Category: FBI

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

DENVER, CO—The FBI Denver Division will be accepting nominations for the 2022 Citizens Academy through November 30, 2021.

The Citizens Academy gives business, religious, civic, and community leaders an inside look at the FBI, with a goal of raising awareness around the FBI and federal law enforcement, but also to dispel myths and encourage honest dialogue.

“The FBI’s Citizen Academy provides an incredible opportunity for members of the community to better understand the work of the FBI and partner with us in keeping Colorado and Wyoming citizens safe,” said Michael H. Schneider, special agent in charge for the FBI Denver Division. “We are grateful for the work of the Citizens Academy and encourage participants to share the information learned through this experience with family, friends, and neighbors.”

Classes meet one evening per week across eight weeks at the FBI Denver office. Topics may include terrorism, cyber-enabled crime, public corruption, hate crimes, and financial crimes, among others. The session culminates in a “range day,” where participants are brought to the FBI’s shooting range. To graduate from the FBI Citizens Academy, you must attend six of the eight classes.

Attendees must be at least 21 years of age, live and/or work within FBI Denver’s jurisdiction (Colorado/Wyoming), and consent to a limited background check.

To self-nominate or submit a nomination for someone else, visit the following link: https://forms.fbi.gov/fbi-citizens-academy-nomination-form-denver/view.

A panel of FBI employees will review nominations. Selected nominees will be invited to apply. Applicants who pass a background check will be admitted to the 2022 session.

The dates for the Citizens Academy are anticipated to take place from mid-March to mid-May 2022.

Please direct any questions to FBI Denver Community Outreach Specialist Leah Hapner at dn_outreach@fbi.gov or 303-630-6174. To learn about other FBI Denver community outreach programs, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/denver/community-outreach.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

The FBI has increased its reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Isiah Terrell Billy.

The reward has been doubled to up to $10,000.

On October 5, 2020, Billy was found deceased in a wash east of the Sinclair gas station near mile marker 23 on U.S. Highway 64, in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.

The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.

“The FBI and our partners on the Navajo Nation are committed to holding accountable those responsible for violent crime,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque FBI Division said. “Victims like Isiah Billy deserve justice, and we’re hoping the publicity that comes with this higher reward will prompt someone to come forward and help us solve this crime.”

Billy, who was 30 at the time, lived in Shiprock.

The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 505-889-1300 or go online at tips.fbi.gov.

An FBI poster with a downloadable photo of Billy can be found at: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/isiah-terrell-billy

Other FBI cases in New Mexico can be found at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/albuquerque/wanted

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. Today: Building a digital defense against social media mining scams.

Have you seen one of those fun questions on your social media feed? How old would you be if the digits in your age were flipped? What was your first car? What street did you grow up on?

Well the first question obviously gives your age. A quick review of your feed will tell the scammer when your birthday is thanks to those generous friends who wished you well on your special day! Now, he knows your exact DOB… an important piece of personally identifiable info. The other questions can give a scammer the answer to your password reset challenge questions that you set up on your credit cards or bank account or, maybe, even your kids’ school portal.

Here’s another good, but troubling, meme: the last three digits of your phone number will tell you when you will enter heaven or what you need to be happy. Just kindly type your response into the comment box, and you will get your answer! Of course, it’s still pretty easy to guess at a person’s area code based on where they live—and sometimes even their prefix. At that point, the scammer has nine of the ten digits he needs to nail down your number. Assuming you even locked down your phone and billing account, he just usually needs a PIN to gain full access. He can port your number to another phone, and just like that he can start re-setting all of your passwords for all of your other accounts.

Data mining can be automated…and profitable. How do you protect yourself?

• Use an authenticator app to generate a one-time code that you use to confirm that it’s you logging into a device, website, or service.
• Make sure you are using the highest security settings possible on your devices and on all your accounts.
• Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible. That includes something you know (such as a passphrase or PIN), something you have (such as a token or smart card), and something you are (such as a fingerprint).
• Don’t respond to social media memes asking for info!

If you are the victim of an online scam, you should report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

FBI Richmond’s Central Virginia Violent Crimes Task Force has joined the Henrico County Police Division and the City of Richmond Police Department in the investigation of a series of HOBBS Act robberies that occurred on March 5, 2021.

The 7-Eleven located in the 10000 block of Staples Mill Road, the Valero located in the 4400 block of Broad Street, and the WaWa located in the 2400 block of Staples Mill Road are believed to have been robbed by the same individual.

Authorities are searching for an average-build Asian male subject, further described as 5’2” to 5’6” and 150 to 160 pounds. The subject appeared dirty, wearing a face mask, dark sunglasses, a black hooded jacket, a black hat, black socks, and black sandals with white soles. The subject also wore a patterned blanket around his waist and a large yellow patterned scarf to cover his face and shoulders.

It is believed the subject was seen departing one of the robberies in a black Mercedes ML 350.

An FBI “Seeking Information” poster has been posted to the FBI’s webpage.

Anyone with information regarding these robberies and the subject(s) responsible for them should contact the FBI’s Central Virginia Violent Crimes Task Force at (804) 261-1044 or provide tips through https://www.fbi.gov/tips, the Henrico County Police Division at 804-289-7228 or the City of Richmond Police Department at 804-646-1068.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

PHOENIX, AZ—FBI Phoenix is warning the public about charity fraud, where scammers set up fake charities to take advantage of your kindness and line their pockets. While these scams can occur at any time, they are especially prevalent after damaging events like monsoons, flash floods, and forest fires. Legitimate charities provide assistance to communities affected by these events, but the scammer competes with these legitimate charities to divert your donations away from those who need it most, and back to the fake charity’s creator.

Charity fraud scams can come in many forms: emails, social media posts, crowdfunding platforms, cold calls, etc. Always use caution and do your research when you’re looking to donate to charitable causes.

The following tips can help you avoid these schemes:

• Never let anyone rush you into donating.
• Give to established charities or groups whose work you know and trust. Don’t assume the charity you have seen on social media or online is legitimate, even it if was sent to you by a friend.
• Be aware of organizations with copycat names or names similar to reputable organizations.
• Do your research. Use the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) resources to examine the track record of a charity.
• Give using a check or credit card. If a charity or organization asks you to donate through cash, gift card, virtual currency, or wire transfer, it’s probably a scam.
• Check the website’s address—most legitimate charity organization websites use .org, not .com.

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a charity scheme or other cyber fraud activity, please contact FBI Phoenix at (623)466-1999. Victims are also highly encouraged to file a complaint with the FBI at ic3.gov and with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

For more information on charity and disaster scams, visit: https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/charity-and-disaster-fraud