Crime Tip: Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft

Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft are growing criminal enterprises and we need to do everything we can to prevent becoming a victim.

The Director of Security for Capital One Bank suggests the following tip to help detect if your credit card(s) are compromised:

When paying with a credit or debit card, never round the final amount up to a round number. For instance, if the bill at the restaurant is $36.75 and you want to leave a $7.00 tip, don’t make the tip $7.25 so that the bill is an even $44.00. Leave the $7.00 tip and let the final amount be $43.75. Do this whenever you pay with a credit card.

When you receive your credit card statement, review the amounts, paying particular attention to any amount that is for an exact dollar figure, $44.00, $50.00, $100.00, etc. These amounts will raise a red flag for you to check further to determine if someone has made unauthorized charge with your credit card.

This is just another way to maintain control of your accounts and identity. Please tell your family and friends and remember to shred all financial documents before throwing them in the trash.

Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 120

In this issue of The Grapevine:

• Our Top Stories
  • Next Town Hall – THURSDAY, 9/18, at 7 p.m.
  • Pesticide Spraying Tonight 8/27
  • Graffiti Cleanup Sunday 9/7
  • Participatory Budgeting Around the Corner
  • WDHVN 11421 T-Shirts Available
  • Woodhaven Celebration – Allan Smith
  • Special Announcement

• Local Events
  • WORKS Little League Pre-Registration 8/28
  • Face Painting & Music Party (WBID) 8/30
    
  • Community Board #9 9/9
  • Richmond Hill Park Fair 9/13
  • Cemetery Cleanup 9/13
  • Ambulance Corps Fundraiser 9/20
  • The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale 2014 9/27 10 AM
  • Jamaica Avenue Trolley 10/4
  • Forest Park Fall Festival (sponsored by Eric Ulrich) 10/18 
  • Wonderful Woodhaven Street Fair 10/19
    
  • Forest Park Dog Run Halloween Costume Contest 10/25

• News & Announcements
  
  • Mary Ann Carey to Retire
  • Ulrich Appoints a New Chief of Staff 
  • Crime Tip – Green Dot Money Pak
    
  • 102nd Precinct Celebrates 100 Years
  • Night Out Against Crime
  • Disco Night at the Dome
  • Crumbling Eyesore profiled
  • Queens By The Minute
  • WRBA Membership Drive

     

** Our Top Stories:

 

** Town Hall Meeting – Our next Town Hall will be Thursday, September 18th, 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall (89-02 91st Street – behind PS 60).  We will be joined by the 102 Precinct’s Deputy Inspector Hank Sautner and by representatives of HeartShare, the organization that is opening a new group residence on the corner of Woodhaven Boulevard and 89th Avenue.

 

** Pesticide Spraying Tonight – To reduce mosquito activity and the risk of West Nile virus, the Health Department will spray pesticide from trucks in parts of Queens, including Woodhaven and Forest Park, tonight (Wednesday, August 27) between 8:15 p.m. and 6 a.m. (Note: We have been advised by Parks Dept that spraying in our area will occur after midnight – so it will not effect tonight’s showing of Disney’s “Frozen” at the Bandshell.)

 

** Woodhaven Graffiti Cleanup – The next graffiti cleanup will be on Sunday, September 7th at 10 a.m. We need volunteers – contact the WRBA at info@woodhaven-nyc.org or call 718-296-3735 and leave a message (and a way to contact you).  

 

** Participatory Budgeting Around the Corner – We are going to start discussing this very soon. If you would like to be more involved in the process this year, now is the time to speak up.  Email us or leave a message at 718-296-3735. This is your opportunity to have a say in how money is spent in our community.  Want to learn more?  Click here.

 

** WDHVN 11421 T-Shirts Available – For the past few years, the WRBA has sold the very popular WDHVN 11421 T-Shirts at the Street Fair.  We have a limited supply of leftover stock – if you are interested you can order them here (on a first ordered-first served basis).  Click here to order.

 

** Woodhaven Celebration – Allan Smith – The WRBA’s Annual Dinner Dance is scheduled for Friday October 10th (that’s 10/10 — easy to remember!) and will be held this year at Roma View Catering.  Click here to read about our Man of the Year Mr. Allan Smith – and click here to purchase tickets.

 

** Special Announcement – We’re happy to announce that Madeline Lovallo is donating a framed, full-sized print of her Lewis’ of Woodhaven painting to be raffled off at this year’s Woodhaven Celebration/Fundraiser for the WRBA at Roma View on Friday October 10th (click here to buy a ticket: http://bit.ly/wrba2014). Madeline and the Lewis family will be on hand – we’ll bring a Sharpie in case the winner would like this autographed by the whole gang.  What a nice piece of Woodhaven memorabilia that would make!

 

** Other Events:

 

** WORKS Little League Pre-Registration – You will be able to register kids for next season of WORKS Little League at the WORKS Clubhouse at 84-01 Jamaica Avenue from 6 to 9 PM. You can also purchase tickets for the WORKS Little League Awards Dinner which will be on Sunday, October 26th at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Boulevard) – tickets cost $27 per person. There will be other dates to register; we will pass along as soon as we get them.

 

** Face Painting & Music Party – On Saturday August 30th from 1 to 4 PM there will be face painting, free balloons, and music at Forest Parkway courtesy of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District. The WBID will also be handing out quarters to people coming to shop on Jamaica Avenue.

 

** Community Board #9 – CB9 returns after taking a summer hiatus from meetings. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 @ 7:45 PM at the Villa Russo IL Palazzo (101-12 Lefferts Blvd in Richmond Hill).

 

** Richmond Hill Park Fair 9/13 – The Richmond Hill Park Fair will take place on Saturday September 13th from 10 AM to 6 PM.  The WRBA will have a table set up, selling t-Shirts, Dance Tickets, Ambulance Corps Fundraiser Tickets.  Drop by and say hi!

** Cemetery Cleanup 9/13 – The Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society along with STA’s Woodhaven History Club and All Saints will be holding their 3rd Cemetery Cleanup on Saturday September 13th from 9 AM to 12 Noon.  Click here to see pics and video from the August Cleanup.

** Ambulance Corps Fundraiser – The WRBA along with our elected officials – Mike Miller, Joe Addabbo, Eric Ulrich, Elizabeth Crowley and Nydia Velazquez – are holding a ’50s themed Pasta Dinner Fundraiser for the Ambulance Corps. They are in dire straits and need our help. Click here to purchase tickets and help Save The Ambulance Corps. Saturday, September 20th starting at 5 PM at Emanuel United Church of Christ.

 

** The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale 2014 – Back by popular demand, the WRBA will be sponsoring The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale again in 2014.  Last year over 60 families participated with a good number reporting sales of well over $100 — this year we’re aiming for 100 participating households. The 2014 Great Woodhaven Yard Sale will be on Saturday, September 27, from 9AM to 4PM (rain date Sunday, September 28, same times). Click here to register.

 

** Jamaica Avenue Trolley – There will be a trolley on Jamaica Avenue from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday, October 4th courtesy of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District.

** Forest Park Fall Festival (sponsored by Eric Ulrich) – The Forest Park Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 18th from Noon to 3 PM. Click here to see last year’s event which was very well received.  Important: The fall festival is for families and will include crafts, entertainment, pumpkin patch, face painting, games and recreational activities. Volunteers are needed to help with the kids with crafts, at the pumpkin patch and recreational areas as well as set up and break down of the event. If you would like to part of the volunteers, please contact us.

 

** Wonderful Woodhaven Street Fair – This year’s Street Fair brought to you by the WBID/GWDC will held on Sunday October 19th from 12 noon to 6 PM on Jamaica Avenue from Woodhaven Boulevard to 80th Street.

** Forest Park Dog Run Halloween Costume Contest  – The Annual K-9 Korral Dog Run Halloween Costume Contest for Dogs will be held on October 25th from 1 to 3 PM at 85th Street and Park Lane South.  Free refreshments will be served.  Judging begins at 2PM and the WRBA’s Ed Wendell will be serving as one of the judges.  $5 entry fee for non-members/ Free for members (bring your membership cards).   Bobbing for Hot Dogs contest 2:45pm. Fun event to watch, click here for last year’s highlights.  For info call Charlotte 917 337-7613

 

** News & Announcements:

 

 

** Mary Ann Carey to Retire – Ms. Carey has been involved with the community and has served as District Manager of CB9 for over three decades. We thank her for all her hard work and wish her well in the future! Click here for the story.

 

** Ulrich Appoints New Chief of Staff – As noted at our last meeting, Eric’s Chief of Staff, Rudy Giuliani, has moved on to another post helping recovery operations in the Rockaways. Effective immediately, his new Chief of Staff is Sal Simonetti. Click here to read more. Good luck, Rudy!  And good luck to Sal!  

 

** Crime Tip – Green Dot Money Pak – Click here for an update on a fast-growing scam. Click here to view our collection of Crime Tips and Hints.

 

** 102 Celebrates 100 Years – The 102nd Precinct recently celebrated their 100th year in their current building – click here for coverage.

 

** Night Out Against Crime – Click here for pictures from this year’s Night Out Against Crime Event.

 

** Disco Night at the Dome – A lot of residents (and many WRBA members) came together at the bandshell for a night of disco music. Click here for fun pictures and video.

 

** Crumbling Eyesore Profiled – Click here to read more about the tragic Ambulance Corps situation by clicking here.

 

** Queens By The Minute – A new online news resource has started up called Queens by The Minute, managed by Nick Biondo, a familiar face at many local meetings and events. Click here to have a look.

 

** WRBA Membership Drive – Many thanks to everyone who signed up as new members or renewed their existing memberships. Our drive for new memberships and renewals continues – if you want to renew or sign-up online, click here.

— 

Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

woodhaven-nyc.org

718-296-3735

     

 

Crime Tip: Another Green Dot Money Pak Card Scam

The latest criminal scams involving Green Dot Money Pak Cards has focused on people looking to buy cars off of Craig’s List. Interested buyers are told to send payment using the GREEN DOT MONEY PAK CARD to purchase the advertised vehicle. Buyers and Sellers email back and forth until the buyer sends payment using the GREEN DOT CARD. The buyer never gets the vehicle and never hears from the seller again. Their money is lost.

TIP

If you are asked to make a payment of any kind using a Green Dot Money Pak Card:

• Disconnect from the person calling, texting or emailing you
  Green Dot Money Pak Cards are being used by criminals to steal your money.