Cops To Keep Close Eye On Super Bowl Fans
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police are blanketing midtown Manhattan with temporary surveillance cameras as one of many security measures being taken to protect visitors for the Super Bowl.
The cameras will supplement a network of permanent surveillance cameras that provide live feeds to monitors at an NYPD command center. Officers there watch for possible terror threats and other suspicious activity.
Hundreds of extra uniformed and plainclothes officers also will be assigned to protect "Super Bowl Boulevard,'' a 13-block street fair on Broadway in Times Square that's expected to draw large crowds.
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In New Jersey, up to 700 state troopers will patrol in and around MetLife Stadium on game day. The NFL has committed another 3,000 private security officers to the event.
FBI analysts are also monitoring the latest intelligence to detect any specific threats against the Super Bowl.
New Jersey's Attorney General is also warning fans to aware of scams.
"Consumers should be alert to scams involving ticket sales, apartment or house rentals, travel packages, and counterfeit merchandise," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.
Officials say if you're buying last-minute tickets, check the reputation of the vendor or website because they could be selling counterfeits.
"Hopefully you have your ticket by now, but watch out for scalpers," said Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York. "The only way really to get those tickets or to have gotten those tickets was through the leagues, through the ticket exchange. Brokers are regulated, the teams obviously are guaranteed, scalpers are not -- they're unregulated, they're unlicensed."
Cops To Keep Close Eye On Super Bowl Fans
If renting your home or looking for a place to rent, go through a reputable realtor to protect yourself from fake tenants and listings.
"Hotels are regulated, there are laws covering you. If you go to a private home, you want to make sure that you know what you're walking into, eyes wide open," said Rosenzweig.
Be wary of travel scams that claim you won tickets but require you to send money or your personal information to claim your prize.
Consumers should also look out for counterfeit merchandise, especially if buying online. Counterfeit sellers could be trying to steal your credit card information.
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The Super Bowl festivities kick off Monday with a huge concert in Jersey City.
On Wednesday, "Super Bowl Boulevard" opens with free attractions, including concerts and skill games. The celebration will shut down traffic on Broadway from 34th Street to 47th Street, where the events will take place.
The festivities continue through Feb. 1, the day before the big game.
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