Beware and be wise

This is a time we should all be thinking happily about the approaching holiday season and perhaps helping the less fortunate.

Instead, some bad people are working overtime to send trouble your way.

It can arrive in your email. On Thursday, as this editorial was being written, a suspicious message arrived from an alleged CPA who encountered problems on a trip. In short, the criminal was asking for $1,800 - a loan to be paid back.

Trouble can arrive on your phone. Just as North Idahoans were finally wising up to the "grandson needing bail money" caper, a new one popped up this week. Someone identifying himself as a Kootenai County sheriff's deputy has been calling Kootenai County residents, telling them they need to send $2,000 because they did not show up for jury duty. Many of the targets have been senior citizens.

Trouble arrives via the U.S. Postal Service, too. A scheme brought to light this week involves a legitimate-looking check in your name arriving in the mail. With it comes a letter instructing you to deposit the check in your bank account, and some hours later, wiring a portion of that check to a third party. The rest of the money is yours, except for one problem: The check is counterfeit, so there is no money. When you wire a sum forward, it's coming out of your account.

A little creativity and criminal intent can go a long way in ripping off honest, hardworking people. So how do we stop it?

First, use common sense. The old saying, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is" fits. Particularly at this most charitable time of the year, take extra steps to confirm the legitimacy of what someone is requesting.

If you're the target of what you believe to be an attempt at fraud, call your local law enforcement agency. The FBI offers citizens a federal reporting option: the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. Also, the Idaho Attorney General's Office offers excellent information for seniors about identity theft precautions and fraud protections. Call (208) 334-2400 or go to www.ag.idaho.gov/seniorCitizens/seniorCitizens_index.html

Let's try to ensure the turkeys behind these fraudulent schemes get jail time for Christmas.