Community Urged to Practice Caution with Calls or Messages from Unknown Phone Numbers

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) along with the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC), are closely monitoring reports of local telephone numbers receiving suspicious messages from local, domestic and unusual or unexpected international area codes.

The suspicious messengers or callers may act under the guise of multiple, separate scams to include but not limited to: program assistance for paying for medical bills, claims that you have won a lottery or sweepstake and they need personal or financial information to confirm; claims that your social security number has been “flagged” and they need to get personal information to confirm; claims offering to lower credit card interest rates, debt relief or credit repairs; claims offering to help start a business by offering business investments; or claims requesting donations for charity with requests for personal or financial information.

A most recent message circulating advises users to contact +18175910872 in order to receive assistance for paying for medical bills. The MRFC advises the community to avoid messaging the number back, and also to avoid sharing the unofficial message further.

Not all calls or messages from unusual numbers should be regarded as suspect. To avoid missing important calls, familiarize yourself with numbers important to you and your household such as insurance agencies or others that you regularly deal with. If you receive calls or strange messages from an international or unusual number, do not be tempted to call back or return the message and block the number, if possible.

Remain vigilant and continue to follow these tips provided by the Federal Trade Commission to recognize and avoid scams:

Spot imposters. Scammers may pose as a government official, family member, charity, or a company you do business with. Do not send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request- whether it comes as a text, phone call, or an email.
Local numbers may be spoofed. Scammers use technology (‘spoofing’) to fake caller ID information to cause confusion to the end user. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. Conduct an online search utilizing legitimate websites or directly contact the institution.
Do online searches. Search a company or product name with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search a phrase describing your situation, like “Social Security telephone call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
Do not pay upfront for a promise. Scammers may ask individuals to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They may even promise that someone has won a prize, but first request taxes or fees. When individuals provide money up front, the money usually disappears.
Consider how you pay. Credit cards offer a significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods do not. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it is nearly impossible to get your money back. Government agencies and honest companies do not require you to use these payment methods.
Talk to someone. Before providing money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Scam artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, conduct an online search, consult an expert – or contact the Mariana Regional Fusion Center to ask if there are other reports of similar calls which may be fraudulent in nature.

The MRFC analyzes data and trends to identify scams and fraudulent patterns. Your report may help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls. If you would like to make a report, try to write down details so that you can provide them when you report the incident, including the day and time you were contacted. Report the number that appears on your caller ID — even if you think it might be fake — and number you are told to call back, names, any email address, mailing addresses, routing numbers, or specific instructions you were given.

The community is advised to report any suspicious activity relating to the subject to the MRFC at (671) 475-0400 or via email at mrfc@ghs.guam.gov, following the Department of Homeland Security’s campaign, “If You See Something, Say Something.”

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.