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Show The small price of a good lock just may save some of your most prized possessions, while you are on vacation. Before vTl lion, check posslb,e ""'J burglar entries, sl)ch fi' ports, garages or bulkh I Warning given against confidence men posing as bank inspectors Americans give untold thousands thou-sands of dollars each year to confidence men posing as bank inspectors, officials, banking association as-sociation members and even security se-curity guards. It usually works something like this: The imposter contacts his "pigeon," usually a well-to-do elderly person. Widows are especially es-pecially inviting. He asks the person to aid him in investigating investi-gating certain "irregularities" at the bank. Usually the victim is instructed instruc-ted to make a withdrawal of around $3,000 in small bills. The imposter explains the money mo-ney will be redeposited, thereby enabling him to check the bank's paper work. When the withdrawal is made, the pigeon returns home where a "messenger" (sometimes (some-times disguised as a police officer of-ficer 01 bank security guard) picks up the cash for "re-deposit." By the time the swindle is discovered the imposter and money are long gone. How does it happen ? Why would someone trust a complete stranger with his money? It's simple. People want to be helpful, help-ful, especially in uncovering "irregularities" where their money mo-ney is deposited. Rather than trust the institution, they prefer pre-fer trusting someone posing as a. bank inspector or official, Don Carroll, identification specialist, spe-cialist, State Bureau of Criminal Crim-inal Identification, said. The swindle usually starts by phone call. Banks seldom ask customers to withdraw money, to unless the caller is known personally be very careful. Should you receive a call from an unknown bank "official" "offi-cial" requesting help in an "investigation." "in-vestigation." check immediately with the bank or police. If the contact is made personally, Carroll advises a thorough check because con men often use forged identification cards and authentic looking uniforms. The imposter is usually well-dressed, well-dressed, prosperous looking, smooth talking and drives an expensive new car like the swindler who recently took a California widow for $32,000. The Intermountain area is a favorite target for con men. Cases have been reported in Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico and recently in Logan where a 74-year-old woman was bilked of $2,500. It can happen anywhere, in small as well as larger towns. Remember, if you're contacted, call the police immediately. Your quick action may put the swindlers behind bars and save a lot of people a lot of money, Carroll emphasized. Boys and girls, bicycling is great fun in the summertime but if you ride out in the street, your fun may be ruined by an automobile or truck running run-ning into you, warns the Safety Council for Utah County. Be safety-smart and do your bike riding in a safe place away from cars and trucks and accident ac-cident dangers. |