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Friday, November 29, 2013

How Can I Protect My Child From A Sexual Assault?

Parents are surrounded by messages about child sexual abuse. Talk shows and TV news warn parents about dangers at school, in the home and on the Internet. Despite all the media coverage, parents don’t get much advice about how to talk to their children about sexual abuse and how to prevent it.

Talk to your children about sexuality and sexual abuse in age-appropriate terms.

    * Talking openly and directly about sexuality teaches children that it is okay to talk to you when they have questions.

    * Teach children the names of their body parts so that they have the language to ask questions and express concerns about those body parts.

    * Teach children that some parts of their body are private.

          o Let children know that other people should not be touching or looking at their private parts unless they need to touch them to provide care. If someone does need to touch them in those private areas, a parent of trusted caregiver should be there, too.

          o Tell children that if someone tries to touch those private areas or wants to look at them, OR if someone tries to show the child their own private parts, they should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.

    * All children should be told that it’s okay to say “no” to touches that make them uncomfortable or if someone is touching them in ways that make them uncomfortable and that they should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.


          o This can lead to some slightly embarrassing situations, such as a child who then says they don’t want give a relative a hug or kiss! Work with your child to find ways to greet people that don’t involve uncomfortable kinds of touch.

          o Talking openly about sexuality and sexual abuse also teaches children that these things don’t need to be “secret.” Abusers will sometimes tell a child that the abuse is a secret. Let your children know that if someone is touching them or talking to them in ways that make them uncomfortable that it shouldn’t stay a secret.

          o Make sure to tell your child that that they will not get into trouble if they tell you this kind of secret.

    * Don’t try to put all this information into one big “talk” about sex.

          o Talking about sexuality and sexual abuse should be routine conversations.

Be involved in your child’s life
    * Be interested in your child’s activities.

          o Ask your child about the people they go to school with or play with.

          o If your child is involved in sports, go to games and practices. Get to know the other parents and coaches.

          o If your child is involved in after school activities or daycare, ask them what they did during the day.

  Talk about the Media.
          o If your child watches a lot of television or plays video games, watch or play with them.

                + Many TV shows (for example, CSI or Law and Order) show sexual violence of different kinds.

                + Some video games (for example, Grand Theft Auto) allow the user to engage in sexual violence.

          o Use examples from TV or games that you have watched or played together to start up conversations about sexuality and sexual abuse.

    * Know the other adults that your child might talk to.

          o Children sometimes feel that they cannot talk to their parents.

          o Know the other trusted adults in your child’s life.

Be available.
    * Make time to spend with your child.

    * Let your child know that they can come to you if they have questions or if someone is talking to them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.

          o Be sure to follow up on this! If your child comes to you with concerns or questions, make time to talk to them.

When you empower your child to say “no” to unwanted touch and teach them that they can come to you with questions and concerns, you take critical steps to preventing child sexual abuse.  -Birdy

Effects of Community Violence on Children and Teens

Community violence includes many events. It might be a stranger using physical threat or direct violence to take something or hurt someone. It can also be violence between family members, close partners, or peers. These events may include cruel acts such as being shot, raped, stabbed, or beaten.

Most of the attention from media and research is on community violence that involves adults. However, many children and teens face violence in their neighborhoods and schools. Such violence can have effects on children.

How much community violence do children face?
Many people think that community violence only happens in gangs and inner cities. It is true that people who are poor, non-White, and living in crowded inner-city areas deal with a lot of violence. Community violence also occurs, though, in White, middle-class areas, both suburban and rural. All kinds of youth are at risk for community violence.

Over one-third of girls and boys across the country ages 10 to 16 years are victims of direct violence. Direct violence includes attempted kidnapping, physical and sexual assault. Even more children have faced indirect community violence. That is, they have seen violence or they know a victim of community violence. In one study, over three-quarters of children in a high-violence urban area reported coming into contact with community violence. Of note, more than half of the parents said that their children had not been exposed to violence in the community.

Who is at risk?
Sadly, there is no way to make sure your child does not face community violence. However, we do know some of the factors that add to a child's risk for coming into contact with community violence:

* living in poor, inner-city areas
* being non-White
* being in a gang or using alcohol or drugs
* living in a home with domestic (family) violence
* males see more community violence than do females and are at more risk for physical attacks
* females are at more risk for sexual assault

What are the effects of community violence?
If hurt by violence, a child may have to cope with physical or medical problems. A child may also have mental health problems, including PTSD. Some people think that young children are not harmed by community violence because they are too young to understand or remember. However, studies have found signs of PTSD in babies and young children. For more information on PTSD in children, please see our fact sheet PTSD and Trauma in Children and Teens.

A child's exposure to community violence affects the whole family. Parents are often very worried about their child's health and well-being. If resources and help are limited, parents can become angry. As a parent, you might blame yourself for not being able to keep your child safe. You may even become too protective. Parents sometimes use harsh discipline when the child acts out, even though the child's behavior is related to a trauma. Relations among family members can become strained. Parents are trying to comfort their child while at the same time trying to handle their own fears. This is hard, even more so if they live in an area where violence is common.

What can we do?
Children can be helped. The best thing for a child is a caring adult. If a child is touched by violence, spend time with the child. Be sure the child understands that you are there to listen. Help the child talk about the trauma, but do not make him or her talk. Answer questions honestly using words that your child understands. Try to understand that children may have new problem behaviors as a result of the trauma. These behaviors need your patience and understanding. Ask for help from friends, family, and medical and mental health experts for you and your child. For more information on treatment for children with PTSD, see our fact sheet PTSD and Trauma in Children and Teens.

Prevention programs are also important to keep community violence from happening. This involves gang prevention. Also, programs can help children and teens at risk for violence learn how to peacefully solve problems. These programs work better if they happen before age 6 years. They are also better if they are taught in the children's homes and schools. Programs should also try to prevent high-risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug use and carrying weapons.
Sources

Foy, D.W. & Goguen, C.A. (1998). Community violence-related PTSD in children and adolescents. PTSD Research Quarterly, 9(4), 1-6.

Sanders-Phillips, K. (1997). Assaultive violence in the community: Psychological responses of adolescent victims and their parents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 21, 356-365.

Scheeringa, M.S. & Zeanah, C.H. (1995). Symptom expression and trauma variables in children under 48 months of age. Infant Mental Health Journal, 16, 259-270.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL RAPIST:

{Birdy Note: I've been getting a lot of Flak from this Article, Let me stress this, the person making this Confession IS STILL IN PRISON!! These words were taken from a letter that I received, from him, verbatim (word-for-word)! He is a convicted Rapist, serving the remainder of his life at the Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla, WA.}


      I started in my sex education around 1960, when as a young boy I helped a neighborhood girl remove her pants to see. Though we were young and really didn't know it yet, several things became quite clear, boys and girls have nothing in common. I was 11 then, by the ripe age of 14 I had forced this same girl into sexual intercourse, under threat of telling her dad about her habit of smoking at school and flirting with all the boys. Her screams more than the act itself. Her family refused to press charges. As I think back to that time, it would have changed my life style had I ended up in reform school, instead of telling my dad that we were experimenting, and getting my ass kicked by him.
      In 1967, I joined the army cause I could not take dads drinking habits and always bringing home these women for sex, mom, of course objected but let it happen. I ended up going to Viet Nam in 1968, I was 18 when I killed my first slant eye, during my tour of duty there, rape was a common practice; stick your dick into anything that made you feel good, and it really didn't matter the age of the girl, hell, I've seen girls as young as 12 get gang raped by 8 or even 10 people, I really didn't get off on that. But as a routine any 'villages' that we came across on a patrol, I usually went for the older women, say in their mid-to-late 40's but in a pinch I'd even do grandma, and again it was their resistance that turned me on more than the act itself, the longer the act the more she screamed!
      I returned to the States in 1971, after three tours of duty, and stayed clean for about 7 months before the urge came back in full force. I was in San Diego, when in August 1971, I spotted a slant-eyes little 40'ish bitch going down an alley way at a fast trot. I caught up with her just as she almost made it to the end, she fought like an unleashed tiger (I really enjoyed that one, she fought like a tiger possessed), and I raped her anyway, she never screamed so it really didn't satisfy the urges. But she used anything at hand to hit me with, she bit me, scratched and kicked, but still got raped. The act only lasted maybe 4 minutes, cause I thought someone was waiting for her to be somewhere, so she was a 'quicky.'
      Soon it became apparent that I could not control my urges, and though I was brought up to be a Christian, I was the devil himself, possessed by my sex drive to see if I can rape myself into the history books.
      I've always had a preference of short, Asian women, with long silky black hair, small boobs, and in their 40's (in later years it was just the long black hair that turned me on). I'd always check out the public bathrooms, situated at a park or somewhere a little secluded, like the one holer at the end of a trail, you know the type, usually blue or green, sometimes brown. I'd stake one out, sometimes for days, until a lady or girl with black hair would want to use it. I really didn't care if she was with someone or not, if there was a man present, I'd wait, but another lady, that’s just double the fun. One lone jogger or hiker, stopping to relieve herself usually got pinched by me. I'd wait until she got in there and come around looking up and down the trail to see if there was anyone else, if there were others then I would gauge the distance and figure out if I had the time to do that; if there was no one, then I would get hard, pull it out and stand at the door waiting for her to get done.
      Lady's are a strange creature of habit. She would do her thing, and on opening the door would look quickly at the face then at the hard dick hanging out the pants, by the time she realized what was going to happen it was too late, I'd grab her by the hair, pushing her backwards - back into the portable potty, while pulling at her jeans, or shorts, or even lifting her skirt. The realization of what was happening to her, usually takes about 10 to 12 seconds, and by that time I was usually entering the hole or trying to get dick into her. Yah they scream and try to shove me out, but that screaming only helped me to want to make them feel more pain. In these rapes, the act was oh so much more enjoyable, the screaming was intense, and it was worth the wait. One of these types of rapes could curb my urges for at least a month or more. Even today, more than 35+ years have past, and I can still jack-off to many of those types of attacks.
      I've raped people as old as 80 and as young 9! Though the little ones were just to show their mothers that I can get at her kids as well. And Grandma was such a bitch I did her just to shut her up!
      Though I've been convicted of 49 rapes, I've committed around 290, or so, additional rapes in the past 35+ years. The State gave me, Life without Parole, big deal, I'm in my mid-Sixties now, and don't have too much longer to live, so a life sentence is nothing.
      One of the things that I need to mention here is this: During all my crimes, I was a respectable man in the community, went to church, taught junior basketball at the local junior high school, and volunteered at the senior center. I was married with three grown daughters, and one teenage son. I was so normal, that my outer coat was impeccable, not even a parking ticket. My kids and my wife didn't know that Daddy's field trips were a hunt for victims. Inside the family circle I was a fun-loving, respected neighbor to all who knew me, on my field trips, I was a fiend, the devil incarnate, would go to great lengths to get my sex fix. I even went into a Hospital Room and raped a person that I found out was in hospital care due to another rape, somebody else got her first. Crying shame that one, as she was my undoing. She remembered all the gory detains and made a statement that allowed the bobbies to connect all the dots. And the DNA sample that I had left was connected to several previous victims. I found out that I was a wanted man, on yet another field trip, I just happened to be watching the local news and seen my picture flashed on the screen "wanted in connection with several sexual assaults." Boy did that come as a shock, even though the picture was 10 years old, I knew I was screwed. I left the Hotel Room where I was staying and headed for the State line, hoping that they would leave me alone, now instead of me being the hunter, I was the prey and was being hunted.
      Knowing that someday this would happen, I had emergency escape plants in place. What I did not count on was my wife of 30+ years telling the bobbies all the places that I would go on my field trips, and the sheer tenacity of the local yokels in tracking down all the autos that I owned. So, when I pulled into the yard of a secret house, I was welcomed by the locals with open arms and some new jewelry. After my arrest, people came forward for places both far and near to make complaints that I had done this or had done that, many of their stories were quite fantastic, and the details would make anyone blush, which were told in such a manner that the tellers should be ashamed of themselves. If I did everything that people said I did, I would be well over a thousand years old!
      I found out later that pieces of my house would suddenly vanish, people would take them for souvenirs. The community and even my own family turned against me, which I expected. My wife and I divorced the first week of my trial, which was standing room only, in the end I just plead guilty to all 49 rapes just to get on with it.
      Prison life isn't so bad, there are young kids in her that need to be taught a lesson in life or two. The problem is, of course, that after you get told on once, you end up in solitary confinement for a while. I've been in solitary now for going on three years, but that s okay, I have my memories that I can get it up and shoot off on. I will always have my memories.
    I have been asked to give some tips on avoiding monsters like me.      
   There is only one that I will tell you, don't e-v-e-r meet me!
      Have a Nice Day!!


[This Article is being reposted due to the amount of Flak that I have been getting from Family, Friends, and Friends or Friends; and those who want to accuse me of being this Rapist, can go f*ck themselves! - Birdy]

Thursday, November 21, 2013

10 Ways to Avoid Fraud

Scam artists in the U.S. and around the world defraud millions of people each year. They use the phone, email, postal mail, and the internet to trick you into sending money or giving out personal information.

Here are 10 things you can do to stop from being scammed:

What you need to do:

Make sure you know who you’re dealing with.

Try to find a seller’s physical address (not a P.O. Box) and phone number. With internet phone services and other web-based technologies, it’s tough to tell where someone is calling from. Do an online search for the company name and website, and look for reviews. If people report negative experiences, you’ll have to decide if the offer is worth the risk. After all, a deal is good only if you get a product that actually works as promised.

Be sure that you know that wiring money is like sending cash.

Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to anyone who claims to be a relative or friend in an emergency and wants to keep the request a secret.

Make sure you read and digest your monthly bank statements.

Scammers steal account information and then run up charges or commit crimes in your name. Dishonest merchants bill you for monthly “membership fees” and other goods or services without your authorization. If you see charges you don’t recognize or didn’t okay, contact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor immediately.

After a disaster, give only to established charities.

In the aftermath of a disaster, give to an established charity, rather than one that has sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably don’t have the infrastructure to get help to the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting the money to finance illegal activity. For more donating tips, check out ftc.gov/charityfraud.

 

Talk to your doctor before you buy or plan to buy health products or treatments.

Ask about research that supports a product’s claims - and possible risks or side effects. In addition, buy prescription drugs only from licensed U.S. pharmacies. Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired, or mislabeled - in short, products that could be dangerous to your health.

Remember there's no sure thing in investing.

If someone contacts you with low-risk, high-return investment opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, that guarantee big profits, that promise little or no financial risk, or that demand that you send cash immediately, report them at ftc.gov.

 

What You Should Not to Do

Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.

  • Not to an online seller you’ve never heard of — or an online love interest who asks for money. It’s best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auction, consider using a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. 
  • If you think you’ve found a good deal, but you aren’t familiar with the company, check it out. Type the company or product name into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” See what comes up — on the first page of results as well as on the later pages.
  • Never pay fees first for the promise of a big pay-off later — whether it’s for a loan, a job, a grant or a so-called prize.

 

Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back.

By law, banks have to make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You’re responsible for the checks you deposit: If a check turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for paying back the bank. No matter how convincing the story, someone who overpays with a check is almost certainly a scam artist.

 

Don’t reply to messages asking for personal or financial information.

It doesn't matter whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an ad. Don’t click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. It’s called phishing. The crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into revealing sensitive information. If you got a message like this and you are concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card — or your statement — and check on it.

 

Don’t play a foreign lottery.

It’s illegal to play a foreign lottery. And yet messages that tout your chances of winning a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you’ve already won, can be tempting. Inevitably, you have to pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “customs duties” to collect your prize. If you must send money to collect, you haven’t won anything. And if you send any money, you will lose it. You won’t get any money back, either, regardless of promises or guarantees.

 

Here's How You Can Report A Scam Or Several Scams

If you think you may have been scammed:
If you get unsolicited email offers or spam, send the messages to spam@uce.gov.

If you get what looks like lottery material from a foreign country through the postal mail, take it to your local postmaster.



Be safe, be reluctant to give out personal information, always ask questions, if you suspect a scam, report it. Finally, don't be a victim! -Birdy






Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Government Imposter "Scams"


Scammers sometimes impersonate government officials to get you to send them money. They often claim you’ve won a lottery or sweepstakes. But to get your prize, you must pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “insurance.”

No federal government agency or legitimate sweepstakes company will contact you to ask for money. And no matter what, if you have to pay, it’s not a prize.

How to Recognize an Imposter

You get a call from someone claiming to be a government official, informing you that you’ve won a federally supervised lottery or sweepstakes. They may say they’re from “the national consumer protection agency,” the non-existent National Sweepstakes Bureau, or even the Federal Trade Commission – and it looks like they’re calling from a legitimate number.

They tell you that you’ll have to pay a fee in order to collect your winnings, to cover things like taxes or service charges. You may be asked to send money to an agent of “Lloyd’s of London” or some other well-known insurance company to “insure” delivery of the prize. And you’ll be asked to wire money right away, often to a foreign country.

To make their call seem legitimate, scammers use internet technology to disguise their area code. It may appear that they’re calling from Washington, DC, but they could be calling from anywhere in the world. They also might send e-mails, text messages, and letters.

In reality, no government agency or insurance company is involved, and there are no winnings. Scammers take the money you paid in fees and disappear.

"Winning" a Lottery or Sweepstakes

The lure of a sweepstakes prize is powerful. If you’re contacted by someone claiming to be a government official asking you to pay money to collect your “winnings,” remember:
  • Don’t pay for a prize. Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay insurance, taxes, or shipping charges to collect your prize. And companies, including Lloyd’s of London, don’t insure delivery of sweepstakes winnings. Once they get into your pocket, it is extremely difficult to get them out; in fact, you might lose a hell of a lot more than just the small amount their asking for.  Do Not Send The Anything Personal! 
     
  • Did you enter a sweepstakes or lottery? You can't win a prize in a sweepstakes you didn't enter. And keep in mind, it's illegal in the United States to play a foreign lottery. 
     
  • Con artists use official-sounding names to make you trust them. It’s illegal for any promoter to lie about an affiliation with - or an endorsement by - a government agency or any other well-known organization. No matter how convincing their story - or their stationary -they're lying. There exists no legitimate government official who will ask you to send money to collect a prize. 
     
  • Don’t wire money. Scammers often pressure people into wiring money. That's because wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, you can’t trace it or get it back. Never deposit a “winnings” check and wire money back. The check will turn out to be a fake and you will owe the bank any money you withdrew. Resist any requests to tell your account information, or to send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier. Con artists recommend these services so they can get your money before you realize you’ve been cheated. 
     
  • Put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry. If you want to reduce the number of legitimate telemarketing calls you get, register your phone number at donotcall.gov. [https://www.donotcall.gov/] Generally, scammers don't respect the Registry — or pay to scrub their lists against it. 
     

To Report the Scam

If you get a call from a government imposter claiming you’ve won a prize, file a complaint at http://www.ftc.gov/complaint. Be sure to include:
  • Date and time of the call
  • Name of the government agency the imposter used
  • Prize amount, amount requested in fees, and payment method
  • Phone number of the caller; although scammers may use technology to create a fake number or spoof a real one, law enforcers may be able to track that number to identify the caller
  • Any other details from the call



Be smart, be safe, and don't become a victim! -Birdy

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Cracking Down on Sexual Predators on the Internet


Two decades ago, a 10-year-old boy disappeared from his Brentwood, Maryland, neighborhood. Within weeks, the investigation would uncover two pedophiles and a larger ring of online child pornographers. Within two years, it would spawn a major national initiative that is now the centerpiece of the FBI’s efforts to protect children from predatory pedophiles in cyberspace.

Here's how the events unfolded: When FBI agents and Prince George’s County police detectives went door-to-door to talk with neighbors following the boy’s disappearance in 1993, they encountered a pair of suspicious men who had been "befriending" local children, showering them with gifts and even taking them on vacation.

Evidence followed that the men had been sexually abusing children for a quarter century. More recently, they had moved online, setting up a private computer bulletin board service not only to "chat" with boys and set up meetings with them but also to share illicit images of child pornography.
That, in turn, led investigators to a larger ring of computer pedophiles. When a similar case with national reach turned up the following year, the FBI realized it was onto an alarming new trend: sexual exploitation of children via the Internet.

A Program is born. In 1995, the FBI created its Innocent Images National Initiative (IINI). Its goals: to break up networks of online pedophiles, to stop sexual predators from using the Internet to lure children from their families, and to rescue victims.

Today, 44 of the FBI's 56 field offices have undercover Innocent Images operations. More than 450 FBI agents work these cases. Some pose as teenagers or preteens in chat rooms to identify “travelers” who seek to meet and abuse children. Others focus on dismantling major child exploitation enterprises.

Since 1995, the FBI's opened more than 10,000 total cases and helped secure nearly 3,000 convictions.

Keeping Safe. To report child pornography and/or potential cases involving the sexual exploitation of children, please contact the Crimes Against Children Coordinator at your local FBI Field Office. You can also file an online report at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com; [http://www.cybertipline.com/] these reports are forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

We need to keep our children safe, or we will have no future!” -Birdy

Monday, November 18, 2013

Consumer Alert - Online Rental Ads Could be Phony

You can’t believe your good fortune - you find a rental home in a nice area through a Craigslist classified ad at an unbelievably low rate. The landlord - who had to leave the country and travel to Nigeria - asks that you wire him two months’ worth of rent. You arrive at the home on the agreed-upon date, but there’s just one small problem - the house is not actually for rent and its owners know nothing about your agreement.

This latest scam being perpetrated by Nigerian criminals located halfway around the world has been seen in a number of U.S. states, perhaps in response to the current housing market - with fewer people buying, more people are renting.

But it’s not really a new scam, just a variation of an old one. The so-called 419 scheme - named after the Nigerian penal code section under which this particular kind of fraud is prosecuted - has been around since the early 1980s. The common thread running through these kinds of scams? The victims are solicited by Nigerian criminals to transfer money out of the U.S. and into the criminals’ pockets…usually by being promised something in return. And these schemes are profitable, costing victims millions of dollars annually.

In South Carolina, the rental scam problem has become so prevalent that Columbia FBI Special Agent in Charge, David Thomas, issued a warning about it to homeowners and prospective renters, particularly in the Charleston, Columbia, and Hilton Head areas. The scam has also ensnared victims in Rhode Island, Illinois, Colorado, California and Washington, among other states.

How exactly does the rental housing scam work? The criminals search websites that list homes for sale. They take the information in those ads-lock, stock, and barrel-and post it, with their own e-mail address, in an ad on Craigslist (without Craigslist’s consent or knowledge) under the housing rentals category. To sweeten the pot, the houses are almost always listed with below-market rental rates.

An interested party will contact the “homeowner” via e-mail, who usually explains that he or she had to leave the U.S. quickly because of some missionary or contract work in Africa. Victims are usually instructed to send money overseas-enough to cover the first and last month’s rent-via a wire transfer service (because the crooks know it can’t be traced once it gets picked up on the other end).

Renters might sometimes be asked to fill out credit applications asking for personal information like credit history, social security numbers, and work history. The Nigerian crooks can then use this info to commit identity fraud and steal even more money from their victims.

How to avoid being victimized:

  • Only deal with landlords or renters who are local;
  • Be suspicious if you’re asked to only use a wire transfer service;
  • Beware of e-mail correspondence from the “landlord” that’s written in poor or broken English;
  • Research the average rental rates in that area and be suspicious if the rate is significantly lower;
  • Don’t give out personal information, like social security, bank account, or credit card numbers.
If you suspect a scam, have already been victimized, or know someone who has fallen victim to a scam, please report it to your local police department.



-Birdy

Saturday, November 16, 2013

COMMON CAR-REPAIR SCAMS AND CONS

Dishonest mechanics will often times attempt to scam anyone, but some cheats are especially skilled at fleecing any motorist who pull into the service station where they work. This is true especially along busy highways. So if your just navigating the Interstates or simply in the need of a neighborhood repair, pay close attention to what I have to say and watch out for these six common scams:

Short-Sticking: The occurs when the station attendant pushes the oil dipstick only partway in, making it appear that your car is so low of oil that your engine might freeze up at any time. The “Oil” is then added from an entirely empty oil container that had been set aside for this very purpose.
Your Defense: If you are informed that you need oil, do it your own self, do the dipstick check to confirm that you actually need oil. If it is low, then add it yourself.

A Smoking Alternator: This is an easy-to-achieve effect. The so-called mechanic simply pours a small amount of anti-freeze on the alternator. You will be in turn, warned that you need a new alternator. The mechanic then doubles his deceit, by replacing your old alternator with your old alternator back, still in its place with maybe some quick-drying paint or cleaned up a bit, but otherwise still in its place and untouched.
Your Defense: If your car wasn't smoking when you went into the service station, then you must assume that you've been had as a little green behind the ears. Common sense states that “problems” should not magically appear when touched by a mechanic.

The Loosening of the Spark Plugs: Also done by the mechanic, which can make your engine run sluggishly, and this is a perfect pretense for the sell job known as a “priority tune-up,” which can cost you hundreds of dollars.
Your Defense: A small gentle tug on the end of the cables and the previous “drivability state” can tip you off as to this scam. Which captures many hundreds of extra dollars for the mechanics who work this ploy.

A Leaking Radiator: Or a leaking tire as a result from a puncture from a screwdriver, and the sell for a new one or to have your old one repaired, by the way the mechanics who needs to repair the old one charges by the hour.
Your Defense: If a nail or some other road hazard has caused a slow leak, it will be easily detected as it will still be embedding in the tire; but any small hole should raise your suspicions. Radiators and radiator hoses do not typically suffer punctures of an unknown origin.

Please don't tell and teens about this next one: The Exploding Battery: This is a direct result of an Alka-Seltzer tablet being dropped into a battery during an inspection with the owner-driver not paying close attention to what was being done. The mechanic usually replaces one of you battery caps with another specifically designed to hold the tablet in the head of the replaced cap. When the tablet hits the acid of the battery it causes the cap to explode and him/her warning you that you need a new battery.
Your Defense: You must stop and ask yourself, be mindful and make sure that the mechanic hears the question, why would the battery suddenly fail after his/her initial inspection, particularly when there has been no problems with it prior to his inspection, then directly ask him/her if s/he has a case of stomach upset?

And finally “Defective Shock-Absorbers:” This is the mechanic and his oil can placing a few strategic oil squirts on the shock-absorbers while the car is raised on a lift for inspection.
Your Defense: Do your own inspection while the car is on the lift Remember if the oil is clean and free from dirt and grime of that ordinarily accumulated from driving, then it was placed there by the mechanic so that he can scam you out of a $450.00 to $600.00+ repair.

-Birdy

Friday, November 15, 2013

Governmental Intrusion:


We the people are sick and tired of government intrusion into our lives. The government is too busy trying to convince us, they know what is best for us. In the process, they have forgot the very essence of their existence! Rather than building and strengthening our great nation, they have chose to weaken and bankrupt it! The Founding Fathers never envisioned our government as it presently exists.

Let’s Regulate Some More… Rather than protecting the freewill of the people, they have chose to intrude and regulate virtually every aspect of one’s life. I challenge anyone to find one thing which isn’t regulated or controlled by some government regulations! Are we the people really this stupid to need such oversight and intrusion or are these bureaucrats just intoxicated with power and are trying to justify their existence and exert control?

The Reality Of War… All of the recent military conflicts could have been resolved quickly including our present conflict in Afghanistan. They chose to be politically correct and sensitive rather than accepting war for what war is deal with the enemy as they should be dealt with! Save the women and children, but unleash a wave on the enemy unlike they never dreamed of! They are more concerned what the world thinks of us rather than what reality is. Democracy is a force to never be reckoned with regardless of opinion.

Destroying Entrepreneurship… They chose to destroy entrepreneurship by catering to the corporate fat cats and accepting money and favors along with political contributions. They allowed jobs, technology, manufacturing go to the Chinese and other countries in order to grow corporate profits and pacify the shareholders! In the meantime, the Chinese have purchased more government treasuries than any country and now have the power to destroy this country economically by simply selling these bonds! How could these bureaucrats done this without consenting, we the people?

Mergers And Monopolies… Rather than protecting entrepreneurship, they allowed mega mergers to take place and monopolize the marketplace making small business creation and survival a thing of the past. They forgot small business is the economic engine which built this great country! They chose payoffs and promises over protecting and allowing small businesses to grow and flourish. Greed and power mean more to them than preserve and protect.

Tax Hikes… They chose to raise taxes to pay for programs and entitlements. We now pay over .50 of every dollar we earn to some form of taxes which you imposed on us. We the people never authorized this or asked for these programs and entitlements. However, they think they know better than the people who put you there.
Bogus Bills… Rather than create common sense legislation with a simple up or down vote, they chose to attach multiple riders which distorted and convoluted the original intent of the legislation so you can make good the on the bribes and promises of future votes.

Health Care For All… They chose to destroy our health care system with your grandiose vision of socialized medicine and coverage for over 20-million illegal immigrants in hopes of more votes. They chose to raise health care costs for all the hard working people and through monopolies this bought them votes and financial gain. Rather than allowing, we the people to purchase insurance across state lines and allow competition to lower health care costs, you chose to block it.

Torte Reform… Rather than instituting Torte Reform and stop frivolous lawsuits to help lower health care costs, they chose not to! We the people realize, trial lawyers are major contributors to the Democratic Party and they want to protect your financial interests and future plans.

Illegal Immigration… Rather than protecting our borders from illegal immigration, they chose to look the other way and endanger the very citizens you are suppose to protect. Then they offer them protection, money, benefits, health care for violating Federal Law. They do this with the intent to offer amnesty in hopes of votes to grow their agenda and their quest for more power.

Bailouts For The Corrupt… They took the Tax Payers money to bail out corrupt bankers and brokerage firms rather than allowing these firms to collapse due to natural market forces. They could have allowed these firms to collapse and bailout the innocent people who had nothing to do with the demise of these corrupt firms. Instead they chose to reward and protect them and even offer them political positions.

Real Estate Meltdown… They could have stopped the housing meltdown before it even became a bubble, but they chose to believe, everybody is entitled to own a home whether they can afford it or not! Then the innocent hardworking people have to bailout the people who never should have owned a home in the first place.

Job Creation… Rather than stimulating small businesses to produce jobs to restart the economy, they chose to make lending more difficult. In the meantime, they managed to create more non-essential government jobs and giver themselves pay raises and increases in benefits.

In Closing… And so the story goes and goes!
We the people are wise to your games of deceit and agenda! We the people have awaken and will take back what the Founding Fathers created for us.

Oh, yes, We The People

-Birdy

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Today's Common Fraud Schemes


The following are some of the most common scams that are being used today and tips to help prevent you from being victimized.

Telemarketing Fraud:
When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.

Here are some warning signs of telemarketing fraud—what a caller may tell you:
  • You must act 'now' or the offer won't be good.
  • You've won a 'free' gift, vacation, or prize. But you have to pay for postage and handling or other charges.
  • "You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier. You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.
  • You don't need to check out the company with anyone. The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.
  • You don't need any written information about their company or their references.
  • You can't afford to miss this 'high-profit, no-risk' offer.
If you hear these or similar "lines" from a telephone salesperson, just say "no thank you" and hang up the telephone.

Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud:
It's very difficult to get your money back if you've been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:
  • Don't buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.
  • Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true.
  • Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.
  • Obtain a salesperson's name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.
  • Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.
  • Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. "What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?"
  • Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered.
  • Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.
  • Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won't pressure you to make a snap decision.
  • Don't pay for a "free prize." If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.
  • Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are—the kinds of financial information you will and won't give out on the telephone.
  • Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor. It's never rude to wait and think about an offer.
  • Never respond to an offer you don't understand thoroughly.
  • Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
  • Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.
  • If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.
  • If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.

Nigerian Letter or “419” Fraud
Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter mailed from Nigeria offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author—a self-proclaimed government official—is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers, and other identifying information using a fax number provided in the letter. Some of these letters have also been received via e-mail through the Internet. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim, who has demonstrated a "propensity for larceny" by responding to the invitation, to send money to the author of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.

Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria. In actuality, the millions of dollars do not exist, and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but loss. Once the victim stops sending money, the perpetrators have been known to use the personal information and checks that they received to impersonate the victim, draining bank accounts and credit card balances. While such an invitation impresses most law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax, millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually. Some victims have been lured to Nigeria, where they have been imprisoned against their will along with losing large sums of money. The Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these schemes, since the victim actually conspires to remove funds from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law. The schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code, hence the label “419 fraud.”

Tips for Avoiding Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud:
  • If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service, your local FBI office, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. You can also register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant.
  • If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible.
  • Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
  • Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
  • Guard your account information carefully.

Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone assumes your identity to perform a fraud or other criminal act. Criminals can get the information they need to assume your identity from a variety of sources, including by stealing your wallet, rifling through your trash, or by compromising your credit or bank information. They may approach you in person, by telephone, or on the Internet and ask you for the information.

The sources of information about you are so numerous that you cannot prevent the theft of your identity. But you can minimize your risk of loss by following a few simple hints.

Tips for Avoiding Identity Theft:
  • Never throw away ATM receipts, credit statements, credit cards, or bank statements in a usable form.
  • Never give your credit card number over the telephone unless you make the call.
  • Reconcile your bank account monthly, and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately.
  • Keep a list of telephone numbers to call to report the loss or theft of your wallet, credit cards, etc.
  • Report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company, and the police as soon as you detect them.
  • Review a copy of your credit report at least once each year. Notify the credit bureau in writing of any questionable entries and follow through until they are explained or removed.
  • If your identity has been assumed, ask the credit bureau to print a statement to that effect in your credit report.
  • If you know of anyone who receives mail from credit card companies or banks in the names of others, report it to local or federal law enforcement authorities.
Advance Fee Schemes
An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value—such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift—and then receives little or nothing in return.

The variety of advance fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them. They may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities." Clever con artists will offer to find financing arrangements for their clients who pay a "finder's fee" in advance. They require their clients to sign contracts in which they agree to pay the fee when they are introduced to the financing source. Victims often learn that they are ineligible for financing only after they have paid the "finder" according to the contract. Such agreements may be legal unless it can be shown that the "finder" never had the intention or the ability to provide financing for the victims.

Tips for Avoiding Advanced Fee Schemes:
If the offer of an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is. Follow common business practice. For example, legitimate business is rarely conducted in cash on a street corner.
  • Know who you are dealing with. If you have not heard of a person or company that you intend to do business with, learn more about them. Depending on the amount of money that you plan on spending, you may want to visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau, or consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police.
  • Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney.
  • Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail drops and do not have a street address. Also be suspicious when dealing with persons who do not have a direct telephone line and who are never in when you call, but always return your call later.
  • Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or non-circumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying the bona fides of the people with whom you intend to do business. Con artists often use non-circumvention agreements to threaten their victims with civil suit if they report their losses to law enforcement.

Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud

Medical Equipment Fraud:
Equipment manufacturers offer "free" products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.

"Rolling Lab" Schemes:
Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.

Services Not Performed:
Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones.

Medicare Fraud:
Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.



Tips for Avoiding Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud:
  • Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
  • Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.
  • Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
  • Carefully review your insurer's explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
  • Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
  • Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
  • Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
  • Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.

Redemption / Strawman / Bond Fraud
Proponents of this scheme claim that the U.S. government or the Treasury Department control bank accounts—often referred to as “U.S. Treasury Direct Accounts”—for all U.S. citizens that can be accessed by submitting paperwork with state and federal authorities. Individuals promoting this scam frequently cite various discredited legal theories and may refer to the scheme as “Redemption,” “Strawman,” or “Acceptance for Value.” Trainers and websites will often charge large fees for “kits” that teach individuals how to perpetrate this scheme. They will often imply that others have had great success in discharging debt and purchasing merchandise such as cars and homes. Failures to implement the scheme successfully are attributed to individuals not following instructions in a specific order or not filing paperwork at correct times.

This scheme predominately uses fraudulent financial documents that appear to be legitimate. These documents are frequently referred to as “bills of exchange,” “promissory bonds,” “indemnity bonds,” “offset bonds,” “sight drafts,” or “comptrollers warrants.” In addition, other official documents are used outside of their intended purpose, like IRS forms 1099, 1099-OID, and 8300. This scheme frequently intermingles legal and pseudo legal terminology in order to appear lawful. Notaries may be used in an attempt to make the fraud appear legitimate. Often, victims of the scheme are instructed to address their paperwork to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

Tips for Avoiding Redemption/Strawman/Bond Fraud:
  • Be wary of individuals or groups selling kits that they claim will inform you on to access secret bank accounts.
  • Be wary of individuals or groups proclaiming that paying federal and/or state income tax is not necessary.
  • Do not believe that the U.S. Treasury controls bank accounts for all citizens.
  • Be skeptical of individuals advocating that speeding tickets, summons, bills, tax notifications, or similar documents can be resolved by writing “acceptance for value” on them.
  • If you know of anyone advocating the use of property liens to coerce acceptance of this scheme, contact your local FBI office.

Investment-Related Scams

Letter of Credit Fraud
Legitimate letters of credit are never sold or offered as investments. They are issued by banks to ensure payment for goods shipped in connection with international trade. Payment on a letter of credit generally requires that the paying bank receive documentation certifying that the goods ordered have been shipped and are en route to their intended destination. Letters of credit frauds are often attempted against banks by providing false documentation to show that goods were shipped when, in fact, no goods or inferior goods were shipped.

Other letter of credit frauds occur when con artists offer a "letter of credit" or "bank guarantee" as an investment wherein the investor is promised huge interest rates on the order of 100 to 300 percent annually. Such investment "opportunities" simply do not exist. (See Prime Bank Notes for additional information.)

Tips for Avoiding Letter of Credit Fraud:
  • If an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Do not invest in anything unless you understand the deal. Con artists rely on complex transactions and faulty logic to "explain" fraudulent investment schemes.
  • Do not invest or attempt to "purchase" a "letter of credit." Such investments simply do not exist.
  • Be wary of any investment that offers the promise of extremely high yields.
  • Independently verify the terms of any investment that you intend to make, including the parties involved and the nature of the investment.

Prime Bank Note Fraud
International fraud artists have invented an investment scheme that supposedly offers extremely high yields in a relatively short period of time. In this scheme, they claim to have access to "bank guarantees" that they can buy at a discount and sell at a premium. By reselling the "bank guarantees" several times, they claim to be able to produce exceptional returns on investment. For example, if $10 million worth of "bank guarantees" can be sold at a two percent profit on 10 separate occasions—or "traunches"—the seller would receive a 20 percent profit. Such a scheme is often referred to as a "roll program."

To make their schemes more enticing, con artists often refer to the "guarantees" as being issued by the world's "prime banks," hence the term "prime bank guarantees." Other official sounding terms are also used, such as "prime bank notes" and "prime bank debentures." Legal documents associated with such schemes often require the victim to enter into non-disclosure and non-circumvention agreements, offer returns on investment in "a year and a day", and claim to use forms required by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). In fact, the ICC has issued a warning to all potential investors that no such investments exist.

The purpose of these frauds is generally to encourage the victim to send money to a foreign bank, where it is eventually transferred to an off-shore account in the control of the con artist. From there, the victim's money is used for the perpetrator's personal expenses or is laundered in an effort to make it disappear.

While foreign banks use instruments called "bank guarantees" in the same manner that U.S. banks use letters of credit to insure payment for goods in international trade, such bank guarantees are never traded or sold on any kind of market.


Tips for Avoiding Prime Bank Note Fraud:
  • Think before you invest in anything. Be wary of an investment in any scheme, referred to as a "roll program," that offers unusually high yields by buying and selling anything issued by "prime banks."
  • As with any investment, perform due diligence. Independently verify the identity of the people involved, the veracity of the deal, and the existence of the security in which you plan to invest.
  • Be wary of business deals that require non-disclosure or non-circumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying information about the investment.

Ponzi’ Schemes
Ponzi” schemes promise high financial returns or dividends not available through traditional investments. Instead of investing the funds of victims, however, the con artist pays "dividends" to initial investors using the funds of subsequent investors. The scheme generally falls apart when the operator flees with all of the proceeds or when a sufficient number of new investors cannot be found to allow the continued payment of "dividends."

This type of fraud is named after its creator—Charles Ponzi of Boston, Massachusetts. In the early 1900s, Ponzi launched a scheme that guaranteed investors a 50 percent return on their investment in postal coupons. Although he was able to pay his initial backers, the scheme dissolved when he was unable to pay later investors.

Tips for Avoiding Ponzi Schemes:
  • Be careful of any investment opportunity that makes exaggerated earnings claims.
  • Exercise due diligence in selecting investments and the people with whom you invest—in other words, do your homework.
  • Consult an unbiased third party—like an unconnected broker or licensed financial advisor—before investing.

Pyramid Schemes
As in Ponzi schemes, the money collected from newer victims of the fraud is paid to earlier victims to provide a veneer of legitimacy. In pyramid schemes, however, the victims themselves are induced to recruit further victims through the payment of recruitment commissions.

More specifically, pyramid schemes—also referred to as franchise fraud or chain referral schemes—are marketing and investment frauds in which an individual is offered a distributorship or franchise to market a particular product. The real profit is earned, not by the sale of the product, but by the sale of new distributorships. Emphasis on selling franchises rather than the product eventually leads to a point where the supply of potential investors is exhausted and the pyramid collapses. At the heart of each pyramid scheme is typically a representation that new participants can recoup their original investments by inducing two or more prospects to make the same investment. Promoters fail to tell prospective participants that this is mathematically impossible for everyone to do, since some participants drop out, while others recoup their original investments and then drop out.

Tips for Avoiding Pyramid Schemes:
  • Be wary of "opportunities" to invest your money in franchises or investments that require you to bring in subsequent investors to increase your profit or recoup your initial investment.
  • Independently verify the legitimacy of any franchise or investment before you invest.

Market Manipulation or “Pump and Dump” Fraud
This scheme—commonly referred to as a "pump and dump”—creates artificial buying pressure for a targeted security, generally a low-trading volume issuer in the over-the-counter securities market largely controlled by the fraud perpetrators. This artificially increased trading volume has the effect of artificially increasing the price of the targeted security (i.e., the "pump"), which is rapidly sold off into the inflated market for the security by the fraud perpetrators (i.e., the "dump"); resulting in illicit gains to the perpetrators and losses to innocent third party investors. Typically, the increased trading volume is generated by inducing unwitting investors to purchase shares of the targeted security through false or deceptive sales practices and/or public information releases.

A modern variation on this scheme involves largely foreign-based computer criminals gaining unauthorized access to the online brokerage accounts of unsuspecting victims in the United States. These victim accounts are then utilized to engage in coordinated online purchases of the targeted security to affect the pump portion of a manipulation, while the fraud perpetrators sell their preexisting holdings in the targeted security into the inflated market to complete the dump.

Tips for Avoiding Market Manipulation Fraud:
  • Don't believe the hype.
  • Find out where the stock trades.
  • Independently verify claims.
  • Research the opportunity.
  • Beware of high-pressure pitches.
  • Always be skeptical.
The reason for this post is that the above schemes and frauds are reoccurring at an alarming rate, with different variations but the same structure, in 2011 thru 2012, I have seen over 400 variations of the above frauds, right here in the Olympia/Tumwater area. The gist here is this: “Criminals will try anything and everything to take what is yours and call it theirs, to be educated gives you a better chance of not becoming a victim!”
It is far better to be safe with knowledge, rather than be sorry without it. -Birdy
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