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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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Norristown Woman Charged in Identity Theft Case

Stolen credit card information from the Hilton Garden Inn in Oaks led to the arrest of a Norristown woman and her accomplice.

On Oct. 19, Upper Providence Police were called to the Hilton Garden Inn, at 500 Cresson Blvd. in Oaks, for a report that guests were using stolen credit card information. According to an affidavit, the hotel’s regional sales director told police that on Oct. 14, two females who identified themselves as a mother and daughter checked in together for several nights. The daughter, who identified herself as Nicole Klicka, of the 2000 block of W. Main St. in Norristown, registered the hotel room. The mother, who did not provide a name at the time, tendered payment to the room in the form of a grey rechargeable USAA Master Card, which was reported to have still been attached to its packaging. The regional sales director told police that the …

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Home Health Aid Robs Paraplegic West Norriton Man

Daryl Jerome Reed pleaded guilty to stealing more than $2000 from a paraplegic West Norriton man he was supposed to be caring for.

According to The Times Herald, a former home health aid admitted to identity theft and other related charges after an investigation revealed he used the debit card of his patient, a paraplegic West Norriton man, to steal more than $2,000. Twenty three-year-old Daryl Jerome Reed, of Philadelphia, was reportedly given access to the victim's debit card so he could purchase needed medications, but an investigation by West Norriton Police revealed that Reed had used the card on 17 separate occasions to make unauthorized withdrawals totaling $2,011. Reed pleaded guilty to charges of theft by deception and identity theft, but Judge Garrett Page is deferring sentencing until he sees a background investigative report on Reed. Read more about the …

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Police Briefs

The following information was supplied by the Norristown Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

If you have questions about these briefs, contact Norristown Patch Editor James Myers. Read more recent crime reports here.

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Police Briefs

The following information was supplied by the Norristown Police Department. Arrests do not indicate a conviction.

Attempted identity theft According to the Norristown Police Department, a victim reported on Tuesday, July 12, that a man called her at home, introduced himself as Jeff, and asked her to confirm her Social Security number and her address. Police asked her to report any unauthorized activity on her credit report. Theft According to police, a victim reported that on Tuesday, July 12, between 2 and 5:50 a.m., his 2004 gray GMC Envoy was parked in the rear of 1012 Thomas Barone St., and a silver Sony digital camera, the car’s DVD player and a pair of Gucci sunglasses were stolen from the vehicle. Additionally, police reported the victim said the front driver’s side window was smashed. Burglary Police said it was reported that on Tuesday, July …

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Police Briefs

The following information was supplied by the Norristown Police Department. Arrests do not indicate a conviction.

For questions about this blotter, email james.myers@patch.com.

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Michaels Alerts Customers of Potential Debit and Credit Card Fraud

If you have shopped at Michaels with a bank card recently, keep a close eye on your bank statement. The company is reporting a data theft incident involving PIN pads at area retail locations.

Several incidents of credit fraud have been recently reported to area police departments, and many have been tied to purchases at area Michaels stores. The Michaels store in Feasterville, at 751 Bustleton Pike, has been listed as one of over 20 stores where PIN pad tampering has occurred and where customer credit and debit card information may have been compromised. According to a phillyburbs.com article, several Michael's customers from the area have noticed unauthorized charges on their accounts following purchases at the Texas-based arts and crafts chain. Michaels reports that the transactions in question are said to have taken place between the beginning of February and May 6, the day the company began removing PIN pads from stores …