Beware of Social Security Scams

NEWS FOR OLDER AMERICANS

(NAPSI)—Calls and e-mails from scammers pretending to be government employees are widespread. Social Security phone scams are the #1 scam

If you get a threatening call from someone saying they are from Social Security, it is from a scammer.

reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Chances are you, a friend, or a family member have received a call like this.

You don’t have to be receiving benefits to become a victim. You may get a call saying there is a problem with your Social Security number or account. Everyone, regardless of age, income, and geography, is at risk. Scammers will try to scare and trick you into giving them your personal information or money.

Is It A Scam?

The best way to protect yourself and your money is to recognize a scam. Scammers use intimidating language and often offer a “solution” to fix what they say is a serious problem with your Social Security number or account. How can you tell when it’s a scam? Social Security will not:

• Say your Social Security number has been suspended.

• Promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information.

• Call to demand an immediate payment.

• Insist you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.

• Require payment by retail gift card, pre-paid debit card, Internet currency, wire transfer, or by mailing cash.

• Ask for your personal information.

Scammers prey on your fears. The stories they tell you would scare anyone. No matter how horrible the story, if they do anything above, it’s a scam.

What Should You Do?

If you receive a suspicious call, the safest thing for you to do is:

1. Hang up!

2. Don’t share personal information or make a payment.

3. Report the scam to the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General at

https://oig.ssa.gov.

And, if you receive such threats via e-mail, delete the e-mail and do not click on any links or download any attachments. Even if the e-mail or an attachment contains Social Security’s seal or names of real people, ignore it. Then, report the scam.

Other Tips

How about if Social Security needs to contact you? Generally, they will mail you a letter and only contact you by phone if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with them.

Usually, Social Security will mail you a letter that contains telephone numbers for contacting them. You can also contact Social Security by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting

SSA.gov

Scammers are always looking for the next way to trick someone. No matter how someone might try to scam you, learning the warning signs shared here can go a long way to protecting yourself and someone you care about from identify theft and financial loss.

If you think you have been scammed, don’t be embarrassed. Report the scam to Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General at

https://oig.ssa.gov

and share this important information with your family and friends.

What You Need to Know About Vampire Energy

(February 15, 2020)–)–Have you ever wondered why all your energy saving efforts seem not enough? Is your electric bill still hiking up? Well, you might have something lurking in your home. This monster is leeching

energy from your sockets and money from your pockets.

How Does It Work?

Vampire energy, also known as standby loss, idle current, or ghost load, refers to the energy being unnecessarily leeched by gadgets or appliances when you leave it plugged in. These products are consuming energy even when not in use. On average, one household can waste more than £86 each year. It is a terrible waste of electricity and money.

Who Are the Culprits?

The Rodger Stone Case: Where Is \”Lady Justice\”?

WASHINGTON, DC–This week saw new controversies related to the Roger Stone case with four top DOJ prosecutors resigning from their posts in protest of AG Barr’s call for reducing Stone’s sentence. Scroll down to see how Judicial Watch has taken an active role in exposing the FBI’s misconduct in raiding, targeting and prosecuting Roger Stone.

From FOX News:

DOJ Prosecutors Resign After Top Brass Reverses Course on Roger Stone Sentencing

(2/12/2020)

Four career Department of Justice prosecutors abruptly withdrew from their postions in an apparent dramatic protest just hours after senior leaders at the DOJ said they would take the extraordinary step of effectively overruling the prosecutors’ judgment by seeking a lesser sentence for President Trump’s former adviser Roger Stone.

Here

From Judicial Watch:

Judicial Watch Sues Justice Departmet for Roger Stone Raid Documents

(4/19/2019)

The Judicial Watch FOIA request and subsequent lawsuit was in part prompted by the extraordinary and exclusive video access to the raid and arrest of Stone obtained by CNN. “That we’re being stonewalled suggests that someone has something to hide,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Here

Targeting of Trump’s Team ‘Worst Corruption by DOJ in Modern Times’

(1/29/2019)

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton: “I don’t think the Justice Department would have brought this prosecution of Roger Stone but for the Mueller special counsel operation, which is geared at trying to destroy President Trump.”

Here

Documents Show Andrew Weissmann Leading Hiring Effort for Mueller Special Counsel

(5/14/2019)

“These documents show Andrew Weissmann, an anti-Trump activist, had a hand in hiring key members of Mueller’s team – who also happened to be political opponents of President Trump,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.

Here

Guest Opinion: 75 percent of illegal immigrants skip deportation hearings, hiding out in US

OPINION: WASHINGTON SECRETS

Paul Bedard

| February 07, 2020 10:35 AM

More than 7 out of 10 illegal immigrant families ordered to be deported have skipped their court dates and remain in the United States, according to federal statistics.

In just 10 courts, some 36,115 illegal immigrant families ordered out from September 2018 to January 2020 never complied with a requirement to attend their hearings and instead are hiding out in the country, according to a Justice Department report from the Executive Office for

Immigration Review Adjudication Statistics

The report, according to an analysis by the

Center for Immigration Studies

, found that during the period, 47,925 families were denied asylum and ordered deported, but 75% didn’t attend their court hearings to get the order.

The statistics are the latest in a long string of reports that have detailed how illegal immigrants disappear into the U.S. once they enter.

“Their failure to appear suggests that they simply gamed loopholes in our immigration laws to gain entry into this country, to live and work indefinitely,” said former Immigration Judge Andrew R. Arthur, writing for CIS.

“There is nothing wrong with people looking for a better life generally, of course, but the problem in these cases are that (1) they put themselves and their children in danger by entering illegally to begin with, (2) they gave money to criminals and cartels to be smuggled into the U.S., (3) they are swelling immigration court dockets with hearing dates they never attended and likely never planned to attend, and (4) they make it harder for legitimate asylum seekers to get protection in a timely manner, which would allow those aliens to start a new life free from fear and protect their family members still abroad. Oh, and illegal entry is a crime,” he added.

The report said that as in the past, some 9 out of 10 immigrants seeking asylum into the U.S. were denied.

Over the 15-month period and 10 courts studied in the report, judges completed 52,646 cases resulting in deportations of 47,925 — a 91% removal rate.

Students from NJ Make Dean\’s List at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, GA (02/11/2020)– The following students have earned the distinction of being named to the Dean\’s List at the Georgia Institute of Technology for Fall 2019. This designation is awarded to undergraduate students who have a 3.0 or higher academic average for the semester.

Danielle Brown of Mullica Hill (08062)

Pierce Burgin of Sewell (08080)

Nya Dawson of Salem (08079)

Lucy Domingue of Mullica Hill (08062)

Shawn McKelvey of Williamstown (08094)

Thomas Poliski of Salem (08079)

Sophia Rubino of Haddonfield (08033)

Gemma Ruggiano of Mount Laurel (08054)

Dale Shober of Ventnor (08406)

Melanie Weaver of Shamong (08088)

One of the nation\’s leading research universities, the Georgia Institute of Technology is in the business of Creating the Next – the next idea, the next technology, and the next legion of agile minds well equipped to imagine and engineer our future. More than 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled, and Georgia Tech is ranked among the nation\’s top five public universities by

U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit

gatech.edu

Students Named to Dean\’s List

SPRINGFIELD, MA (02/11/2020)– Western New England University congratulates more than 730 students named to the Fall 2019 Dean\’s List.

George T. Friedlander of Wall Township (07719) is working toward a BSE in Civil Engineering.

Demitrios Nicholas Stefanou of Haddon Twp (08107) is working toward a BA in Law & Society.

Brandon J. Moore of Atlantic City (08401) is working toward a BSE in Mechanical Engineering.

Celebrating its Centennial in the year 2019, Western New England University is a private, independent, coeducational institution. Located on an attractive 215-acre suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England serves 3,974 students, including 2,629 full-time undergraduate students. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs are offered through Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the School of Law.

Paige Evans of Egg Harbor Township (08234) defies labels at Gettysburg College

GETTYSBURG, PA (02/11/2020)– In this era of specialization, students may feel pressured to choose between passions and focus their energies on a single intellectual pursuit. At

Gettysburg College

, however, we believe in the value of multidisciplinary study-a hallmark of a

liberal arts

experience. Our students are encouraged to take ownership of their education, chart their own paths, and define their own identities.

Paige Evans \’20 of Egg Harbor Township, like many students, has widespread interests and has never been able to describe herself as just one thing. In fact, the multidisciplinary approach at Gettysburg College has given her the freedom to be shaped by everything from algorithms to Aristotle to recreational sports.

\”Everything I have done in my life has brought me to where I am today, and all of those things are what make me who I am,\” said Evans, a recipient of the College\’s prestigious

David Wills Scholarship

. \”My choice to come to Gettysburg was not random. I knew a liberal arts education here would help me to feel fulfilled in my studies and give me the freedom to explore avenues I didn\’t even realize were a possibility.\”

As a

mathematics

major and

philosophy

minor, Evans has learned to see beauty in complexity. She finds it within the elaborate proofs that bring life and vibrancy to the whiteboards of Glatfelter Hall. She also experiences it in her day-to-day interactions with friends, as they-often unconsciously-debate the age-old views of Rousseau, Locke, and other titans of philosophy over lunch at Servo.

\”My time here at the College has not been a colorless one. I have taken full advantage of the great opportunities afforded to me and I am making a difference on campus,\” said Evans, who outside the classroom models for the

art department

, is a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, and recently joined a newly formed skateboarding club on campus. \”All of the clubs and jobs I have on campus serve a purpose and add so much to my life. I am always looking for new ways to engage myself and make connections with the people I am surrounded by.\”

Evans is also a student fundraiser for the

Gettysburg Fund

. By engaging with fellow Gettysburgians to support the College and its students through the collection of annual fund donations, Evans has witnessed how her efforts, although small, contribute to a larger, more meaningful goal-and help to make the programs she\’s involved in possible.

This emphasis on teamwork was engrained in Evans from an early age through music. When she first played the violin in her school orchestra, she was awestruck by what her and her friends could accomplish together.

Using the diverse experiences and skills she has gained at Gettysburg as guideposts for her future, Evans has her sights set on graduating in fall 2020, a semester earlier than expected, and combining her love of engaging with others with her interests in music and mathematics. She will intern at Universal Music Paramount Studios in Los Angeles this summer as a member of their marketing team, and Evans hopes to serve as a Continuous Improvement Data Analyst for the music industry after the internship concludes.

\”As students, we are all trying to make something of ourselves and find our greater purpose,\” Evans said. \”Yet, when you look at our lives from a broader point of view it is really easy to see that we are all defined by our collective identity as Gettysburg College students, and together-in our own unique ways-we create a campus that has a really magical impact on the world around us.\”

Explore Gettysburg College\’s

120+ clubs and campus organizations

to learn about all the ways students can get involved and take ownership of their education.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is loc

Secure Your Finances Before Obtaining a Car Loan

image courtesy of unsplash.com

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 15, 2020)–Getting a car loan requires you to be responsible. You need to pay the loan each month for three to five years. There\’s a chance that your car could get taken away from you if you fail to pay the required amount. Therefore, you must secure your finances first before you obtain any loan. If you are looking for first-class service and a quick response to your loan request look no further than

Omacl Loans.

Make sure you don’t have any existing major debt

You can’t get a major loan if there’s an existing loan that you still keep paying. Unless you have a huge monthly income, keeping up with two significant loans that require monthly payments would be tough. You can wait until you already finished one loan before getting another, or at least be close to completion.

Check your income source

You should only take on paying a monthly car loan if you have a stable income source. Otherwise, it will be a burden. You will keep worrying about where you’re going to get the amount to help you pay the loan for the following month. If you have a secure job, you can pursue this transaction. If you’re still on probation, or you only recently started your job, you need to think twice.

Understand the terms

Not all car loan companies are the same. Some of them offer reasonable terms. You need to understand what it entails for you to secure a car loan. If you can find

no deposit car finance

, it might be great news. You can drive your preferred car without the need to pay anything first. However, the monthly fees might be a lot higher than usual due to the lack of initial payment. If you already understand the terms, you will know if you chose the right car loan company.

Compare the cars

It also helps if you know the car models. You can check if an option is good enough considering its price, or if there are other better choices. Take your time to review the options using different standards. Once you find the car model that you want, it will be easier to proceed with any transaction.

A no-deposit deal could be the perfect choice

You might have second thoughts about the idea of obtaining a no-deposit car deal. You think that it’s too risky. The truth is that you can still get a great deal if you compare the terms first. The monthly fees might be affordable enough. Even the fees for delayed payments aren’t as terrible as you think. The reason why you have an unfair view is that you only heard what other people said about this loan. Upon further research, you will realize that it could be the perfect deal.

Once you conclude that you will pursue this deal, you need to start gathering the requirements. You also need to ask different car loan companies for quotes. Confirm the information found online and start submitting the documents for approval. Once you get approved, you need to be responsible for the monthly payments.

The Rodger Stone Case: Where Is \”Lady Justice\”?

From FOX News:

DOJ Prosecutors Resign After Top Brass Reverses Course on Roger Stone Sentencing

(2/12/2020)

Here

From Judicial Watch:

Judicial Watch Sues Justice Departmet for Roger Stone Raid Documents

(4/19/2019)

Here

Targeting of Trump’s Team ‘Worst Corruption by DOJ in Modern Times’

(1/29/2019)

Here

Documents Show Andrew Weissmann Leading Hiring Effort for Mueller Special Counsel

(5/14/2019)

Here

Warren County Freeholders Support 2nd Amendment

(WHITE TOWNSHIP, NJ – February 11, 2020) – Expressing their intent to uphold the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Warren County, the Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution declaring Warren a “Second Amendment / Lawful Gun Owner County.”

Gloucestercitynews.net graphic file

The freeholder board “desires to express its deep commitment to the rights of citizens of Warren County to keep and bear Arms,” the resolution stated, and opposes “any efforts to unconstitutionally restrict such rights.”

A standing-room-only crowd offered comments both for and against the resolution for more than an hour before all three freeholders explained their support for the measure and voted.

“We’ve had some really great back and forth,” Freeholder Jason J. Sarnoski said of the discussion, adding that, “From the bottom of my heart, I really do want to thank everyone for their decorum. The level of discourse that we rise to here, in my opinion goes far above what we’ve seen in other locations.” Sarnoski said he had the utmost respect for all who expressed their views, no matter what side of the issue they took. However, Sarnoski said he is seeing greater restrictions being placed on gun ownership and added that the resolution “reflects my feelings on the rights of legal gun owners.”

Noting that his father was in law enforcement for 35 years, Sarnoski explained, “I’m the son of a police officer. He taught me how to handle a gun, and he taught me a gun owner has great responsibilities, but they also have rights, and that’s what makes this country great.”

The Freeholders heard from a full house as speakers offered their views on a proposed resolution declaring the County of Warren a “Second Amendment / Lawful Gun Owner County.” Citizens in the United States have the right to own firearms, but in many countries, “people don’t have that right,” Sarnoski said. Some of those who spoke questioned why the freeholder board wanted to pass such a resolution, but Sarnoski explained, “This is the process we have in this country when we disagree with our leadership. We don’t say we’re not going to follow the law, we don’t say we’re going to break the law, we say we’re going to address the laws we don’t agree with through petition. I don’t believe this board is wasting time or money by petitioning our government on our beliefs.”

Freeholder James R. Kern, III echoed Sarnoski’s praise for the way the speakers participated in the discussion, and continued that Warren County, with its comparatively low crime rate, “is a very safe place to live.” New Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in America, Kern said, but added he thinks some politicians are trying to pass laws just for the headlines and not because they have any positive effect. “This is our way of symbolically telling Trenton, (and) our legislators, how we feel as a county,” Kern said. Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner also said he supports the resolution to make a statement, saying that firearms restrictions considered at the state level mean “the law-abiding citizen in this state is now forfeiting his rights. That’s not acceptable.”

Pointing to areas that have tough gun laws but high crime, Gardner said politicians should “stop putting forth feel-good measures that do not accomplish anything for society.” Gardner added that he feels the governor and some members of the legislature “are wrongheaded on this matter” and wasting time instead of addressing core issues that contribute to gun violence, like mental illness. Gardner said at least 75 percent of those who spoke were in favor of the board taking this stance.

Students from NJ Make Dean\’s List at Georgia Tech

Danielle Brown of Mullica Hill (08062)

Pierce Burgin of Sewell (08080)

Nya Dawson of Salem (08079)

Lucy Domingue of Mullica Hill (08062)

Shawn McKelvey of Williamstown (08094)

Thomas Poliski of Salem (08079)

Sophia Rubino of Haddonfield (08033)

Gemma Ruggiano of Mount Laurel (08054)

Dale Shober of Ventnor (08406)

Melanie Weaver of Shamong (08088)

U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit

gatech.edu

Students Named to Dean\’s List

SPRINGFIELD, MA (02/11/2020)– Western New England University congratulates more than 730 students named to the Fall 2019 Dean\’s List.

George T. Friedlander of Wall Township (07719) is working toward a BSE in Civil Engineering.

Demitrios Nicholas Stefanou of Haddon Twp (08107) is working toward a BA in Law & Society.

Brandon J. Moore of Atlantic City (08401) is working toward a BSE in Mechanical Engineering.

Paige Evans of Egg Harbor Township (08234) defies labels at Gettysburg College

GETTYSBURG, PA (02/11/2020)– In this era of specialization, students may feel pressured to choose between passions and focus their energies on a single intellectual pursuit. At

Gettysburg College

, however, we believe in the value of multidisciplinary study-a hallmark of a

liberal arts

experience. Our students are encouraged to take ownership of their education, chart their own paths, and define their own identities.

\”Everything I have done in my life has brought me to where I am today, and all of those things are what make me who I am,\” said Evans, a recipient of the College\’s prestigious

David Wills Scholarship

As a

mathematics

major and

philosophy

art department

Evans is also a student fundraiser for the

Gettysburg Fund

Explore Gettysburg College\’s

120+ clubs and campus organizations

to learn about all the ways students can get involved and take ownership of their education.

EPA Says: No Need To ‘Warm Up’ Modern Vehicles In Cold Weather

CAR CARE COUNCIL BE CAR CARE AWARE

(NAPSI)—When the weather is cold, many motorists wonder if they need to let their vehicle “warm up” or idle before driving. In fact, today’s modern cars are ready to drive in cold temperatures without

You may have to bundle up before you drive in cold weather but your modern car is ready to go, with no need to idle a while

excessive idling.

The idea of idling before driving dates back to when cars were built with carburetors. With new fuel-injection technology, complex computer systems and thinner synthetic oils, drivers don’t need to warm up their cars before hitting the road.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it has several negative effects, such as increasing air pollution unnecessarily, wasting fuel and money and causing excessive wear or even damaging a car’s engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs and the exhaust system. Contrary to popular belief, idling isn’t an effective way to warm up most car engines.”

“Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary, even on the coldest days. The best way to warm up your car’s engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money.”

The Car Care Council has a free 80-page Car Care Guide for motorists that features several pages of fuel economy and environmental awareness tips. Available in English and Spanish, the popular guide uses easy-to-understand, everyday language rather than technical automotive jargon and fits easily in a glove box.

The non-profit Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

To order a free copy of the popular Car Care Guide, visit the council’s consumer education website at

www.carcare.org