MRFC Continue to Monitor Reported Fraudulent Activities

The Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC) continue to monitor fraudulent activities reported on Guam and the Mariana Islands.

Recent reporting indicates Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) continue to be targets for a multitude of scams. These scams include but are not limited to, phishing emails and texts, bogus social media posts, robo-calls, impostor schemes, fake prizes or sweepstakes, and more. The community is advised to also be aware of potential COVID-19 related fraud schemes related to soliciting donations, antibody tests for, and claims for pandemic benefits using stolen identities and false personal identifying information.

Remain vigilant and continue to follow these steps to recognize and avoid scams:

Never give out personal information. Do not give account numbers, any portion of your SSN, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls, or if you are at all suspicious.
Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, they may pose as a government official, family member, charity, or a company you do business with. Do not send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request- whether it comes as mail, via social media, a text, telephone call, or an email. If you have a missed call from an unusual number with only one ring, do not be tempted to call back. Generally, avoid answering calls from unknown numbers. When in doubt, have the caller leave a voicemail or message on an answering machine. Use EXTREME caution if you are being pressured for information.
Do not trust your caller ID. Scammers utilize technology to fake caller ID information called spoofing to cause confusion to the end user. Your caller ID might show a government agency’s real phone number but that’s not the real entity calling. Computers make it easy to show any number on caller ID. You can’t trust what you see on your caller ID. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up and conduct an online search utilizing legitimate websites or contact the institution directly. If an international or unusual number calls you with only one ring, block the number, if possible. If you answer the phone and the caller - or a recording - asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Fraudsters use this trick to identify potential targets.
Do online searches. Search a company or product name utilizing your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam;” or search a phrase describing your situation, like “Social Security telephone call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
Do not pay upfront for a promise. Callers may ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear.
Consider how you pay. Credit cards offer a significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods do not. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it is nearly impossible to get your money back. Government agencies and honest companies do not require you to use these payment methods. Remember that any unknown individuals who request payment via wire money, gift card, or sending cash is most likely conducting a scam.
Talk to someone. Before giving up your money or personal information, talk with someone you trust. Scam artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert - or just tell a friend.

The community is advised to report any suspicious activity or social media posts relating to the subject to the MRFC online at https://mlrin.org/ or email mrfc@ghs.guam.gov, following the Department of Homeland Security’s campaign, “If You See Something, Say Something.”

For more information, contact Acting Public Information Officer, Jaimie H. Cruz at (671) 688-0438 or via email at jaimie.cruz@ghs.guam.gov.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.