Pop quiz: Which of these two comments on a Facebook post about our Memorial Day ceremony is a phishing attempt?
A. Please if you know you are interested in setting up a spot kindly like and message me now with what you are selling to know if you can be added to our spot list. Thank you for participating at our event. It will always be a great turn out.
B. Facebook is Wonky, People! Lots of scammers trying to get your money and contact info… The only person taking payments to be a vendor for this event is me. Please PM if you have any questions or would like to be a vendor! We have a few spots still left. DO NOT Private Message or Respond to anyone other than Me, when approached by such replies to your comments!
Answer: It was a trick question. They’re both posted by scammers, in an attempt to gain access to your personal information.
Mt. Lebanon Police Chief Jason Haberman talked about recent scams that the department has been seeing, on the public information office’s Inside Lebo [1] podcast. Some of the common ones currently are “Account Overdue” emails from scammers posing as IRS agents, or as representatives of PayPal, Microsoft Office and Norton Antivirus Products, among others.
The IRS scam may start with a threatening phone call, telling the target they need to pay their overdue taxes immediately, in fact it’s so urgent that the IRS is sending over a courier to pick up the cash that day.
Haberman has some simple advice: “Do not give money to anyone,” he said. “There’s never an immediate urgency. Call someone you trust, a friend, a neighbor, and run it by them. Just ask if it sounds right. If you don’t have anyone else to call, call us, call 911.”
Also, the tried-and-true Grandparent Scam, where someone claiming to be a friend of the target’s grandchild sends an alarming message saying the grandchild has been arrested and needs bail money immediately. If you get a call like that, follow the advice above, and beware, because scammers can glean enough information about a person from social media to make a convincing argument that they are, indeed, friends with your granddaughter. You can stop that scam in its tracks by asking challenging questions such as “How do you know her? Where does she live?”
Scamming is good business. The FBI’s Internet Crime Report from 2024 listed 859,532 complaints, with a total of more than $16 billion in losses. The top three cyber crimes were phishing, extortion, and personal data breaches. Victims of investment fraud, specifically those involving cryptocurrency, reported the most losses, more than $6.5 billion.
Haberman said his officers have seen residents taken for as much as $100,000 or more. Often the thefts go unreported because the victim is embarrassed to admit they were hustled.
“Don’t be embarrassed. Everything you can provide can help us to catch the scammers.”
The department is going to be working with local businesses to be on the lookout for unusual behavior, such as a regular customer behaving unusually, for example, buying a large number of gift cards, which scammers will ask for as payment for your “debt.”
The department’s community outreach unit will send an officer to your group to discuss scams in detail. In the past, the department has given classes at Brookdale, Chabad of the South Hills, Baptist Homes and the recreation center. If you would like to schedule a talk,
call 412-343-4069.
The department also has a scams page [2] on the municipal website that it updates as needed.
PACE YOURSELF Warm weather means more stuff to do outside, which means more people on the streets. Drivers, don’t get distracted by eating, smoking, adjusting the radio or grooming yourself. Look out for pedestrians and cyclists everywhere, all the time. Pedestrians and cyclists, don’t be distracted by your phone, or even by the beauty of a perfect summer day. Make eye contact with drivers, so they know you’re there.
FIRE ACADEMY The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department’s Citizens Fire Academy is returning in the fall. The popular 10-week class covers all aspects of firefighting and rescue, offering a close-up look at the department. The course is so much fun that typically at least one or two members of each class becomes a volunteer firefighter.
Classes are Wednesday evenings from September 17 to November 12. Applications are due by August 31, but the roster usually fills up pretty quickly. Click here [3] for more information and an application.
THE FIRE OUTSIDE As we migrate outdoors once again, the fire department would like to remind you of some regulations regarding outside burning.
Chimineas, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits The fire must be at least 15 feet away from structures and combustible materials when burning near commercial buildings and apartment buildings with three or more units. For single-family homes or duplexes, the department strongly recommends the same distance.
Use the device according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Don’t overload fuel.
Don’t burn rubbish or yard waste.
Stay with the fire until it is completely out.
Have a way to put out the fire nearby, such as a garden hose, fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating, or dirt or sand to smother the fire.
Bonfires and open burning You may not have outdoor fires greater than 3 feet wide or 2 feet tall unless you get a permit from both the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department and the Allegheny County Health Department.