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Counterfeit Money:
With the use of computers and
colour printers the production of Counterfeit Money is on the rise. Many of
these bills have the same serial number. Business owners are reminded to be
extra vigilant in checking bills received as payment.
There are numerous methods that
can be used to detect a counterfeit bill. The two basic things are look and
feel. If you have another bill of the same denomination, compare them.
Compare the size, colouring and feel of the paper, compare the printed
images. If you handle large amounts of money obtain a list of the security
features put into real bills to help determine if they are genuine.
If you suspect you have a
Counterfeit bill you should:
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Keep It.
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Record its
denomination and serial number. |
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Note as many
details as you can on the individual who you suspect gave you the bill.
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Contact the
police. |
If the bill turns out to be
genuine, it will be returned to you. If the money is counterfeit there is no
recourse to go back and get replacement money from anyone else.
Learn about Counterfeit
recognition
Information about U.S.
Counterfeit bills is at the
U.S. Treasury Web Site |
Graffiti:
Is it art, or is it vandalism?
When graffiti is painted, drawn or scribbled onto private property without
permission, it becomes vandalism.
Methods to Prevent Graffiti
Vandalism
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A clear
coating that makes graffiti easy to remove |
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Murals for
building exteriors (graffiti vandals often won’t paint over these)
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Security
lighting and cameras |
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Preventing Marijuana Grow Operations:
What every Landlord should
know...
The number of Marijuana Grow
operations has increased dramatically, and the primary locations for these
illegal operations are in residential rental properties.
The means to prevent a tenant
from starting up a grow lab are simple and non-intrusive. By screening
prospective tenants and conducting regular inspections of your property, you
can virtually eliminate the likelihood of a grow operation being set up.
A marijuana grower will not take
the chance of losing their investment of equipment and crop if they believe
that the landlord is going to check the rental property on a regular basis!
Make it a habit to inspect the
outside of your property monthly. If you wish to inspect the interior of the
home, give proper notice, as required in The Residential Tenancies Act.
If you suspect or discover a grow operation. DO NOT confront your tenant,
contact the police immediately.
Tips for Landlords...
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Get to know
you neighbours: |
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Let them
know your property is a rental. Ask them to keep an eye on it and give
them your phone number so they can contact you. |
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Screen
Prospective Tenants: |
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Check and
record identification. |
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Check their
references. |
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Make it a
requirement of their lease that they must carry tenants insurance.
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Advise them
verbally and in your lease that you check your property regularly (with
proper notice). |
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Let them
know you have regular contact with neighbours. |
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Ask which
tenant will be signing for Hydro and Telephone. |
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Be there
when tenants move in. |
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Do not
accept cash payments for rent. |
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Consider
applicant volunteer to undergo a criminal record check. |
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By asking
these questions, you will reduce the chance of a marijuana grower renting
your property. It is better to lose a months rent now rather than renting
it in haste and putting you investment at risk! |
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Check your
property at least once every four to five weeks: |
A simple walk around the
exterior of the house is sufficient in most cases to detect signs of a grow
lab. If you discover some of the following indicators listed, contact the
police or consider giving notice for a more thorough inspection:
What to look for...
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Homes that
do not appear to be lived in ( may have little or no furniture in the main
living areas ), but may have occasional visitors ( 1 or 2 times weekly )
at unusual hours. |
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Homes that
are lived in, but never have lights on in the majority of basement
windows. |
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Windows (
particularly in basements ) that are always dark, boarded up or otherwise
blacked out. |
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Skunk-like
or air-freshener odors in the air, often at the same time each day or
night. |
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Humming
noise or motorized fan noises. |
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Discarded
potting soil, small plastic "bedding" plant-type pots, one gallon plastic
pots. |
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Scraps of
heavy plastic, 4" & 6" dryer hose, cut pieces of garden hose.
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Lawns
unkempt compared to neighbouring houses. |
A Handy Checklist to Screen
Prospective Tenants...
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Checked all
references, including past landlords? |
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Checked and
recorded the identification of the tenants? |
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Informed
them that you will be doing monthly external inspections? |
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Informed
them that you reserve the right to do interior inspections with due
notice? |
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Confirmed
exactly who is residing at the premises in addition to the tenant ( if
anyone )? |
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Obtained the
tenants signature on a lease agreement, which stipulates that the tenant
must carry an insurance policy? |
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Informed
your neighbours that you are renting the property and have left them a
phone number in case of emergency? |
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Informed
Sask
Power that
you would like the bill to be in the tenant's name only? |
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Confirmed
that you will be personally picking up the rent cheque monthly at the
residence? ( No cash payments )? |
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Obtained an
appropriate damage deposit? |
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Protection for Senior Citizens:
Criminals often regard older
persons as easy targets for many kinds of crimes. Every elderly person
should be aware of these crimes and how to prevent them.
CONSUMER FRAUDS - Beware of
contests which require you put up money to win, even if there is a guarantee
that you will be a winner.
TIPS - Do not rush into
something involving your money or property. Be wary of something-for-nothing
or get-rich-quick schemes.
Con Games - The Pigeon Drop
This scheme accounts for more
than half of the confidence games reported to the police. The swindlers
claim to have found a large sum of money and offer to share it with you. You
are asked to withdraw "good faith" money from your bank. The swindlers take
the "good faith" money and give you a phoney address where you are to
collect your share of the found money. You never see them again.
TIP - Never turn over large sums
of cash to anyone, especially a stranger, no matter how promising the deal
looks. Report all suspicious offers to the police immediately, before the
swindler leaves town in search of other victims.
Auto Theft Prevention
BE CAREFUL OF YOUR KEYS - Keep
car keys and house keys on separate rings. Never have an identification tag
on your car key ring - thieves may use it to locate your car. Never hide an
extra car key under the hood.
TIP - Never leave cheque books,
credit cards or other such articles unattended in your car. Lock valuables
in the trunk. Park in well-lit and busy areas. Do not keep your registration
paper inside your car. Keep a photo copy with the address blacked out.
Residential and Apartment Security:
Co-operative community effort is
society's most effective tool in accomplishing objectives too large for the
individual. In specialized areas as police work, we seek out skilled
professionals and delegate a portion of the responsibility for our security
to them.
It is important however, that we
realize we still retain a "co-operative responsibility" in this area. We
must, as individuals, do what we can, in a co-operative effort, to achieve
and maintain the common objective of community security.
Choosing an Apartment:
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Are all
entrances key controlled? |
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Is the
building and parking lot well lit at night? |
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Do the
suites have deadbolt locks and viewers? |
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Does the
manager seem conscientious and reliable? |
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Do you feel
comfortable when alone in the parking areas? |
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If renting,
will the manager allow you to re-key
the locks? |
TIP - Treat the entire apartment
complex as your responsibility. It's your home! Do not use your first name
on the intercom box. Do not leave notes on your door or the intercom buzzer
panel. Burglars read too! |
Scams to Avoid:
Charity Appeal Scams
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High
pressure or threatening telemarketers who want you to contribute
immediately. |
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Someone
calls and thanks you for a pledge you don't remember making. |
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Make sure
the charity is registered. |
Prize and Contest Scams
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You may find
out by mail or over the phone or by email that you "have won first prize"
or that you "have won first place in a contest" for a valuable item.
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They may ask
you to provide your credit card or account number to cover shipping and
handling. they may ask you to call a "900" number or a toll free number
that will direct you to a pay per call "900" number.
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Foreign Lottery Scams
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You have
already won! |
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You receive
a letter saying that you have won money in a foreign lottery. At the end
of the letter they ask you to buy lottery tickets. |
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You have an
unclaimed prize! |
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You receive
a letter saying that you have won money in a foreign lottery. The letter
says they have been hired by a foreign lottery to distribute unclaimed
prizes. To claim your prize you have to pay an "administration fee", or
"taxes", sometimes thousands of dollars. |
Phony lawyers calling
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A
telemarketer claming to represent a law firm says you have won a valuable
prize, but you need to pay taxes and legal fees before you receive the
prize money. |
Customs calling
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Someone
claiming to be a customs officer calls to say you have a cheque
worth thousands of dollars - won in a foreign lottery. You have to pay an
"insurance fee". |
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Recover
money you have already lost in a foreign scam |
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This scam
claims to recover money lost in another scam - the same scam. |
Phony collection agency demand
letter
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Demand of
money for lottery ticket purchases. |
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Give us your
bank account number so we can deposit your winnings |
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This scam
will want your bank account number or a void check to deposit "winnings".
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You have won if certain numbers
appear on your credit card
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When they
finally get your credit card number they will make unauthorized sums
against it. |
Subscribe to our "winning
numbers services"
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They will
ask for a fee to play the lottery, claiming to have a computer or a
mathematician that has an "impressive record of picking winning numbers"
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Loan and Credit Scams
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Advance fee
loan scams |
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You are told
you are "guaranteed" or highly likely to get a loan, you will be asked for
a fee to process the loan. |
Bogus Credit cards
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This scam
claims "guaranteed approval" for a credit card. they will want an upfront
processing fee. |
Wipe your credit report clean
There is no legal way to erase accurate negative information from your
credit card.
Abandoned property
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They offer
information on how to collect thousands of dollars in unclaimed property -
for a fee. |
Work Scams
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Work-at-Home
Scams - These scams appear on TV, on the radio, newspapers, community
center's, or even a telephone pole. |
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Bogus
Modeling and Talent Agencies - They often "guarantee" huge or instant
success. |
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Work
Overseas Schemes - Ads offering overseas employment. |
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Franchises -
Some are legitimate, others are scams - high profit, easy money,
excessively high start up fees are some warning signs. |
Pyramid Schemes
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The focus is
on profits you can make by sales to new recruits who buy products to
participate in the scheme. There is more emphasis on recruiting than on
selling the products or services. |
Travel Scams
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You have won
a "free holiday" |
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You will get
a letter, a phone call, or an email saying you have just won a free
holiday to an exotic location. |
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"Bargain"
holiday certificates or packages |
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They will
ask you to join a travel club or attend a time-share presentation.
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