In February 2015, Columbia news, views & reviews posted this:

Number 2 … He (the mayor) announced that the Police Department is close to having a new application called “CrimeWatch.” He said that a number of communities have signed up with CrimeWatch (click here or on the graphic above to see area departments) to share the daily police log information – the arrests, the warrants, the news about policing and safety – not only for the Borough but for other areas too. He said the pictures that now hang on the windows of the police station will be online. Number 3 … He said information about the above – the first two tidbits – would be posted at the Columbia Police Department’s facebook page. That’ll be a welcome addition for borough citizens.

Well, none of the promised information has been posted at the facebook page, but “ta-dah” – Columbia is now a participating department at the Crimewatch page. Good job, Columbia Police Department. Click on the graphic below to go to the Columbia Police Department page.

Next – current, updated information at the Crimewatch pages and the facebook page?

Because the following is a criminal action and because the recipient of the SCAM LETTER has a Columbia zip code this is relevant in this post.

The anatomy of a scam that’s targeting seniors.

SCAM ALERT!

The Lebanon Daily News carried this article in it’s police log this morning:

“Cornwall police are warning residents about a ‘mystery shopper’ scam that failed to ensnare a borough resident.

“The woman, who was not identified, received a packet of information and instructions containing an authentic-looking Capital One Bank cashier check in the amount of $2,550. The instructions directed the resident to cash the check, complete the mystery shopper duties at a local Wal-mart by purchasing up to $70 in merchandise and then wiring remaining funds totaling $2,230 to another mystery shopper, police said.

“The resident recognized the mailing as a scam and contacted police. Had she cashed the check and wire transferred the funds, she would have been victimized when the bank determined the check to be fraudulent, police said.”

Yesterday, someone gave us these documents that the person received in the mail on Wednesday; these are the elements of a SCAM.

If you get one of these letters, or if you know someone who has, take the envelope and its contents to your local police department or to your local post office. This is mail fraud.