It’s a jungle out there on the internet, and scam websites are one of the biggest dangers. These fake webpages and social media accounts are created by scammers to lure you in, steal your money, and get away with it. If you don’t know what to look for, it can be easy to fall victim to these scams. But don’t worry, we’re here to help the Berkeley community! In this blog post, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about scam websites. So read on and stay safe online!

Here are some of the most common scam websites to watch out for:

• Websites that mimic well-known brands or websites: These scam websites will often use a similar name or logo to a trusted website in order to trick you into thinking they’re legitimate. They may also create fake social media accounts using the same name and branding.
• Websites that offer too-good-to-be-true deals: If a website is offering a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is! Scammers will often create fake websites or social media accounts offering amazing deals on popular products.
• Websites that ask for personal information: Legitimate websites will never ask you for personal information like your Social Security number or credit card number. If a website is asking for this kind of information, it’s probably a scam.

How do you identify a scam website?

Now that you know what to look for, let’s talk about how you can identify a scam website. Here are some key things to look out for:

• The website looks fake or unprofessional: If the website looks like it was made in a hurry or doesn’t have any branding, be wary. Scammers often create websites quickly and don’t put much effort into making them look legitimate.
• The website has grammar or spelling errors: Another common sign of a scam website is poor grammar and spelling. Be cautious of any website with multiple typos or errors.
• The website is asking for personal information: As we mentioned before, legitimate websites will never ask you for personal information like your Social Security number or credit card number. If a website is asking for this kind of information, it’s probably a scam.

What to do if you’re scammed

If you think you may have been scammed, the first thing you should do is contact your bank or credit card company. They may be able to help you cancel any charges and prevent further fraud. You should also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) so they can investigate and take action against the scammer.

How do you avoid scam websites?

The best way to avoid scam websites is to be informed and aware of the signs we mentioned above. Pay attention to the design and branding of websites, and be cautious of any that look fake or unprofessional. Be wary of any website that is offering a deal that seems too good to be true, and never give out personal information like your Social Security number or credit card number.

Another way to avoid scam websites and scam online training programs is to check out a site like I Buy I Review. I Buy I Review buys online programs and then reviews them for you, so you can be sure that you’re getting a legitimate product.

So there you have it! Now you know everything you need to know about scam websites. Just remember to be vigilant and always double-check before giving out any personal information. And if you’re ever in doubt, feel free to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help. Stay safe out there!

Whether trying to protect your home from fires, keep your mail and packages safe, or avoiding criminals, we are here to support you and give you some safety tips. We invite a local police officer, fire chief, or postal worker to share tips on how to keep yourself, your family, and your belongings safe.

Just last month, a postal worker came to let us know some ways to keep your packages safe. Many citizens who work in the city have their packages delivered either to their offices or to package lockers and drive them back home. This is a great option for those of you who are uncomfortable having packages delivered on the porch – especially at this time of year.

A few folks have installed security cameras which have thwarted a couple of kids yanking packages off of front porches and steps. Maybe chat with your neighbor to decide upon a central location to install a security camera that sees both front steps.

If you work from home or locally, you may want to have all packages require signatures when being left – this way they’ll never be left at your home when you’re not there.

And finally, Carol down that the Post Office would be happy to help you set up an agreement to have the post office hold all pacakges meant for you.

Whether you’re having a book of easy piano songs delivered for your daughter to practice or a brand new dining room set for your family dinners, if you spend money on it you definitely want to protect it!

Because it’s that time of year, we urge you all to come on out and join us for the annual tree lighting. And take a stroll along the prairie path to vote for your favorite tree. Local families, schools, businesses and individuals take great care to put together beautiful trees for everyone to enjoy, the one that receives the most votes from community members is awarded with a little surprise!

Of course, there is also a tree lot on site for those of you who still need to get your full tree, table top tree, wreathes, or garland. Just follow your nose!

Many community members over the years have donated string lights, ornaments, and other Christmas decorations which can be picked up at the church. We understand that a limited budget shouldn’t limit your Christmas spirit so we offer these up free of charge. Just bring them back when you’re done so that someone can use them next year.

To further promote and maintain our community sensibilities, we have a very active Neighborhood Watch with monthly meetings to share a meal, discuss village goings-ons, and keep our little town safe. We report all suspicious activity to the local police who take the time to report back to us in a timely manner.

This is not a community where a suspicious event or character disappears into the police scanner – never to be mentioned again. We take crime seriously and don’t’ want to be plagued by the same kind of crime infesting our Chicago neighbor.

We urge you to join the neighborhood watch group – when we’re not in discussion with police and following up on neighbor reports, we have a lovely time catching up, sharing meals, and planning community events.

There are about 6000 of us – at last census, just under half of us were white, about 30% of us were black, and so on with Hispanic/Latinx of any race making up 30% of our population. We’re a diverse but close-knit community.

Of the 1877 households, about 30% had children, 56% were married couples, 12% were single-mother homes, and 26% weren’t families. The median income for a household here is just under $60,000.

We pay honor to our German and Dutch farming ancestry, many of our citizens being their decedents. And to maintain the community appeal of Berkeley, we have many events all year to encourage neighbors to spend time together. Music in the Park, Dog Day at the Pool, and annual SpringFest are some of our most popular events.

Located just outside of Chicago on the western border of Cook County, Berkeley is a great place to raise a family away from the hustle and bustle of the city but still with easy access to the amenities therein.

Often thought of as a “Bedroom Community” – or a residential area where people who work in the city can live in peace – we’re much more than that. Sure, we’re mostly residential, but we have diversity, history, tradition, and generations of farm families.

Unlike Chicago, we have minimal crime, a balanced budget, and a small committed group of village representatives who convey the interests of the citizens rather than their own pocketbooks. But, only 14 miles west of the loop, we’re as close to downtown as many Chicago residents on the far north or far south sides are.