Facebook Phishing Scheme: Montco Residents Beware

Facecrooks.com warns of a new scam aimed to get your personal info.

You don't have to be Manti Te'o to be caught by a phishing scam. In fact, you could live right here in Montgomery County. Facecrooks.com is warning users of the popular social media website to keep an eye out for a new phishing scam. A screen form like the one shown pops up, asking users to fill it out on behalf of Facebook Security. Often displaying as "Faćebøøĸ Sẻƈurîƚy," according to the site, it is not in fact the real security site operated by Facebook. According to Facecrooks, the message will tell you that you were "reported to have violated a policy that is considered disruptive or insulting Facebook users." Do not fill out the form. The site says that users that fill out the form are "granting access to their personal information …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft During Tax Season

MCCC's Bill Rosenbaum offers some timely tips on security while doing your taxes.

Skimmers Found on Area ATMs

Authorities believe the identity-theft devices were identified and removed quickly.

ATM skimmers ― illicit devices that blend into a cash machine's card slot, then record bank card info for later retrieval by a thief ― were found on two bank ATMs in Montgomery County earlier this month. PhillyBurbs.com reports that the devices were found on Jan. 5 and 6 on the ATMs of Wells Fargo branches on Skippack Pike in Whitpain and Whitemarsh townships. Authorities believe that the devices were discovered quickly and that no customer accounts were compromised. Other skimmers have recently been found on ATMs in Bucks County and in Medford, NJ. Security expert Brian Krebs told KYW Newsradio that ATM skimmers are growing increasingly sophisticated and difficult to spot. One way to defend yourself, Krebs said, is to shield your PIN …

• Photos (1)

Is Expensive Identity Theft Protection Really Necessary?

Identity theft is a growing problem in America. Is paying $20 a month to the only way to protect yourself?

Between 2005 and 2010, the number of estimated households with at least one member over the age of 12 falling victim to some form of identity theft rose from 6.4 million to 8.6 million. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that households experienced about $13.3 billion in direct financial losses in 2013, as a result of the unauthorized use, or attempted use, of an existing account, or unauthorized use of personal information to open a new account or for another fraudulent purpose. With numbers like this, it's easy to see why Americans are handing over forkfuls of money to services like LifeLock and ID Watchdog, which promise to protect your identity. But is it really necessary? Do you have to pay for an expensive service in order to …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Limerick Police Blotter

A look at the last week's police activity in Limerick Township.

The Limerick Township Police Department logged 205 incidents between July 11 and 17. Of the incidents, 24 were deemed false alarms. Among the calls to which the police responded were the following incidents of note. A 38-year-old Linfield man was pulled over and found using marijuana while operating his vehicle on Sunday. Responding Officer Brian Tyler reported the incident occurred around 6:05 p.m. Carl Anthony Pinnock made a left turn in a restricted area coming out of the Wawa on Linfield Trappe Road. As Tyler made contact with Pinnock, he immediately smelled marijuana and asked Pinnock if he was using. Pinnock admitted use and turned over the cigar, tobacco and marijuana he was using to Tyler. Pinnock then agreed to a search of his car…

• Photos (1)