1) Are you a telemarketing business or are you calling from the charities offices?
2) What is the name, call back number, address and person in charge of your
telemarketing company?
3) How much of the money goes to administration costs and how much does the charity
receive?
4) Is this charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and what is the charities
registration number?
5) Can you provide me with your contact's name, address and telephone number at
the charity you are representing?
6) Is this charity registered with the Better Business Bureau?
7) How will the money be specifically used?
8) Does the charity have a website?
9) Do you issue tax receipts for income tax purposes?
10) Are you a labour organization or are you representing a labour organization?
(ask this question if they claim to be calling on behalf of any emergency services
organization - (example: police, fire or paramedics).
11) Do you have a problem with me verifying the information you have provided before I
donate?
If they can't answer your questions or attempt to apply pressure tactics, simply ask
them not to call back and hang up.
You can also call the Gananoque Police Service and report this suspicious
behaviour 613-382-4422.
2) What is the name, call back number, address and person in charge of your
telemarketing company?
3) How much of the money goes to administration costs and how much does the charity
receive?
4) Is this charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and what is the charities
registration number?
5) Can you provide me with your contact's name, address and telephone number at
the charity you are representing?
6) Is this charity registered with the Better Business Bureau?
7) How will the money be specifically used?
8) Does the charity have a website?
9) Do you issue tax receipts for income tax purposes?
10) Are you a labour organization or are you representing a labour organization?
(ask this question if they claim to be calling on behalf of any emergency services
organization - (example: police, fire or paramedics).
11) Do you have a problem with me verifying the information you have provided before I
donate?
If they can't answer your questions or attempt to apply pressure tactics, simply ask
them not to call back and hang up.
You can also call the Gananoque Police Service and report this suspicious
behaviour 613-382-4422.
| CREDIT - DEBIT CARD FRAUD ALERT |
| On the weekend of August 8, 2009 criminals conducted a skimming operation of debit-credit cards of our citizens and guests to Gananoque. In an effort to further help you protect yourself and your information, we have created a link to the Canadian Bankers Association on how to Safe Guard Your Monies. To learn about other types of SCAMS , PHISING and CRIME PREVENTION click on the links. The Gananoque Police Service is actively working with the affected local financial institutions. |
| The Gananoque Police Service gratefully acknowledges the assistance of The Canadian Bankers Association. |
| UPDATE |
| Please click on the link to view photo's of persons considered to be PERSONS OF INTEREST in a pin pad tampering debit card fraud investigation. |
| CRIME ALERTS |
Photos: M. Reid - Gananoque Police
| TELEMARKETING SCAMS |
If you receive a call from a telemarketer seeking a donation for a charity or a worthy
cause, don't be in a hurry to turn over your credit card number or make a commitment
to donate. Also don't give them your address until you have checked them out.
Ask which charity they represent and are they a telemarketing company or are they
calling directly from the charity.
Ask for a call back number and a contact first and last name and job title. Also call the
charity directly to ask if they are soliciting donations by phone.
Check with Canada Revenue Agency for more helpful hints;
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/dnrs/lrt/3-eng.html#q2
You can also check with Canada Revenue Agency on the Status of the Charity;
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/advancedsearch-eng.action
The BBB also has Helpful Hints on giving to Charity and an online search
engine to check if a Charity or Business is a member in good standing;
http://www.bbb.org/canada/charity/
You can also contact and do research on scams on the Phone Busters Website;
http://www.phonebusters.com/
You can also register for the NATIONAL DO NOT CALL LIST and have your name
removed from telemarketing phone lists.
https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/index-eng
If a telemarketer or charity contacts you and they are not registered with
the Canada Revenue Agency or the Better Business Bureau, don't give
them any money or personal information.
cause, don't be in a hurry to turn over your credit card number or make a commitment
to donate. Also don't give them your address until you have checked them out.
Ask which charity they represent and are they a telemarketing company or are they
calling directly from the charity.
Ask for a call back number and a contact first and last name and job title. Also call the
charity directly to ask if they are soliciting donations by phone.
Check with Canada Revenue Agency for more helpful hints;
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/dnrs/lrt/3-eng.html#q2
You can also check with Canada Revenue Agency on the Status of the Charity;
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/advancedsearch-eng.action
The BBB also has Helpful Hints on giving to Charity and an online search
engine to check if a Charity or Business is a member in good standing;
http://www.bbb.org/canada/charity/
You can also contact and do research on scams on the Phone Busters Website;
http://www.phonebusters.com/
You can also register for the NATIONAL DO NOT CALL LIST and have your name
removed from telemarketing phone lists.
https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/index-eng
If a telemarketer or charity contacts you and they are not registered with
the Canada Revenue Agency or the Better Business Bureau, don't give
them any money or personal information.
| Questions You Have the Right to Ask |
Graffiti is a crime, not an art form. Graffiti generates fears of neighbourhood crime, instability,
and declining property values.
Graffiti is not simply a maintenance problem, but a complex social problem as well. If graffiti is
not cleaned up, the perception is that the behaviour is condoned and the area is not being
watched. This opens the door for other property crimes and creates an environment that
tolerates violent crimes such as serious assaults and robbery.
The Gananoque Police Service maintains a database of "taggers" and their profiles.
Offenders will be charged and parents of offenders can be held responsible for damages
under the Parental Responsibilities Act.
Tagging / Graffiti Vandalism
The vast majority of graffiti vandalism is the result of "tagging", committed by juveniles for the
main reason of recognition. Taggers are not necessarily gang members, they do not reflect
any specific socio-economic background, and they come from all neighborhoods.
How to Spot a "Tagger"
•bulky sweatshirts with hoods, military jackets, pull-over or zip-ups with a hood helps conceal
spray cans and markers
•blood-shot eyes from spending nights tagging and exposure to dangerous toxic fumes (paint
markers)
•graffiti doodles on notebooks, skateboards, under baseball cap rims and other personal
possessions; has a sketchbook for practice
•a backpack to hide spray cans and graffiti tools
•baggy clothes with deep pockets to hide spray cans and felt markers
•paint or marker pen dye stains on hands, under the fingernails, on clothes, sneakers or
shoes
•multiple spray can heads ("Caps", "Fat", "Skinny" refer to interchangeable spray can nozzles
to spray various widths and coverages)
•"racking" (the graffiti term for shoplifting paints, markers or graffiti supplies)
How You Can Stop Graffiti
The answer to the problem of graffiti does not seem to be the creation of "free walls", places
where individuals are permitted or encouraged to graffiti. In fact, there have been several
documented examples of the "bleed-off" effect from free walls. In Calgary, a free wall was
offered, with the end result that graffiti spread to a 10 square block radius of the initial wall.
In contrast, painted murals do sometimes curtail vandals' opportunity to graffiti walls. If you
wish to have a mural painted on your property, contact the Town of Gananoque, who can
work with you and assist you in obtaining the necessary permission.
•after notifying police remove graffiti immediately (remember to take photo's) (graffiti removed
within 72 hours minimizes the chances of it reappearing in the same location; it is also much
easier to remove painted graffiti in the first few hours)
•work with the police if you know someone who is guilty of graffiti vandalism
•use a product on your walls to make the surfaces less susceptible to graffiti paint (talk to
your local hardware or paint store)
Information for Stores Selling Potential Graffiti Products
The following procedures are suggested to store managers to help combat this problem:
•educate staff to be aware of the age of a customer purchasing spray paints, paint
markers, dye pens, or paint sticks; if a minor attempts to purchase these items in the Summer
and claims they are for school, verbally challenge them (you have the right to refuse service
to anyone)
•voice your opinions to City Hall if you feel strongly about creating a bylaw to restrict the sale
of spray paint and related items to minors
•make your staff aware that spray paint, markers, and etching tools are frequent targets for
shoplifting
•post signs at the paint display area stating the penalties for graffiti vandalism
•ensure that spray paint cans and other potential tools (indelible markers, etc.) are in clear
view of store personnel or otherwise protected from theft behind locked cabinets
What to Do if You are the Victim of Graffiti Vandalism
•do not attempt to apprehend the suspect(s)
•get a good description of suspect(s) and any vehicles (licence plate number) involved
•always take photos of the graffiti for future potential prosecution
•if you have suspect / vehicle descriptions or a witness who does, call police
•if the crime is in progress, call 911 immediately
•if you find graffiti and there is no suspect, call the non-emergency number of the
Gananoque Police Service 613-382-4422.
How can you prevent graffiti?
1.Ongoing upkeep
Make every effort to keep the appearance of your property clean and neat. An exterior
appearance that suggests apathy and neglect attracts vandals. Littered parking lots, graffiti,
broken fences, overgrown landscaping, and poor lighting all send a message to vandals that
business owners are not attentive or do not car about the business.
2.Rapid Removal
Rapid removal of graffiti is the best way for property owners to protect their neighbourhood's
image and preserve a sense of security. Report graffiti to the police, take a picture of the
graffiti and then remove it quickly.
3.Control access
■Incorporate shrubs and vines to restrict access to a potential graffiti target wall.
■Add or improve lighting around the building to promote natural surveillance.
■Wherever possible use fences, controlled entrance and exits, rails, and other barriers that
discourage through traffic.
■Limit access to roofs by moving dumpsters away from walls and cover drainpipes and
ladders to prevent vandals from scaling them.
4.Step up security
■Install some type of security camera.
■Organize a block watch in your neighbourhood.
■Employ graffiti resistant materials or coatings on a chronically hit wall or consider hiring an
artist to paint a mural.
5.Work with the community
Organize a Community Paint-Out. Contact your locale Police, Community Centre or school
and see how they can help
6.Protect Your Walls With Anti-Graffiti Coating
Commercial products are available that make cleaning graffiti easier. Protecting your building
now could save time down the road if your building is ever the target of graffiti vandalism. For
more information, contact your local paint store.
and declining property values.
Graffiti is not simply a maintenance problem, but a complex social problem as well. If graffiti is
not cleaned up, the perception is that the behaviour is condoned and the area is not being
watched. This opens the door for other property crimes and creates an environment that
tolerates violent crimes such as serious assaults and robbery.
The Gananoque Police Service maintains a database of "taggers" and their profiles.
Offenders will be charged and parents of offenders can be held responsible for damages
under the Parental Responsibilities Act.
Tagging / Graffiti Vandalism
The vast majority of graffiti vandalism is the result of "tagging", committed by juveniles for the
main reason of recognition. Taggers are not necessarily gang members, they do not reflect
any specific socio-economic background, and they come from all neighborhoods.
How to Spot a "Tagger"
•bulky sweatshirts with hoods, military jackets, pull-over or zip-ups with a hood helps conceal
spray cans and markers
•blood-shot eyes from spending nights tagging and exposure to dangerous toxic fumes (paint
markers)
•graffiti doodles on notebooks, skateboards, under baseball cap rims and other personal
possessions; has a sketchbook for practice
•a backpack to hide spray cans and graffiti tools
•baggy clothes with deep pockets to hide spray cans and felt markers
•paint or marker pen dye stains on hands, under the fingernails, on clothes, sneakers or
shoes
•multiple spray can heads ("Caps", "Fat", "Skinny" refer to interchangeable spray can nozzles
to spray various widths and coverages)
•"racking" (the graffiti term for shoplifting paints, markers or graffiti supplies)
How You Can Stop Graffiti
The answer to the problem of graffiti does not seem to be the creation of "free walls", places
where individuals are permitted or encouraged to graffiti. In fact, there have been several
documented examples of the "bleed-off" effect from free walls. In Calgary, a free wall was
offered, with the end result that graffiti spread to a 10 square block radius of the initial wall.
In contrast, painted murals do sometimes curtail vandals' opportunity to graffiti walls. If you
wish to have a mural painted on your property, contact the Town of Gananoque, who can
work with you and assist you in obtaining the necessary permission.
•after notifying police remove graffiti immediately (remember to take photo's) (graffiti removed
within 72 hours minimizes the chances of it reappearing in the same location; it is also much
easier to remove painted graffiti in the first few hours)
•work with the police if you know someone who is guilty of graffiti vandalism
•use a product on your walls to make the surfaces less susceptible to graffiti paint (talk to
your local hardware or paint store)
Information for Stores Selling Potential Graffiti Products
The following procedures are suggested to store managers to help combat this problem:
•educate staff to be aware of the age of a customer purchasing spray paints, paint
markers, dye pens, or paint sticks; if a minor attempts to purchase these items in the Summer
and claims they are for school, verbally challenge them (you have the right to refuse service
to anyone)
•voice your opinions to City Hall if you feel strongly about creating a bylaw to restrict the sale
of spray paint and related items to minors
•make your staff aware that spray paint, markers, and etching tools are frequent targets for
shoplifting
•post signs at the paint display area stating the penalties for graffiti vandalism
•ensure that spray paint cans and other potential tools (indelible markers, etc.) are in clear
view of store personnel or otherwise protected from theft behind locked cabinets
What to Do if You are the Victim of Graffiti Vandalism
•do not attempt to apprehend the suspect(s)
•get a good description of suspect(s) and any vehicles (licence plate number) involved
•always take photos of the graffiti for future potential prosecution
•if you have suspect / vehicle descriptions or a witness who does, call police
•if the crime is in progress, call 911 immediately
•if you find graffiti and there is no suspect, call the non-emergency number of the
Gananoque Police Service 613-382-4422.
How can you prevent graffiti?
1.Ongoing upkeep
Make every effort to keep the appearance of your property clean and neat. An exterior
appearance that suggests apathy and neglect attracts vandals. Littered parking lots, graffiti,
broken fences, overgrown landscaping, and poor lighting all send a message to vandals that
business owners are not attentive or do not car about the business.
2.Rapid Removal
Rapid removal of graffiti is the best way for property owners to protect their neighbourhood's
image and preserve a sense of security. Report graffiti to the police, take a picture of the
graffiti and then remove it quickly.
3.Control access
■Incorporate shrubs and vines to restrict access to a potential graffiti target wall.
■Add or improve lighting around the building to promote natural surveillance.
■Wherever possible use fences, controlled entrance and exits, rails, and other barriers that
discourage through traffic.
■Limit access to roofs by moving dumpsters away from walls and cover drainpipes and
ladders to prevent vandals from scaling them.
4.Step up security
■Install some type of security camera.
■Organize a block watch in your neighbourhood.
■Employ graffiti resistant materials or coatings on a chronically hit wall or consider hiring an
artist to paint a mural.
5.Work with the community
Organize a Community Paint-Out. Contact your locale Police, Community Centre or school
and see how they can help
6.Protect Your Walls With Anti-Graffiti Coating
Commercial products are available that make cleaning graffiti easier. Protecting your building
now could save time down the road if your building is ever the target of graffiti vandalism. For
more information, contact your local paint store.
| PARENTAL CHECKLIST 1. Does your kid or their friends have paint on their hands that can't be explained? 2. Does your kid draw graffiti on their notebooks, hats, clothes or other items. 3. Does your kid act secretive when they come home. 4. Is your kid staying out late or sneaking out at night. 5. Does your kids have blood shot eyes or claims they are not sleeping. 6. Are you finding spray paint cans or paint markers around the house, in the kids room, in the trash or in the garage you didn't buy. 7. Does your kid hang out with friends that cause you to be concerned. 8. Have you checked their backpacks, sports bags and other items. 9. Ask your kid where they are going, who they are going with and ask them to call and check in. 10. Talk to your kids about how graffiti damages the neighbourhood. Parental Responsibility ACT If your kids commits a crime the courts can order the parents be held liable and ordered to pay damages |
The Gananoque Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance to identify the person or
persons responsible for a rash of incidents where spray paint has been used to paint Graffiti
is asked to take note of the Graffiti in an effort to identify a suspect. Everyone is asked to
report any suspicious persons loitering near areas where it is easy to paint Graffiti on
something especially at night.
If you have information on this or any other criminal activity you may contact the Gananoque
Police Service at 613-382-4422. The Gananoque dispatch system does not have call display
and no one is required to identify themselves.
The public can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Information that is provided is
confidential and you will not be required to identify yourself. Crime Stoppers pays a
monetary reward for information that leads to an arrest of a suspect.
persons responsible for a rash of incidents where spray paint has been used to paint Graffiti
is asked to take note of the Graffiti in an effort to identify a suspect. Everyone is asked to
report any suspicious persons loitering near areas where it is easy to paint Graffiti on
something especially at night.
If you have information on this or any other criminal activity you may contact the Gananoque
Police Service at 613-382-4422. The Gananoque dispatch system does not have call display
and no one is required to identify themselves.
The public can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Information that is provided is
confidential and you will not be required to identify yourself. Crime Stoppers pays a
monetary reward for information that leads to an arrest of a suspect.
| INFORMATION ON GRAFFITI |
| GRAFFITI ALERT |
| DO YOU KNOW THESE TAGGERS |
| COUNTERFEIT MONEY ALERT |
