Suffolk County Police Warn Residents of Text Message Phishing Scam

The Suffolk County Police Departments Identity Theft Unit is warning residents of a cell phone text message phishing scam that has been reported in Suffolk County.

The text messages are designed to trick the receiver into divulging personal information through their cell phone. Several Suffolk County residents have notified police of text messages they have received that claim to be from different financial institutions requesting account information.

The Identity Theft Unit has warned Suffolk residents in the past about similar phishing schemes designed to trick potential victims into giving up their personal identifying information. The senders of the message usually claim to be from financial institutions, but also may state they represent government agencies and merchants that are requesting the information in order to update databases, recover from computer crashes or fix other problems with the victims accounts.

Other methods the identity thieves use to obtain personal information fraudulently include unsolicited phone calls or e-mails to the potential victims.

The public is reminded to never reveal their personal identifying information to anyone who has made an unsolicited contact by phone, e-mail, or text message. To prevent becoming a victim of a scam, the Identity Theft Unit recommends residents verify any request through independent means before releasing any of your personal information. Call the local office of the government agency or business through a publicly listed or verified phone number to verify that the caller and any request for personal information is legitimate and is actually required. Financial institutions will not request account information through these unsolicited communications.

For more information regarding identity theft prevention and resolution, visit the police departments website at www.suffolkpd.org and click on the ID Theft Unit link. 

Veterans Administration Will Investigate Life Insurance Practices

VA to Investigate Life Insurance Practices: The VA is investigating what may be a legal yet shameful life insurance industry practice of putting veterans' death benefits into corporate accounts instead of making lump sum payments to survivors.  Prudential Financial Inc. and MetLife Inc. are among the companies to be investigated, according to Bloomberg Markets magazine.  Another industry practice to be investigated is the payment of uncompetitive interest rates to survivors.  In 2008, for example, Prudential paid survivors 1 percent interest on their accounts, while it earned a 4.8 percent return on its corporate funds, according to Bloomberg.  Such accounts are not FDIC protected.  House VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) said he was "outraged" that insurance practices appear to result in "corporations retaining the assets in corporate accounts, profiting from the interest, and failing to pass accrued interest to surviving families. VA Washington Weekly July 30, 2010

Suffolk County's War On Illegal Drugs

Suffolk County Police today arrested four Long Island men involved in a multi-state distribution network and seized more than $700,000 worth of drugs.  

Suffolk County Police Narcotics Section Detectives, along with the Illinois State Police, the New York State Police, the Nassau County Police Department, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested four Long Island residents for distributing large quantities of cocaine and heroin in both Suffolk and Nassau Counties.  

Illinois State Police developed information indicating that illicit drugs were being transported from California, through the State of Illinois, and ultimately ending up on Long Island . During a follow-up investigation by Suffolk County Police Narcotics Detectives, it was determined that Athrondre Dennard of North Babylon, Byron Odom of Amityville, Shaun Ross of Hempstead, and Robert Blount of Roosevelt, were involved in a large-scale drug network that distributed in both Suffolk and Nassau Counties.  

"These arrests demonstrate the zero-tolerance approach we take towards those who seek to profit from harming our children with heroin, cocaine and other narcotics,” said County Executive Steve Levy. “I commend our Narcotics Unit and entire Police Department for their role in stopping this national distribution network."  

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer thanked all the agencies involved: "I applaud this outstanding collaborative effort among County, State and Federal agencies which has helped stem the flow of illicit narcotics into our communities and has resulted in serious charges against four major drug traffickers."  

The operation resulted in the seizure of 13 kilos of cocaine, over 100 grams of crack/cocaine, an ounce of “Black Tar” heroin, which is not usually found on Long Island, $19,200, two handguns, and two vehicles outfitted with traps utilized to secrete drugs.  

The following men were charged federally with Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics:

• Athrondre Dennard, 34, of 243 Columbus Ave., North Babylon
• Shaun Ross, 35, of 38 Crowell St. , Hempstead
• Robert Blount, 41, of 20 Royal Court , Roosevelt  
• Byron Odom, 45,of 777 County Line Rd. , Amityville  

All four men were arraigned in Federal Court in the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip where they were all ordered held with no bail.  

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven

Dept. Of Health Services Recommends Closing Blydenburgh 6pm-8am

 Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) Commissioner James L. Tomarken, MD, MSW, MPH, MBA, FRCPC, FACP, has been notified by the New York State Department of Health that nineteen additional mosquito samples sent to their laboratory have tested positive for West Nile virus.  These samples were collected between July 21^st and July 23^rd in Brookhaven: (4) Selden, Farmingville; Huntington: (6) Melville, Dix Hills, Greenlawn, South Huntington;  Smithtown: (3) Smithtown, Nesconset;  Riverhead: (2) Jamesport, Aquebogue;  Babylon: (2) West Babylon, North Babylon; and Islip: (2) West Islip, Ronkonkoma.  Two of the Smithtown samples were collected in Blydenburgh County Park.  To date a total of 38 mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus.  Six birds have tested positive.  There have been no human cases reported in Suffolk County this year.

To protect the public, the Department of Health Services has recommended that Blydenburgh County Park be closed from 6 pm to 8 am and all activities suspended during those hours. 

West Nile virus, first detected in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter through 2010, is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. No humans, horses or birds have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Suffolk this year.

While most people infected with West Nile virus will experience mild or no symptoms, some can develop severe symptoms including: high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. Individuals, especially those 50 years of age or older or those with compromised immune systems, who are most at risk, are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. 

To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270.

For medical questions related to West Nile virus, call 631-853-3055.

 For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.

Lazio on Levy's Endorsement

New York, NY - Rick Lazio, the Republican and Conservative candidate for Governor, issued the following statement today in reaction to receiving the endorsement of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy:
 
Rick Lazio said, "I am grateful for Steve Levy’s endorsement today.  Like me, Steve has dealt first-hand with the consequences of the Albany political machine which is stifling the economy of our state.  I am pleased to have Steve Levy’s support for my agenda of reduced spending, a balanced budget, less taxes and more jobs for the people of New York."