Protecting Yourself and Your Greatest Assets During the Holiday Season

After the 20/20 expose' you would be hard pressed to find someone who does not know about the Nigerian Internet scams. How many times a week do you open your email to find a heart wrenching letter from someone referring to you as "friend" or "sister/brother"? They always have a huge sum of money they can't access, but "if you would be kind enough to deposit this into your American account, I will humbly give you 82% of my new fortune because I'm dying anyway and can't use it all".

Seriously, these people are neither friend nor family. They are parasites . . . predators seeking to separate you from your hard earned money. Now that the holidays are upon us, those parasites are seeking new ways to get to your cash and this time they are not using the Internet. They will be right in your face and I'm here to give you their identity before you get caught up in holiday cheer and become a victim.

Last week I was in Wal Mart shopping; replenishing my household supplies. As I stood in line reading a magazine and waiting for the line to die down an exasperated lady standing in front of me smiled in my direction. "I really hate these lines", she said. I just smiled at her and kept reading the magazine. I'm not big on complaining (especially since I wanted to finish the article).

She continued, "Man, this is ridiculous." All the while she's complaining she keeps smiling at me. This is eerie so I just keep reading the magazine.

"Ma'am" she says. "I just need to get one item and I'm using this gift card. I am so tired of getting gift cards; I don't know what to do."

I am really curious as to where she's going with this conversation since I don't know her and love getting gift cards.

"Ma'am" she continues. "Would you happen to have fifteen dollars? This is a twenty dollar gift card and I just don't want to be bothered using it."

I apologized and said, "I never carry cash. Maybe they can help you in customer service." Her smile seemed to sour. At which point she got out of line and disappeared from my sight.

Since I worked in the Major Case office for the Fort Worth Police Department (which handles fraud) I decided to ask them if this was a scam.

"That's one of them, but it's not new" states Detective Tiwater.

Detective Tiwater went on to tell me that, "What they are doing now is either trying to get honest patrons to purchase used gift cards or they write down the numbers from the gift cards (normally those that are in the front of the rack), hold on to them for a few weeks, then call the number on the back to see when the card is activated. They will then make on-line purchases; depleting the card and you're none the wiser."

This veteran fraud detective suggests getting your gift cards from either the Internet or the back of the rack if you're purchasing them from a store.

Never purchase anything from anyone in a parking lot or someone who is randomly walking through a store.

Another scam that can turn into a really dangerous situation is the parking lot "help me" scam.

Several months ago, while unloading her car, a helpful patron paused to give directions to someone who claimed to be lost. After doing this helpful deed the lost person repaid the debt by snatching the lady's purse. As her children (strapped in their car seats) watched she struggled with the thief for her purse. She was in the hospital for a week.

Sure, we are supposed to be cheerful and helpful during the holiday seasons (this should be a year round thing) but when parking lots are hectic, parking is crazy and you are backed into a corner; this does not apply.

- Try to shop with at least one other person. You can watch each other's back.

- If you feel the situation is not safe immediately bring attention to yourself.

- If you're the type who doesn't want to look crazy or seem rude, just look at someone else across the way and with a smile yell, "Hey, I don't want to give this person wrong information. Can you assist us?" If the person truly needs help they will be grateful you didn't steer them wrong. If they haul ass out of the parking lot, memorize AND write down their license plate number and get it to security.

Ladies, when shopping in a store during any time of the year, WATCH YOUR PURSES AND KIDS!!!!!!!

I stood behind a woman in a store just staring at her purse which was in her cart and behind her. Finally I said, "Ma'am, your purse and wallet are open." She turned around with an attitude and said, "My kids were supposed to be watching it. A lot of good that did." She closed the purse and turned back to what had her attention earlier.

I again said, "Ma'am" (I can be a pest). "I work for the police department and you really need to watch your purse." Finally, she put her purse under her arm, turned and huffed as if I had just ruined her day. This is the reason most purses go missing - - THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM ARE NOT WATCHING THEM. The same goes for kids.

Holiday shopping is a child molesters dream. Parents are distracted or will walk into a store and say to their kids, "Stay in the toy section. I'll come and get you later."

PEOPLE, neither Wal Mart nor Target or any other place of business (outside of daycare) are responsible for watching your kids. Hopefully the cameras are working the day your child is assaulted or goes missing.

That may sound harsh but its time for a wake up call to those parents who unleash their kids in stores only to turn patrons and store workers into instant baby sitters without the realization that sex offenders are allowed to shop!!!WATCH YOUR KIDS!!! They are your most valuable asset and it is your responsibility to keep them safe. If you can't leave them home shop at IKEA, they have a mini-daycare.

While in one of the Mega stores I saw a little boy, no older than 4 or 5, playing on an aisle all alone. He saw me and ran up to me and hit me. I said (very gently), "Stop it." I then looked around to see if a parent was in sight. No one.

He continued his little game of tag for about 3 minutes. All the while I stood there, looking around and wondering who this child was with. When a box of Kleenex fell out of my hands and onto the top of his little head he stopped hitting me and started looking around for (I assumed) his mom.

Finally a lady emerged, two aisles over, calling his name. She never stopped shopping and never realized this baby wasn't by her side. She didn't even look down to see if he was following. She just put her hand out and kept walking as he caught up to her.

Yes, this is the season to be jolly, merry and ALERT! Do not take for granted that the cheer you're expressing is going to be returned in a civil manner. Keep these following points in mind during the holiday season and in spite of potential threat stay joyous but be diligent in protecting yourself, your family and personal items (all year long).

- NEVER leave your children in your car (summer or winter). Besides the fact that it's slightly cruel, we are living in some really strange times. It is just not okay.

- NEVER leave your children or purses unattended. Use the strap on the cart to keep both in the basket AND keep your hands on that basket!

- If you see something strange or potentially dangerous bring it to the attention of a manager or security.

- If possible purchase your gift cards on line; either directly with the vendor or a reputable distributor (http://www.giftcertificates.com/, American Express, http://www.simon.com/giftcard/)

- Child molesters look like everybody else and registers sex offenders are not required to wear a t-shirt stating their offense.

- Even if your child is wearing out your last good nerve by signing a cadence of "MOMMY", if you are in a store and hear "MOMMY" from any direction of the store STOP AND TAKE INVENTORY! If you have all of your's look in the direction of the voice to make sure that one is being claimed by someone familiar to them.

- Thieves look like everybody else and will smile in your face while picking your pocket.