INVITATION
You are invited to an Honor Night for
Hearts in Harmony Deputy Instructor
KATHLEEN FORSLOF
April 5, 2006; 7:30 PM
Victory Chapter #161
Millwood Masonic Temple
3219 N. Argonne Road
Millwood, WA
Special invitation to: All Present and Past Deputy Instructors
TWO CREDIT CARD SCAMS
This is from the Scambuster Newsletter. Lowry May
Credit Card Scam #1:
WARNING... New Credit Card Scam. This one is pretty slick since the
crooks provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they
want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &
MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to
protect yourself. Here's a story passed along by a concerned citizen:
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was
called on Thursday from "MasterCard". The scam works like this: Person
calling
says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud
Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged
for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be
on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). "Did you purchase an
Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in
Arizona?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will
be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been
watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500
purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the
credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You
say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a
Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800
number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for
Security. You
will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6
digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The
caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card".
He'll ask you to turn
your card over and look for some numbers. There are 7 numbers; the first 4
are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that
verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you
sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The
caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the
caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify
that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your
card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say No, the caller then
thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do," and hangs
up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the
Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within
20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security
Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase
of
$497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story made short - we made a real fraud report
and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the
scammers want is the
3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them.
Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for
verification of their conversation.
The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as
they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give
the
scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit.
However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for
purchases you
didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to
actually file a fraud report. What makes this more remarkable is that on
Thursday, I
got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word
repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We
filed
a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking
several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we
know that this
scam is happening.
--- End email ---
Answer: This is most likely a real credit card scam. We
have a good number of subscribers tell us they have received these calls.
In addition, this credit
card scam is neither difficult nor expensive for a scammer to execute
(although they couldn't do it too often without running into trouble with
their
merchant account). The biggest red flag is the last sentence, though: we
do not recommend you tell everyone you know (especially by sending
emails).
These requests that you tell everyone you know about something are almost
always signs of hoaxes. Action: Never give any info about
your personal credit
card or other financial information out to people who call you. If you
have a question, you should call the phone number on the
back of your credit card directly.
~~~
Credit Card Scam #2:
Here is a common scam targeting people with imperfect credit histories
we thought you should know about... This scam also begins with a phone
call.
The caller tells you that you've been pre-approved for a credit card. The
credit limit varies from call to call, but the caller usually quotes a
credit limit of
around $5,000. The caller says that this is a perfect way to begin
rebuilding your credit and since you have less-than-ideal credit, this is
the perfect opportunity. To sweeten the deal, sometimes the caller says
that in addition to receiving your pre-approved credit card, you'll also
receive a free computer. Here's the reality: The scammer simply wants to
get some information from you -- the routing number for your bank and your
checking or savings account
number. Why do they want this information? They say it's to process the
one-time fee (which ranges anywhere from $250 to $400). Unfortunately,
many
people are falling victim to this scam. They give the caller their bank
account information. The money gets withdrawn from their bank account and
that's
where the nightmare begins. Some callers aren't receiving anything at all
for the money that's been taken out of their bank accounts. Others are
receiving a package via UPS. What's in the package? An application for a
pre-paid credit card and a service agreement for a computer that will cost
them about $800!
So where's the credit card with the $5,000 credit limit and the free
computer? It doesn't exist. To make matters worse, the victims suddenly
start seeing unauthorized transactions being posted to their account and
some have even had problems with identity theft.
Actions: First and foremost, don't ever give your
personal information (such as bank account numbers and birth dates) over
the phone to someone who calls
you asking for it. Second, never, ever apply for a credit card that you
have to pay for up front. While it's not uncommon to have to pay an annual
fee for a credit card (especially if you have tarnished credit), the
annual fee should be charged to the credit account AFTER you receive the
credit card. It shouldn't
be paid for up front with your bank account. That's it for today -- hope
you have a great week.
LOWRY'S HINTS
HINT 1: Black clothing tends to look brown after several
washings. To restore the black color, add coffee or strong tea to the
rinse water.
* * * * * * * * *
HINT 2 : A Little Salt don't hurt: When washing dark
clothes for the first time use cold water and put salt in the water. The
salt helps set the color. To brighten dark clothes after they have
been washed several times, repeat the procedure.
* * * * * * * * *
HINT 3: Cleaning behind your refrigerator will keep it
running longer and more efficiently. Another fridge cleaning tip: Make
sure the unit is level.
An unlevel refrigerator works harder than it needs to and wastes energy.
* * * * * * * * *
HINT 4: Stock Up... Shop for items that you use
regularly at all times. If you run out, you will have to pay whatever
the supermarket may be charging
when you need it.
* * * * * * * * *
HINT 5: Check Out the Flyers: More often than not,
the best sales are on the front and back of your supermarket flyer.
This is true....
HINT 6: Using Glass Dishes Makes A Difference: When
baking, oven heat can be lowered 25° if you use glass or ceramic baking
dishes, they retain
heat better than roasting pans. This helps save on your gas/electric
bill.
RECIPES
Fusilli with Tomato Mozzarella Sauce
1 pound ripe plum tomatoes, halved
8 ounces Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup fresh sliced basil
6 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
Pepper to taste
12 ounces fusilli pasta, cooked to package directions
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
TO PREPARE: Cut tomatoes and cheese into 1/2-inch pieces and place in
bowl. Mix in basil, olive oil, vinegar, garlic and red pepper
flakes. Season with pepper. Let stand at room temperature 30
minutes. Place drained pasta in a pot and add tomato mixture. Toss over
low heat until cheese begins to melt.
Transfer pasta to platter or plates; sprinkle with pine nuts and garnish
with basil leaves. SERVES: 4
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Blue Cheese Potato Salad
"This satisfying potato salad uses waxy-fleshed red potatoes, tangy
blue cheese, peppery green onions and crunchy bits of bacon to create an
unforgettable potato salad experience!"
4 slices bacon
2 pounds red new potatoes
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
DIRECTIONS: Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high
heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Bring a large pot
of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still
firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop, leaving skins on. In a large
bowl, whisk together
the oil, vinegar, green onions, salt and pepper. Add the potatoes, bacon
and cheese and toss to coat. Serves: 5.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rose Parade Pancakes
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup all purpose flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons baking powder
2 Tablespoons sugar
TO PREPARE Pancakes: Combine egg, milk and oil. Add dry ingredients and
beat until smooth. Batter should be thick. Heat griddle. Brush griddle
lightly with oil. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter, per pancake, onto
griddle. Cook until top of pancake is set and flip. Cook until golden
brown.
NOTE: Light as a feather and scrumptious with this homemade Cinnamon
Syrup (see below). SERVINGS: 4
INGREDIENTS for Cinnamon Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup evaporated milk
TO PREPARE Cinnamon Syrup: Combine sugar, syrup, water and cinnamon in a
saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly Cool 15
minutes and add evaporated milk.
NOTE: A must with your favorite pancakes. YIELD: 2 cups
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dirt Pudding Cups
>From Quick Cooking
"These darling little desserts are my daughter Crystal's favorite,"
relates Linda Emery of Tuckerman, Arkansas. "At birthday parties,
everyone loves the individual servings because each person gets a gummy
worm," she adds.
2 cups cold fat-free milk
1 package (1.4 ounces) sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix
1 carton (8 ounces) reduced-fat whipped topping
1 package (16 ounces) reduced-fat chocolate cream-filled sandwich
cookies, crushed
Gummy worms, optional
DIRECTIONS: In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Fold in
whipped topping. Divide a third of the cookie crumbs and half of the
pudding
mixture among 10 dessert cups; repeat layers. Top with remaining crumbs.
Garnish with gummy worms if desired. Yield: 10 servings.
NUTRITIONAL INFO: Nutritional Analysis: One 3/4-cup serving (calculated
without gummy worms) equals 269 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 1
mg
cholesterol, 406 mg sodium, 46 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 lean meat, 1 fat.
HELOISE
-
Making
Breakfast Easier:
After you've
finished the dinner dishes, get breakfast dishes out on the table, so you
won't have to do it in the morning.
You also can set
out cereals or other foods that don't need refrigerating. It will make the
morning rush a little less hectic.
-
No-Mess Salad
Toss:
Put bite-size salad greens into a large plastic bag. Add the appropriate
amount of salad dressing. Seal the bag and shake, shake, shake. The greens
will be coated and you can use the bag to store leftover salad.
-
Clean Oven
Door:
To remove goop from the oven window, wipe it with ammonia and allow to set
for several minutes. Using a plastic ice scraper, remove the gunk. Wipe with
soapy water and rinse.
-
Fingerprints on
Varnished Woodwork:
To get them off,
make a solution of 1-part vinegar to 2-parts water. Wipe over prints and
then polish with a dry cloth to make the woodwork shine again. To clean a
150-year-old table at Windsor Castle, they use apple cider vinegar and water
SOME JOKES
A boy had reached four without giving up the habit of sucking his
thumb, though his mother had tried everything from bribery to reasoning to
painting
it with lemon juice to discourage the habit.
Finally she tried threats, warning her son that, "If you don't stop
sucking your thumb, your stomach is going to blow up like a balloon."
Later that day, walking in the park, mother and son saw a pregnant
woman sitting on a bench. The four-year-old considered her gravely for a
minute,
then spoke to her saying, "Uh-oh . I know what you've been doing."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MALE-Bashing (No Diss Intended, Just Humor)
**What do you do if your boyfriend walks out?
Close the door.
**When do you care for a man's company?
When he owns it.
**Why do men get married?
So they don't have to hold their stomachs in anymore.
**What are a woman's four favorite animals?
A mink in the closet, a Jaguar in the garage, a tiger in the bedroom, and
an donkey to pay for it all.
**How do you get a man to do sit-ups?
Put the remote control between his toes.
**Why are dumb blonde jokes so short?
So men can remember them.
**What did God say after creating man?
I must be able to do better than that.
**What did God say after she made Eve?
"Practice makes perfect."
**What's the difference between men and government bonds?
Bonds mature.
**Why do men buy electric lawn mowers?
So they can find their way back to the house.
**What do you call a man who has lost 95% of his brainpower?
A widower.
**Man says to God: "God, why did you make woman so beautiful?"
God says: "So you would love her."
"But God," the man says, "why did you make her so dumb?"
God says: "So she would love you."
**Why did Moses wander the desert for 40 years?
He wouldn't ask for directions.
(I know ... I am searching for
FEMALE-bashing jokes, but they are soooooo hard to find!!! :o) Just kiddin'
guys! Remember ... the blonde
jokes seem to be all geared towards the
females!)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Morris and Becky were delighted when finally their long wait to adopt a
baby came to an end. The adoption center called and told them they had a
wonderful Russian baby boy, and the couple took him without hesitation...
On the way home from the adoption center, they stopped by the local
college so they each could enroll in night courses.
After they filled out the form, the registration clerk inquired, "What
ever possessed you to study Russian?"
The couple said proudly, "We just adopted a Russian baby and in a year
or so he'll start to talk. We just want to be able to understand him."
- - - - - - - - - -
After much urging by his wife, my Uncle Joe applied for work on a farm.
The foreman decided to give him a try and told him to milk a cow, equipping
him with a stool and a bucket. An hour later Uncle Joe returned dirty and
sweaty, the bucket in one hand and the broken stool in the other.
"Extracting the milk was easy," he explained. "The hardest part was
getting that stubborn cow to sit on the stool."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
SIGNS YOU ARE GETTING OLDER .
*You like to be in crowds because they keep you from falling down.
*Your favorite section of the newspaper is "25 Years Ago Today".
*The parts that have arthritis are the parts where you feel best.
*A big evening with your friends is sitting around comparing living wills.
*Your clothes go into the overnight bag so you can fill the suitcase with
your pills.
*Somebody you consider an old-timer calls you an old-timer.
*Your idea of a change of scenery is looking to the left or right.
*Your knees buckle, but your belt won't.
- - - - - - - - - -
Important Things I Learned About Life From My Cat
* Life is hard and then you nap.
* Curiosity never killed anything except maybe a few hours
* Variety is the spice of life: One day ignore people, the next day annoy
them and play with them when they're busy.
* When in doubt, cop an attitude.
* Climb your way to the top -- that's why the drapes are there.
* Never sleep alone when you can sleep on someone's face.
* Make your mark in the world -- or at least spray in each corner.
* When you go out into the world, always remember, being placed on a
pedestal is a right, not a privilege.
* Always give generously; a bird or rodent left on the bed tells them, "I
care."