By PATTIE MIHALIK

newsgirl@comcast.netRemember the TV show "Hill Street Blues"?The captain always ended a squad meeting by reminding his police force to "be careful out there."That advice still stands for all of us.As technology gets more advanced and crooks get more cunning, we all have to be more careful.That was reinforced for me after two incidents with the bank where I have my credit card. During a recent trip to New Jersey, I tried to use my card to buy a pair of shoes.I thought the clerk erred when she said my card was declined. She tried again and got the same result. I paid cash, thinking there was a problem with the shoe store.When I tried to take my daughters to lunch, the same thing happened. My card was declined. I was miffed as I called my bank to ask what was going on.The bank wanted to know if I was in New Jersey using my card. Affirmative. "That's why," the bank rep told me. "You didn't notify us you would be out of state and we thought it was fraud."I'm happy my bank is that vigilant, even if it did cause a slight problem for me.This week I got a cellphone alert from my bank telling me they were blocking my credit card because they found fraudulent activity. There was a number I was told to call as soon as possible.When I called the number, it played the exact music my bank uses. A robotic voice, exactly like the one I am used to hearing, identified itself as my bank and told me to enter my account number so they could better help me.I stopped right there.Something didn't seem right. If my own bank doesn't know my account number, how can they say there is fraudulent activity in the account?No way am I ever going to give any account information in response to email.I called the fraud detection division of my bank. When I gave him the phone numbers I was instructed to call, he pinpointed what bothered me: It was not my bank's 800 number.While I waited on the line, he called the number and heard the same message I did. His conclusion: It's the best con job he has heard. Someone recorded my bank's introductory information, then added their own message to obtain the private information they wanted."You did the right thing," he said. "Never give account information in response to an email. And please know we never ask people to call a number that is not an 800 number."They almost had me.I'm telling you all this because chances are you will get a similar email.My friend Skip sent an email this week telling me not to respond to any email that says the information on my email account needs to be upgraded or I will lose service.The message he got said the old server was being updated for better service so email accounts had to be updated. He was asked to provide all his account information.He called his Internet service provider and learned they didn't send the email. It was a scam designed to get your personal account information."Who knows what will happen to your information from there," says Skip.I wouldn't fall for that scam because I've gotten a few of those messages warning me if I don't update my information I will lose my service.Of course I never do it and nothing happens, except the scammer has to go on to his next victim.The fraud detection unit of my local police department warns us never to respond to any request for information by clicking on a link. "If you need to contact your bank or service provider, do it by typing in the URL. Don't use any link you received through email," said the fraud detection officer.We also talked about those telephone calls we all get from so-called local law enforcement officers soliciting funds to help children. Of course, they are all phony.Be careful about responding to any so-called charity that calls you for donations. I never give to anyone who pays a telemarketer, and I never respond to phone requests.I talked about that in a column three weeks ago. In response, I received mail from at least a dozen readers saying they were scammed by giving money to a charity they thought was a good cause.In reality, it SOUNDED like the charity they believed in, but one word in the name was different.According to readers, those calls come from groups that sound like legitimate cancer organizations, veterans' groups and law enforcement.I fell for one caller who said he represented disabled veterans. My local vet organization never heard of them.A great charity rip-off was detailed this week when an investigation revealed the American Association for Cancer Support collected $1.9 million in direct donations from the public. Of that amount, $1.7 million went to telemarketing firms.If you don't want your money for charity to go to telemarketing firms, think twice before donating to any charity that uses telemarketers.Again, the best advice is to give to local organizations or to those you truly know."Hill Street Blues" is right.Be careful out there.The sharks are swimming, and we're the bait.