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In recent weeks, there have been several incidents of fraud or scams in Bozeman, according to police.

Police investigated two thefts of credit/debit cards recently.

In the first case, Bettieann Shomper, 55, of Livingston, was charged after she allegedly took two credit cards from customers where she worked and used them to buy more than $600 in merchandise at area businesses. Shomper was charged with two counts of theft for taking the cards and six counts of deceptive practices form making the unlawful charges.

The second case involved a woman who left her purse in a shopping cart at a north-side business then had the purse stolen and the credit cards removed and used to purchase items. This theft is under investigation.

Also, a nationwide scam involving a caller that claims to be the person's grandchild who is in trouble and needs money has been reported in the Bozeman area in recent months. Two weeks ago a Bozeman resident received a call from a man claiming to be her grandson. The male reported that he had been arrested and incarcerated in a jail in Canada because a hitchhiker he had picked up had marijuana in his pocket that was discovered during a traffic stop. The male said he needed $6,000 sent via Western Union so he could bond out of jail.

Another scam was also reported by a Bozeman resident who answered a Craig's List ad from a man looking for a personal assistant to run some errands in the local area. The man sent a check for $2,750 with instructions to deposit the check, keep a portion as compensation and send the rest back to the sender via Western Union. The check turned out to be counterfeit.

The Bozeman Police Department offers the following advice regarding scams:

• Be cautious of any offer that sounds too good to be true.
• Verify any calls or emails that you receive about a security or fraud investigation with your bank or financial institution.
• Be wary of any offer that requires you to wire money, withdraw cash from your account, or provide account information.
• Store your checks, deposit slips, bank statements, and cancelled checks in a secure and locked location. Never leave your checkbook in your vehicle or in the open.
• Unless needed for tax purposes, destroy old cancelled checks, account statements, deposited checks, ATM receipts, etc.
• Reconcile your bank statements and credit card bills within 30 days to detect any irregularities.
• Never give your account number to people you do not know, especially over the telephone to unsolicited phone sales calls. Legitimate financial institutions will NOT send out email asking you to verify personal data.
• When you receive a new or replacement check order, make sure all the checks are there and that none are missing.
• Mail your bills from the Post Office or sign up for On Line Bill Pay.
• Limit the amount of personal information on your check. For example, do not include your Social Security Number or Driver's License Number on your check.
• Secure Your Computer, install anti-spy ware, anti-virus, and a personal firewall on your computer. There are many of these products available that will help you prevent criminals from gaining access to your computer and stealing your personal information. A properly protected computer will provide you with secure access to your financial information and combat the efforts of criminals trying to gain access to your activities

For more information on scams, go to the police department's website.