place

A cooperator reported her mailbox is broken and unable to lock. She suspects it may have been tampered with. The cooperator notified USPS.

Erdman Place

CCPD responded to a call of a person loitering the 25th floor stairwell “A.” Upon arrival, Public Safety officers discovered a female cooperator loitering on the staircase. The shareholder was issued a Community Complaint for loitering.

120 Benchley Place

A Riverbay employee reported his work locker was damaged. The investigation is ongoing.

140 Donizetti Place

CCPD responded to a call of youths loitering on the stairwell. Upon arrival, officers encountered six (6) youths loitering on the stairwell. Further investigation disclosed all six students were absent from the Bronx Health Sciences High School. All six youths were returned under escort to their high school where they were remanded to school officials.

March 22

2099 Asch Loop

Upon returning to his parked vehicle in Garage 5, a cooperator observed that the catalytic converter was removed from his vehicle. The shareholder was referred to the NYPD for additional investigation and follow-up.

March 23

140 DeKruif Place

A cooperator reported being the victim of a telephone swindle where a large sum of money was given to an unknown individual as a result of the scam. The shareholder was referred to the NYPD for additional investigation and follow-up.

120 Bellamy Loop

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from in front of her apartment door by an unknown individual. The investigation is ongoing.

March 24

120 Alcott Place

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from in front of her apartment door by an unknown individual. The investigation is ongoing.

March 25

2047 Bartow Avenue

CCPD responded to the Dollar Tree store for a male leaving the store after removing numerous items from the store without paying and leaving the establishment. CCPD supervisor and officers canvassed the area and discovered a suspect meeting the description on Bartow Avenue. The suspect was subsequently positively identified. The male was found to be in possession of the stolen items removed from the Dollar Tree store and placed under arrest.

99 Asch Loop tomers know not to give out this type of information by telephone. Take down the employee’s name and phone number, make certain it matches the number you have on record for the financial institution. Only once you are sure that you are actually speaking with an employee from your bank should you even speak about your finances.

A Riverbay supervisor reported seeing an unknown male pushing the garage exit barrier arm up and exiting the garage without paying. The investigation is ongoing.

Always shred financial documents with personal information and account numbers before you discard them. Switch your accounts to electronic delivery to minimize paper clutter and lost statements. Never click on unsolicited e-mails, instead type a web address into your browser. Scam e-mails are often made to look like real bank e-mails. Misspelling and grammatical errors are often indicators that the e-mail is a fraud. Contact www.OnGuardOnline.gov if you suspect e-mail fraud. Be wary if you receive a check from a financial institution that you are not expecting. Reports have been received of persons receiving an unsolicited check in an express mail envelope. If this check is deposited into your account, the funds will not be available and you will be responsible for money. Never wire money with the anticipation of receiving more money in the future. This scam pops up in a variety of different ways – apartment rentals on Craigslist, merchandise being sold on eBay, winning a sweepstakes, long lost relative in another country, job as a Mystery Shopper, etc. When in doubt, contact the police.

We only hear about the high profile cases of breach of credit card information such as in the Equifax and Uber incidents or the infamous past Target, eBay and Home Depot incidents. Anytime you swipe your credit card, it can be at risk. Carefully check your credit card statements to insure there are no unauthorized charges. If something about a merchant does not seem right, utilize a different form of payment. In most cases, credit card companies do not hold you accountable for unauthorized charges. Debit cards do not always carry the same level of protection.

AARP also offers informative material about fraud protection at www.aarp. org/money/scams-fraud/. The information is geared for persons 50 or older, but all ages can benefit from the information provided. There is also a quiz to see how knowledgeable you are about fraud prevention. You can even sign up for fraud alert newsletters.

Monitor your credit reports with all three credit bureaus at least once per year. Free credit reports are available at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228. Place a “Fraud Alert” on your account(s), if identity theft is suspected – Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, Experian: 1-888-397-3742, and Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289.

Also report any suspected identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.com, by phone 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338, or by mail at Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580. Reporting identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.

Take steps to protect your identity and be a smart consumer. Call the authorities immediately if you suspect you may have become the victim of identity theft. Always remember, if you see something, say something. Call 911 and the Department of Public Safety at (718) 671-3050 or online at www.ccpd.us. Callers may remain anonymous when giving information.

April is known as National Autism Awareness Month as well as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Take this opportunity to learn about these topics and see what you can do to help. Knowledge is power; the more you learn, the stronger you become.

OPPORTUNITIES AT CO-OP CITY

For information on CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, please contact: Lenya Garcia at Lgarcia@riverbaycorp.com; and Anatoliy Budnitskiy at abudnitskiy@riverbaycorp.com. Please note: emails should be sent to both parties.

Please DO NOT email resumes for EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES to the aforementioned emails. For EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,

Contract Opportunities

There are no contract opportunities to list this week. Please check back.

Employment Opportunities

For employment opportunities, please search “Riverbay Corporation” at the following sites: www.Indeed.com www.Glassdoor.com

Candidates may review full position descriptions and apply directly at either site

Current Riverbay employees should submit a transfer request and resumé directly to the HR department. Thank you for your interest in working for Riverbay Corporation.