PUBLIC ADVISORY - PHONE SCAMS CONTINUING IN EL PASO, TX AREA

EL PASO, TEXAS

-  The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is once again warning the community of El Paso to beware of unscrupulous scammers that are still randomly calling people scheming them out of $100’s-$1,000’s of dollars.

The method of operation for the on-going scam is as follows:

1. CALLER (scammer): calls residences landlines &  makes contact with the residents /victim.
2. CALLER: tells / convinces Victim that they are related & one of their family members was involved in an accident in Mexico & are in need of money because the Mexican police were asking for money to pay for another parties medical bills that was injured in the accident .
3. CALLER: then provides victim information on how to send the money via western union.

(It is unknown how the phone numbers were being selected) - The wire transfers were requested to Mexico Cities such as: Villahumada and Jalisco, Mexico.

One example of a conversation is as follows (translated from Spanish): “Tia it is me do you recognize my voice.”

It appears that in an attempt to make out the voice, the victim would unknowingly say a family member’s name that they felt they voice sounded like. The CALLER then say they were that person and continue with the story about the accident.

Some phone numbers retrieved thru Victim’s caller id’s are::

(313) 087-9437 / (554) 984-4629 / (554) 984-9484 -  It is unknown if these are American of Mexican phone numbers.

  Sheriff’s Investigators urge the community NOT to fall for these scams.

7th Annual Awareness Walk

FORT BLISS, TEXAS - Fort Bliss Army Community Service (ACS) Family Advocacy
Program (FAP) will host the 7th Annual Military Month of the Child/Child
Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault two mile Awareness Walk on Saturday,
April 2 at Kelley Park from 10a.m. to 1p.m. The event is designed to enhance
Soldier and Family member awareness. 

Join the ACS Family Advocacy Program for a day of activities and fun.
Enjoy music performed by the 62nd Army Band's jazz band and bring your
stuffed animal for a checkup at the Teddy Bear Clinic. 

Help others by donating an unopened package of diapers or Pull Ups to the
diaper drive or donating your old cell phone and charger to victims of
domestic violence. 

The event will have numerous information booths on parenting, adoption and
fostering, children's health, safety and much more.
For more information - or to register - stop by ACS, Bldg. 2494 on Ricker
Road, call (915) 568-4878 or (915) 568-9129, or visit www.blissmwr.com/fap. 

WILL YOU HELP THESE MEN REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES?

 THREE ELDERLY MEN FOUND IN EL PASO – WILL YOU HELP THEM FIND THEIR FAMILIES?

Date/Time: 03-20-11 / various times

Location: Various

Found Person:  Jesus Ramirez, Hispanic male, 72 years of age, approximately 120 lbs,

                         between 5’02” and 5’05” tall, wearing blue jeans and a white/blue 

                         plaid shirt

    

Found Person:   Juan Aguilar (?), Hispanic male, approximately 80 years of age,

                          wearing a beige jacket, black adidas warm up pants, blue booties and a

                          black beanie.

Found Person:  Alberto Soto Pena, Hispanic male, age: mid 80’s, gray/balding hair, 

                         green/hazel eyes, wearing a navy blue baseball cap, beige shirt, brown 

                         pants and black shoes,        

EL PASO, TEXAS –  

CENTRAL REGION:  

El Paso Police responded to a report of a lost person near Oregon and Franklin in downtown El Paso.  The officer arrived on the scene and located a Hispanic male who stated he did not know his address.  The man identified himself as Jesus Ramirez and stated that he lived somewhere near the star on the mountain.  A subsequent check of all police databases has not turned up any information to assist police in locating this mans family.  

MISSION VALLEY REGION:  

El Paso Police located an elderly male around 11:30 this morning.  The man, who identified himself as Juan Aguilar, was located at 836 N. Zaragoza.  Officers advised 

the man seemed disoriented but otherwise healthy.  Officers canvassed the area in hopes of finding someone who knew the man however all attempts were unsuccessful.  Officers also advised that the man indicated that his uncle’s name was Juan Aguilar.  It is not known what the true identity of this found man is.  The man is not entered into any police databases at this time.

PEBBLE HILLS REGION:  

El Paso Police responded to the 1800 block of Polly Harris at about 12:25 this afternoon in regards to a found and disoriented man.  A good samaritan found the man wandering and took him into her home in hopes of assisting him. Police were unable to positively identify the man or locate any family members or care takers.  The man told police his name is Alberto Soto Pena.  He appears to be in good health and was carrying a small amount of groceries when he was located.

Adult Protective Services has responded and will assist police in these cases.  Anyone with information on any of these found men is asked to call Adult Protective Services at (800) 252-5400 or the El Paso Police Department at (915) 832-4400.

Will you be the person who reunites these men with their families?

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EPCC Closed For Spring Break

El Paso Community College will observe Spring Break from Monday, March 14th through Sunday, March 20th.  Classes will continue and offices will reopen on Monday, March 21st.

Free basic computer classes available at all branch libraries

All El Paso Public Library facilities will be offering free basic computer classes during March.  The curriculum will include basic terminology, keyboard and mouse lessons, accessing the Internet, getting email and other basic instruction.  Classes are available in English and Spanish and most are on a first come, first served basis.  The classes are free thanks to a grant from the Department of Commerce’ Broadband Technology and Opportunity Program.  For more information call 543-5433 or visit www.elpasolibrary.org

REGISTRATION EXTENDED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CLASS

El Paso Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy Has extended registration for its next Peace Officer Training Course. The course will begin Monday, March 21^st.  Classes are Monday – Friday from 6pm -10pm.  The course is held at the EPCC Law Enforcement Training Academy on the Mission Del Paso campus at 10700 Gateway East.  Applications for the class will be accepted up to March 21st.  

The Peace Officer Training Course is VA approved and offers many career options

· Upon completion of the program and successful completion of the state licensing exam, may apply with any law enforcement agency in the State of Texas.

· The El Paso Police Department may accept EPCC academy students as a lateral transfer into their police academy.

· All local police departments recruit from the EPCC Law Enforcement Academy (with the exception of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department.)  This includes local school districts and colleges, who employ peace officers.

· EPCC presently offers 11 college credit hours for completion of the Texas Peace Officer Course. The number of credit hours awarded may vary with each academic year.

Contact Ernest Wade at (915) 588-6082 or (915) 831-7110 for more information and requirements.

Jim Heiney

EPCC Marketing Specialist

IBC Announces Solar Technology Training Program, 1st in El Paso

March 1, 2011, El Paso, Texas- International Business College (IBC) is joining the ranks of Austin and Houston Community Colleges in renewable/sustainable energy technology education. IBC will introduce the first Texas Renewable Energy Education Consortium (TREEC) training site in West Texas, focused on construction and solar electricity at a two day event planned for Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th. IBC is proud to announce its newest program, which is critical to our area; Construction Technology with a Specialty in Solar Energy (CTS). “On Friday, we are inviting school districts out for high school tours to learn all about solar electricity as an educational or career option,” says Margie Aguilar, IBC President. Ysleta Independent School District is bussing in students from the Ysleta Environmental Science Academy. Instructor Jessica Bane, says, “Students will investigate and explore current technologies in solar energy construction and production. Lessons learned will be taken back and applied to the current building that houses the academy.” Saturday, the general public, local leaders, and interested industry are invited to help IBC dedicate the solar site in a ribbon cutting ceremony.”

It is the mission of TREEC a group of Texas colleges to investigate, develop, and teach curricula dedicated to post-secondary education in emerging energy technologies to meet the demand of the Texas Workforce. The mission includes creating seamless pathways for education from secondary to post-secondary and university education. It is a goal of TREEC to position Texas as a leader in renewable and sustainable energy commercialization through education.

This training curriculum that will be offered in El Paso was developed by and for the industry who understand the need for training in green energy technology. According towww.Solarworksforamerica.com , “The solar industry employs almost 100,000 Americans across all fifty states, and is projected to support over half a million American jobs by 2016. These jobs exist across many sectors of the economy—from manufacturing and engineering, to construction and sales, and across supporting industries.” With the increase in incentives by utility providers, State, and National resources to implement solar electric power and energy efficiency methods amongst residences and business, the need for training is only going to increase and IBC is here to develop the workforce. City of El Paso Representative for District 8, Beto O'Rourke who will be unable to attend the ribbon cutting on Saturday, says, "I am excited to see greater pursuit of solar projects in the El Paso region and will do what I can to help our community meet the new technology demands."

WHAT:                   2 Day Event at International Business College (IBC) introducing its newest program; Construction Technology with a Specialty in Solar Energy.

WHEN:                   Friday, March 4, 2011, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. - High School Tours of the IBC & TREEC training site, Construction Technology, Specialty in Solar: Students can learn about solar electricity, career and educational options

WHEN:                   Saturday, March 5, 2011- Ribbon cutting ceremony for the IBC & TREEC training site, Construction Technology- Specialty in Solar.

WHO:                     Texas Renewable Energy Education Consortium, Office of Congressman Silvestre Reyes, City of El Paso Director of Environmental Services- Ellen Smyth,  Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Redco, National & International energy partners-Mage Solar, Enphase Energy, GE2 of Spain , and dozens of community partners.

WHERE:                  International Business College, Westside Campus- Solar Site, 5700 Cromo , El Paso, TX 79912

PUBLIC INFO:       For more information about event activities the public can call (915) 842-0422