Flyer confusion leads to reminder to protect personal information

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — After a confusing situation last week, the Shelby Township Police Department is warning residents about the risk of scammers who could take advantage of them to gain access to their personal information.

Last week, the department was made aware of a flyer that had been distributed to a home that was being sold that raised concerns. The flyer showed photos of a firetruck, a lockbox on a doorknob and a garage door opener keypad. The flyer was headlined, “Setting up lockbox/garage code with Macomb County Dispatch.” It gave instructions for people to call Macomb County Dispatch and give the county their door codes or garage codes and addresses.

Because the flyer asked for this personal information, and because Shelby Township provides its own dispatching — it doesn’t use the county for dispatching — police initially thought that they might have a scam to investigate.

However, the flyer turned out to be one that the Washington Township Fire Department distributes at its open houses. It does not place them in mailboxes, and it’s unknown how the flyer found its way to Shelby Township. Washington Township fire contacted the Shelby Township police to clear up the situation.

“With that in mind, we would like people to remember to never give out your personal information, lock box codes, etc., to anyone over the telephone. Certainly, there are scammers who will do stuff like this, posing as either the local police or fire departments. We recommend not giving any personal information to anyone over the telephone,” Shelby Township Police Sgt. Mark Benedettini said in an email.

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook May 4 that, even though the flyer was not a scam, the Sheriff’s Office does not want people to call it and provide door or garage codes. To provide such information and more in case of an emergency, the Sheriff’s Office asks that people go to smart911.com and create a profile.

Benedettini said that the best way to verify if something is legitimate involving the police is to go to the Police Department in person and check it out.

For more information call the department at (586) 731-2121.