The FBI is issuing a warning about a new scam that's costing victims millions of dollars.A news release from the FBI alerts mobile carriers and the public about an increase in Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swapping, in which criminals steal money from virtual currency accounts.SIM swapping may not be what you think it is. It doesn't mean a cybercriminal has to physically take your SIM card, the memory chips that make your phone yours, according to McAfee, a global computer security software company.SIM swapping is now happening remotely when scammers can access and use your personal information to impersonate you and convince the mobile carrier of your phone to reassign your phone number to a new SIM card. That's when scammers can gain control of your phone data, change your passwords and access your accounts.Between January 2018 and December 2020, the FBI said its Internet Crime Complaint Center received 320 complaints related to SIM swapping incidents that resulted in losses of $12 million.In 2021, the center received 1,611 SIM swapping complaints about losses of $68 million.SIM swapping targets mobile carriers to access victims' bank accounts, virtual currency accounts and other sensitive information through a few techniques.Scammers sometimes use social engineering to impersonate the victim and trick the mobile carrier to switch the victim's mobile number to a SIM card in the scammer's possession. They may also conduct SIM swap schemes to pay off mobile carrier employees to switch a victim's mobile number to a SIM card in their possession. Scammers can also use phishing techniques to deceive employees to download malware that is then used to hack the mobile carrier system to carry out the SIM swap.Once a scammer swaps the SIM, the victim's calls, texts and other data are downloaded to the scammer's device, which allows them to use "forgot password" or "account recovery" options with the victim's accounts associated with their email and phone number. SIM swaps can even outsmart two-factor authentication, where mobile app providers send a link or one-time passcode through text to a victim's phone number. SIM swapping allows scammers access despite this process to log in, reset passwords and gain control of the victims' accounts.In its news release, the FBI provided some advice to avoid SIM swapping scams: • Don't advertise information about your financial assets, including ownership or investment in cryptocurrency, on social media.• Don't provide mobile number account information over the phone, including your account password and pin. Verify the call by dialing the customer service line of your mobile phone carrier.• Try to avoid posting your mobile phone number, address and other personal information online.• Use different passwords for your online accounts.• Use strong multi-factor authentication methods like biometrics, physical security tokens or standalone authentication applications to access your online accounts.• Don't store passwords, usernames or login information on mobile device apps.If you think you're the victim of SIM swapping, you should contact your mobile carrier immediately to regain control of your phone number. You should also access your online accounts, change your passwords and contact your bank to place an alert on your accounts for any suspicious login attempts or transactions. The FBI recommends reporting any information about suspicious account activity to local law enforcement, your local FBI field office or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

IN NEED. KNOW NORMALLY YOU THINK OF SURF CITY AND YOU THINK OF PEOPLE COMING HERE AND DROPPING OFF FOOD ITEMS LIKE SOUP AND PEANUT BUTTER, BUT NOW THEY COULD DROP OFF BICYCLES IT ALL STARTED WITH ROU STORY ON RANDY BOWLING BOWLING IS DISABLED AND HIS BICYCLE ISIS H ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK AT WALMART IN FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP LAST WEEKEND. HIS BIKE WAS STOLEN. HEY YOUR NEWS STORY WAS BARELY OVER ON THE ON THE TV. I WAS WATCHING IT WHEN MY PHONE STARTED RINGING. PEOPLE ASKING, HOW CAN I HELP I KNEW ALL IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAD SUCTRK A CHORD THAT LINE THAT RANDY SAID THIS MADE MY LIFE HARDER. IT WAS THE BIG THING THAT STRUCK ME AND SO I JUST THINKEOPLE P HEARD THAT AND PEOPLE SAID THIS THIS IS NOT OKAY. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DAVID HOOD IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SURF CITYND A HAMILTON THE ORGANIZATION THAT OWNS THE APARTMENTS WHEREAN RDY BOWLING LIVES KNOWING RANDY WAS TAKING CARE OF THANKS TO GENEROUS GIFTS FROM OUR VIEWERS. HOOD CREATED A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO HELP OTHERS LIKE RANDY. THISS I PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN UNFORTUNATELY MIGHT NOT BE THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENS. AND SO WE’RE SETTING UP A FUND CALLED A BIKE MATCHING FUND. THEY’RE COLLECTING BIKES OR PREFERABLY MONEY TO OFFER RESIDENTS AS A MATCHING FUND. AND SO IF THEY ARE ABLE TO COME UP WHIT DOLLARS WILL MATCH $50 FOR THEM TO GET A BIKE. WE KWNO BIKES AROUND HERE ARE A MAJOR SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS FOR THERAPY FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS GETTING AROUND TO THOSE THINGS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR SIREDENTS A INDF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND AIN LK ON OUR WEBSITE WLWT.

Bike-matching fund aimed at giving those in need a hand up

Updated: 6:40 PM EST Nov 12, 2021

WLWT viewers gave from their hearts, and it's making a difference.This week, WLWT introduced you to Randy Bowling of Hamilton. Bowling is disabled, and his bicycle is his only form of transportation to and from work at Walmart in Fairfield Township.Last weekend, his bicycle was stolen."Your news story was barely over on the TV. I was watching it when my phone started ringing," said David Hood, executive director of Serve City. "I knew immediately this had struck a cord ... That line that Randy said, 'This made my life harder,' it was the big thing that struck me, and I think people heard that and said this is not OK. We need to do something." Serve City is the organization that owns the apartments where Bowling lives.Knowing Bowling was taken care of thanks to generous gifts from WLWT viewers, Hood created a way for people to help others like Bowling."This is probably not the first time this has happened, and unfortunately, might not be the last time it happens, and so we are setting up a fund called a 'Bike Matching Fund,' Hood said.They're collecting bicycles, or preferably money, to offer residents as a matching fund."So, if they're able to come up with $50, we'll match $50 dollars for them to get a bike," Hood said. "Bikes around here are a major source of transportation for employment, for doctors appointments, for therapy, for addiction recovery, all of those things, getting around to those things are critical to our residents." Donations can be made here. Any donations that include "BIKE" in the memo will go toward bicycles and locks to those in need of transportation.https://www.classy.org/give/313609/#!/donation/checkout

HAMILTON, Ohio —

WLWT viewers gave from their hearts, and it's making a difference.

This week, WLWT introduced you to Randy Bowling of Hamilton. Bowling is disabled, and his bicycle is his only form of transportation to and from work at Walmart in Fairfield Township.

Last weekend, his bicycle was stolen.

"Your news story was barely over on the TV. I was watching it when my phone started ringing," said David Hood, executive director of Serve City. "I knew immediately this had struck a cord ... That line that Randy said, 'This made my life harder,' it was the big thing that struck me, and I think people heard that and said this is not OK. We need to do something."

Serve City is the organization that owns the apartments where Bowling lives.

Knowing Bowling was taken care of thanks to generous gifts from WLWT viewers, Hood created a way for people to help others like Bowling.

"This is probably not the first time this has happened, and unfortunately, might not be the last time it happens, and so we are setting up a fund called a 'Bike Matching Fund,' Hood said.

They're collecting bicycles, or preferably money, to offer residents as a matching fund.

"So, if they're able to come up with $50, we'll match $50 dollars for them to get a bike," Hood said. "Bikes around here are a major source of transportation for employment, for doctors appointments, for therapy, for addiction recovery, all of those things, getting around to those things are critical to our residents."

Donations can be made here. Any donations that include "BIKE" in the memo will go toward bicycles and locks to those in need of transportation.

https://www.classy.org/give/313609/#!/donation/checkout

With his laces tied tightly, Randy Bowling said he's ready to walk to work if he has to.The nearly four-mile trek each way — from his apartment in Hamilton to Walmart in Fairfield Township — isn't ideal for the 50-year-old, who is also disabled. Bowling suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was 16.That's one of the reasons he bought a $157 bicycle a few months ago."It's the first bike I ever bought myself," Bowling said. He was proud of it. Now, it's gone.It was stolen from outside Party Mart Express in Hamilton Saturday night.Store security video shows Bowling walking his bike close to the front doors after his shift at Walmart.He's in the East Avenue store for less than a minute before a man rides up on another bike, grabs Bowling's bicycle and rides off with it.Bowling walks out in disbelief."He's made my life harder," Bowling said. Bowling lives alone at the Serve City apartments. He said he needs his job to pay bills, and the bus isn't always an option."When we had heard, it just broke our hearts. Our residents struggle with so many other life issues, to have something like this happen is a real challenge," said David Hood, executive director of Serve City. Neighbor Brenda Stevens called what happened unacceptable in her neighborhood."It's just aggravating. I don't know why people do it. It's selfish," Stevens said.Other neighbors have expressed frustration and support."There's a lot of people that care. If I had a bike, I'd give it to him," said neighbor Andrew Yeager. Bowling said even though he should be angry, he'd rather talk to the guy who snatched his bike and help him get a job.

The Springboro Police Department said in a Facebook post Thursday that they are aware 0f a group in southwest Ohio responsible for recent vehicle thefts. The Springboro Police Department is actively investigating the incidents in partnership with other Ohio agencies, and has already apprehended several people involved with the group. The department posted on Facebook after a civilian social media post began to circulate about the thefts made from garages that are left open. Police say that there are no instances in the greater Springboro area where a perpetrator has entered a home, aside from the garage.The Springboro Police Department encourages residents to secure their cars at night and to keep doors and windows locked. The department also asks that people call the station directly if they have any concerns instead of speculating information on social media. If you experience any suspicious activity in your neighborhood please contact your local police department to investigate.

An 82-year-old man from Green Township is recovering after police said he was beaten and his car was stolen from his driveway.Investigators said at least one of the suspects has been charged after a SWAT standoff on Sunday night.According to police, the elderly man was beaten with a brick and liquor bottles and was seriously hurt.Police were able to track a suspect and the stolen car right to a motel."Morgan. Let's go. Open the door," SWAT officers said on Sunday night.Morgan Bishop, 36, was taken into custody at the Rest Inn in Clifton on Sunday night.Hours earlier, Green Township police said he'd attacked an 82-year-old man at his home on Sidney Road and stolen his car.The victim's neighbor, Ron Heinlein, came running at the sound of squealing tires."Honestly, I wish I was a minute sooner coming over," Heinlein said.Investigators said Bishop and a woman came to the 82-year-old man's front door saying their car was stolen and they needed to use the phone and could use a ride.That quickly changed as police said Bishop hit the elderly man in the head and stole his car keys.They said Bishop hit the man in the face using a brick and liquor bottles."Bloody and injured and he had a seat on his rocking chair on his front porch and we attended him," Heinlein said.Heinlein called 911.Police were then on the hunt for Bishop and the woman.Bishop showed up at the Rest Inn on Sunday night, where Cincinnati police said a woman came out of his room, but he barricaded himself inside prompting a SWAT standoff.Neighbor Lisa Schmidt is shocked."What did he do to deserve that? Why would they pick his home? Maybe because it's down, as I always say, in the hole?" Schmidt said.SWAT eventually pushed into the motel room, taking Bishop into custody.They also towed away the 82-year-old man's SUV.Now, neighbors pray for his recovery and justice."For you to force yourself into somebody's home or just to mess him up just because you want a car? I always say, get a job," Schmidt said.Investigators said the 82-year-old victim was taken to UC Medical Center for his injuries, which are described as serious.WLWT has attempted to get an update on his condition from the hospital, but we have not heard back.Green Township police said the woman has not been charged at this time.Meanwhile, Bishop faces several charges including aggravated burglary and felonious assault.He is set to be in court next week.