Home  >> Stories  >> The Tale Spinner #2013-12

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IN THIS ISSUE

• Scambusters lists the top scams to watch out for this year
• We get letters from Jean Sterling and Norma Patterson
• Pat Moore forwards travellers´ complaints
• Don Henderson has his own GPS
• Eve Cassidy´s post is also about travelling
• Catherine Nesbitt sends a cute story about kids in love
• Catherine Green forwards a tale of church squirrels
• Sites are recommended by Bruce Galway, Carol Hansen, Carol Shoemaker, and Pat Moore

MARCH IS FRAUD AWARENESS MONTH

Overall, people are getting smarter about avoiding scams, but crooks always seem to be a step ahead. Here is Scambusters.org´s list of top scams we should watch out for:

1. Phishing and identity theft. One-off attempts to grab your cash are bad enough, but these scams take something more valuable: your information. Think of the damage a crook can do with your banking information gained through a phishing attack, and the havoc they could cause with your email passwords. Even collecting email addresses through fake surveys and sign-ups is big business: that´s how crooks can disseminate their scams. With new cons always in the works, we´ll need to pay even more attention to what information we reveal in the months ahead.

2. Malware. It could be on your computer right now: a malicious piece of software logging every key stroke you make, spying on your activities, or creating fake pop-ups like virus alerts. Malware won´t just infect your computer this year: experts predict that malicious apps and malicious ads on mobile devices could be one of the top online security threats in 2013.

3. Internet sales. Be careful where you spend! Scams involving online auctions, online classified ads, and questionable online retailers continued to be a top complaint in 2012, according to Scambusters. Variations of these scams can hit both buyers and sellers, but both types will leave you with no merchandise and no cash.

4. Lottery scams. Who wouldn´t love to win a fabulous trip or a cash prize? Hopefully by now you know there´s a catch: you have to give away your information and pay to claim that prize you´ll never receive. According to Scambusters, this con is still surprisingly low tech, with crooks often opting for snail mail and phone calls to tempt their targets - especially older adults.

5. Nigerian and advance fee scams. Does a foreign diplomat need your help getting millions of dollars out of the country? Think an up-front fee will guarantee you a good loan? Is the new online love of your life asking for cash or airfare to meet you? Scambusters reports it´s seeing a much wider range of these scams than ever before, so it´s no surprise they remain fairly high on the list.

6. Imposter/grandparent scams. Think twice before you answer that call or email for help! The scheme got the moniker "grandparent scam" because it usually involved a crook posing as a grandchild calling for cash in an emergency. Now the con can involve any imposter - a crook posing as a family member, friend or colleague - and any range of scenarios from a lost airplane ticket to a medical emergency.

7. Investment scams. With savings and investments yielding little return, the promise of a big payout is tempting. Crooks are getting more creative with their pitches too. Experts constantly remind people that there´s no such thing as a "get rich quick" scheme - not a legal one, anyway.

8. Economy-related scams. From services offering to lower your loan or credit card rate to too-good-to-be-true job opportunities, scammers continued to prey on people´s financial woes in 2012. With continuing turmoil in the U.S. and Europe, we don´t see these scams easing up any time soon.

9. "Hit-and-run" scams. No cars involved - this catchall category includes all those scams where crooks take your cash and take off. (Think charity scams and bogus contractors, for example.) These scams are especially insidious because they take advantage of current events such as natural disasters.

10. Skimming and ATM theft. Scambusters thought these crimes would rank #5 for the year, but notes its #10 ranking is because many incidents were more appropriately categorized as identify theft. Credit and debit card skimming devices can be hidden on ATM machines or gas pumps, for example, making the crime tricky to spot.

Travel scams didn´t make the list in 2013, but Scambusters notes it saw "plenty of evidence of this crime" regardless. Also popular in 2012 were extortion scams such as cons regarding kidnappings that never happened, and fake police officers making people pay "fines" on the spot for crimes they supposedly committed.

What to watch out for in 2013

Wondering which scams you´ll face in the year ahead? The 2013 list doesn´t look much different that 2012´s. Here are Scambusters´ predictions:

1. Phishing and identity theft.

2. Lottery/sweepstakes/bogus prizes.

3. Bogus internet sales.

4. Malware.

5. Hit-and-run.

6. Economy-related scams.

7. Imposter scams.

8. Advanced fee scams.

9. Investment scams.

10. Dating/sweetheart scams.

You´ve likely noticed that sweetheart scams get their own category this year, rather than being part of advanced fee scams. Scambusters predicts that crooks will take advantage of rising divorce rates and the growing popularity of online dating sites to ply their trade.

How do these numbers stack up against Canadian crimes? The Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre hasn´t released any data for 2012 yet, but does note its top three most reported scams are service, prize, and emergency scams.

However, if you´ve read as many "top scams" lists as we have, you´ve likely noticed that the numbers often depend on how experts classify the crimes. Rankings don´t tell us the whole story certain crimes may move up and down the list, but they never really disappear on a year-to-year basis. Certain crimes are more common in some areas, or may target specific groups such as teenagers or seniors.

Besides, some incidents are never reported that could skew the data too. Ultimately, the numbers don´t change the fact that we need to aware of some of the common warning signs and keep tabs on the latest scams.

Additional sources: The Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, Canadian Competition Bureau Little Black Book of Scams, US Federal Trade Commission.

CORRESPONDENCE

Jean Sterling writes about Paula Deen´s restaurant, which was mentioned in last week´s issue: I ate at Paula Deen´s several years ago when we were at an Elderhostel in Savannah, and in my opinion it is highly overrated. It was also one of the most unhealthy places I have ever eaten. I remember everything as being fried and loaded with calories - and not all that tasty either. If I am going to eat high-calorie food, I want it to taste great!

Norma Patterson writes: I enjoyed the story forwarded by Joy Coetzee. In 1991, my husband Wes and I spent four months travelling in the USA . We did our tour on the east coast and all the small Islands around Florida, out to Key West, and up the Atlantic coast. We bicycled around Jekyll Island when we camped there. Very pretty spot. We also visited Savannah and had peanut soup for lunch one day, which was very good. I am sure the places have changed in 20 odd years, but it was an interesting trip.

Pat Moore forwards these comments sent to a travel agency:

TRAVELLERS´ COMPLAINTS

1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."

2. "It´s lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during "siesta" time - this should be banned."

3. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don´t like spicy food at all."

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

5. A tourist at a top African game lodge overlooking a water hole who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel "inadequate".?

6. A woman threatened to call police after claiming that she´d been locked in by staff. In fact, she had mistaken the "do not disturb" sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain in the room.

7. "The beach was too sandy."?

8. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white."

9. A guest at a Novotel complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.??10. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women."

11. "We bought ´Ray-Ban´ sunglasses for five Euros from a street trader, only to find out they were fake."

12. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."

13. "There was no egg slicer in the apartment…."

14. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish."

15. "The roads were uneven."

16. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England but it only took the Americans three hours to get home."

17. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends´ three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller."

18. "The brochure stated: ´No hairdressers at the accommodation´. We´re trainee hairdressers - will we be OK staying there?"

19. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad."

20. "We had to queue outside with no air conditioning."

21. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."

22. "I was bitten by a mosquito. No-one said they could bite."

23. "My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."?

Don Henderson shares this poem about his personal

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

I have a little GPS
I´ve had it all my life
It´s better than the normal ones
My GPS is my wife

It gives me full instructions
Especially how to drive
"It´s 60 miles an hour," it says
"You´re doing sixty five."

It tells me when to stop and start
And when to use the brake
And tells me that it´s never ever
Safe to overtake

It tells me when a light is red
And when it goes to green
It seems to know instinctively
Just when to intervene

It lists the vehicles just in front
And all those to the rear
And taking this into account
It specifies my gear.

I´m sure no other driver
Has so helpful a device
For when we leave and lock the car
It still gives its advice

It fills me up with counselling
Each journey´s pretty fraught
So why don´t I exchange it
And get a quieter sort?

Ah well, you see, it cleans the house,
Makes sure I´m properly fed,
It washes all my shirts and things
And - keeps me warm in bed!

Despite all these advantages
And my tendency to scoff,
I do wish that once in a while
I could turn the f---ing thing off

Eve Cassidy is one of many who have sent these musings about

FAR-AWAY PLACES WITH STRANGE-SOUNDING NAMES

I have been in many places, but I´ve never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can´t go alone; you have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I´ve also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there. I have, however, been in Sane. They don´t have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family, and work.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I´m not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often. I´ve been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I´m in Capable, and I go there more often as I´m getting older.

One of my favourite places to be is in Suspense. It really gets the adrenaline flowing and pumps up the old heart. At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

I may have been in Continent, but I don´t remember what country I was in.

Catherine Nesbitt sends this adorable story of

KIDS IN LOVE

Little Andy and Lucy are only 12 years old, but they know they are in love.

One day they decide that they want to get married, so Andy goes to Lucy´s father to ask him for her hand. Andy bravely walks up to him and says, "Mr. Smith, me and Lucy are in love, and I want to ask you for her hand in marriage."

Thinking that this was just the cutest thing, Mr. Smith replies, "Well Andy, you´re only 12. Where will you two live?"

Without even taking a moment to think about it, Andy replies, "In Lucy´s room. It´s bigger than mine, and we can both fit there nicely."

Still thinking this is just adorable, Mr. Smith says with a huge grin, "Okay, then how will you live?You´re not old enough to get a job. You´ll need to support Lucy."

Again, Andy instantly replies, "Our pocket money. Lucy gets five dollars a week and I get eight dollars. That´s about 52 dollars a month, so that should do us just fine."

Mr. Smith is impressed. Andy has put a lot of thought into this.

"Well Andy, It seems like you have everything worked out. I just have one more question. What will you do if the two of you should have children of your own?"

Andy just shrugs his shoulders and says, "Well, we´ve been lucky so far."

Mr. Smith no longer thinks the little brat is adorable.

Catherine Green forwards the story of the

CHURCH SQUIRRELS

There were five houses of religion in a small town: the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Catholic Church, and the Jewish Synagogue.

Every church and the synagogue was overrun with pesky squirrels.

One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels. After much prayer and consideration, they determined that the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn´t interfere with God´s divine will.

In the Baptist Church the squirrels had taken up habitation in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a cover on the baptistery and drown the squirrels in it. The squirrels escaped somehow and there were twice as many there the next week.

The Methodist Church got together and decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God´s creation, so they humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free a few miles outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back.

But the Catholic Church came up with the best and most effective solution: they baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, and Easter.

Not much was heard about the Jewish Synagogue, but they took one squirrel and had a short service with him called circumcision, and they haven´t seen a squirrel on the property since.

SUGGESTED WEBSITES

Bruce Galway recommends this site for a video of the last true motorcycle road race in the world on the Isle of Man. Each lap is 37.75 miles long with over 200 turns, and the record for a single lap is over 130 MPH. There are straight sections where the bikes hit over 200 MPH. It Is hard to imagine such riding speeds, but they do it every year at the end of May and have been doing so since 1907. There have been over 240 rider fatalities in the history of the event, but it is bigger than ever today. Two riders were killed during the 2012 events. The helmet cam video over the last minute or so of the clip is breathtaking. Former Formula One World Champion John Surtees won this event before he switched from motorcycles to race cars.

Carol Hansen is one of many who forwarded this link, and if you are one of the few who have not yet seen the video that proves that paper is not dead, click here:

Carol Shoemaker sends this link for all who are owned by a cat or two. It shows a video of Dusty, nicknamed Clepto, the cat burglar, dragging home his loot:

Pat Moore forwards the URL for a video of a flying car developed in Holland. I wonder if you would have to have a pilot´s licence before taking off? Imagine all those drivers you think should not be allowed on the roads suddenly leaping into the air!

Tonight, March 23, millions of people around the world will turn off their lights to take a stand against climate change. You can join them by switching off between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. local time. Check out this site for suggestions on how to celebrate that hour:

As the war over income inequality rages on, super-rich Seattle entrepreneur Nick Hanauer has been raising the hackles of his fellow one-percenters by arguing that rich people don´t actually create jobs, and that they should pay their fair share of taxes. TED officials decided the talk was "too politically controversial" and refused to post it online:

If you are concerned about internet freedom, which is threatened by a group of 600 lobbyist "advisors" and un-elected bureaucrats meeting behind closed doors to decide whether you could get fined for your Internet use, click on this site to join the thousands who are protesting the move:

To check out the features of the "freedictionary", which changes daily, go to