Spokane C.O.P.S.

Scammers advertise jobs the same way legitimate employers do — online (in ads, on job sites, and social media), in newspapers, and sometimes on TV and radio. They promise you a job, but what they want is your money and your personal information. Here are some examples of jobs scams and tips to help you avoid them.

Work-from-home job scams

Many people would like to work from home and generate income. Scammers know this, so they place ads, often online, claiming that they have jobs where you can make thousands of dollars a month working from home with little time and effort. Sometimes the scammers try to get you interested by saying that you can be your own boss , start your own business, or set your own schedule.

But instead of making money, you end up paying for starter kits, “training,” or certifications that are useless. You might also find that your credit card is charged without your permission, or you get caught up in a fake check scam. If someone offers you a job and they claim that you can make a lot of money in a short period of time and with little work, that’s a scam.

Nanny, caregiver, and virtual personal assistant job scams

Scammers post fake job ads for nannies, caregivers, and virtual assistants on job sites. Or they may send emails that look like they’re from someone in your community, or who is part of an organization you know, like your college or university. If you apply, the person who hires you might send you a check. They’ll tell you to keep part of the money for your services and then send the rest to someone else. That is a scam. A legitimate employer will never ask you to do that. What happens next is that the check is fake. It can take weeks for a bank to discover this, but once they do, the bank will want you to repay that full amount. So: if you get an offer that includes depositing a check and then using some of the money for any reason, that’s a scam. Walk away.

How to Avoid a Job Scam

Before you accept a job offer, and certainly before you pay for one, take these steps to protect yourself from job scams:

• Do an online search. Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” You might find out they’ve scammed other people.
• Talk to someone you trust . Describe the offer to them. What do they think? This also helps give you vital time to think about the offer.
• Don't pay for the promise of a job . Legitimate employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• Never bank on a “cleared” check.  No legitimate potential employer will ever send you a check and then tell you to send on part of the money, or buy gift cards with it. That’s a fake check scam. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.

What to Do if You Paid a Scammer

No matter how you paid — debit or credit card, bank or wire transfer, gift card, or cash reload card — immediately contact the company you used to send the money,  report the fraud, and ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible.

Report Job Scams to the FTC

If you see or lose money to a job scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general.

Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams.

As we progress into the heart of winter, we at Spokane C.O.P.S. want to make sure you and your family are safe. Winter can be a fun and beautiful season, but it can also be dangerous if you aren’t prepared. Read these to tips to help stay safe!

Halloween is coming up! That means a lot of things: fun, costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating. It also means that as a parent, you might want to take a moment and think about safety for your kids during Halloween. We want Halloween to be a safe event for you and your family!

And don’t forget, if you are looking for a safe place to trick-or-treat this year, swing past C.O.P.S. West (1901 W Boone Ave) to get some candy and get your picture taken for a costume contest!

Here are some safety tips. Most are common sense, but it’s still a good idea to go over this list with your kids before you head out the door.

1. Make sure you go with your younger kids for their trick-or-treating. It’s easy to feel safe in our own neighborhoods and let them go without adults, but always play it safe and stay with them.

2. Look both ways when crossing the street and wait for cars to completely stop. Just because it’s Halloween, don’t assume that cars are paying attention to kids crossing the street.

3. As much as possible, stay in well-lit areas. Avoid alleyways and places that are dark.

4. Stay on the sidewalk and avoid walking in the street or on peoples’ yards.

5. Only visit homes who have their porch lights on.

6. Never go into a house to get candy.

7. Keep a cell phone on you and make sure your kids know to dial 911 in the event of an emergency.

8. Notify law enforcement immediately if you see any suspicious or unlawful activities.

9. Make sure someone knows where you are going.

10. Carry a flashlight or wear reflective material if you are able to help cars see you.

11. Avoid costumes that have sharp points or are so long they could cause you to trip and fall.

12. Masks are fun, but they make it hard to see. Consider face paint instead.

13. Check all candy to make sure it is sealed. Discard anything that appears to be opened, punctured, or tampered with.

Follow those guidelines and have a fun, safe Halloween with your family!

Buying a gift card to pay someone? STOP. It’s a scam !

Gift cards are for presents they are not for payments !     

It is just that simple to remember!

If someone is reaching out to you by email, PayPal, Craigslist, Marketplace, Amazon, phone calls or any other means and request you get ‘gift cards’ for a payment...THIS IS A SCAM.

These imposters, scammers, fakes, fraudsters are commonly requesting payment in the form of a gift card. They may start off with an email or phone call, start telling you that you have been hacked or you need some type of service they can help you with. They may appear to be concerned for you, only want what is best for you.

They may claim to be from the IRS, or they can help you keep your Social Security benefits, work with you on your utility payments, pretend to be tech support for that IPAD you have, help bail out a family member in trouble, claim to be someone in the military needing money, or even threaten you with an arrest!

At the end of the hook, they may try to convince you that acceptable payment is by gift cards. Remember these words…Gift cards are for presents they are not for payments…THIS IS A SCAM.

If you get contacted by a scammer HANG UP the phone. They will try to call you back multiple times. BLOCK their number. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also visit the FTC website for more information on gift card scams at ftc.gov/gift cards.

This card is an easy step by step reminder on how to recognize a scam, how to handle it and how to report it to the authorities.

If you have any concerns or questions don’t hesitate to contact our Crime Victim Advocate Traci, at 509 625 3328.

It is the highest honor our C.O.P.S. Mounted Patrol Unit can do to show gratitude for our men and women who serve our county and who serve our communities.

Established in 2019, our Drill team starts its practice in early Spring and goes until the end of August.

As you pull into the parking lot, you will see the team walk their four-legged athletes out of horse trailers and hear soft nickers as if the horses are saying hello to their friends. Horses stand tied to trailers, as volunteers pull equipment out of trailers as if it is its own synchronized movement. Buckets, hay bags, stereo speakers, flags, blankets, saddles, wraps, everyone is busy getting and ready for practice. You will hear laughter, chatter, you will see friends hugging one another and then it's time to get to work.

Volunteers bring their saddled horses into the sandy arena and begin to warm up. Walking, trotting, cantering. The flags are lined up against the railing and are slowly picked up, draped over horse heads and waved around bodies, as if to remind our horses the flag is our friend. When we feel satisfied the horse is quiet over the flag, they slip into flag boot holders attached near the stirrups.

We continue to warm up until we hear the whistle. 3 short bursts and the team gathers in a circle to go over a few details before we begin practice. The Team Leader (TL) is Billie Malcolm. She has led this team since the start in 2019. Billie has great energy and always a smile on her face. You will often find her bareback and bridle less on her big Paint, Jewels. We gather around to hear what is planned for the next couple of hours and set to work.