(SAN-August 2006) The email below was received here at the Senior Advocate Newspaper from a concerned reader asking if we were aware of any such scam. The portion of the email in question went as follows:
I dialed '0' and asked the operator who confirmed that this was correct so please pass it on. PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T Service technician (could also be Tells) who was conducting a test on the telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should touch nine(9), zero(0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up. Luckily, I was suspicious and refused. Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number. I was further Informed that this scam has been originating from many local jails/prisons DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE. The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information with EVERYONE I KNOW. After checking with Verizon they said it was true, so do not dial 90# for anyone !!!!! PLEASE HIT THAT FORWARD BUTTON AND PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW
If you notice the author never mentions he/she contacted AT&T where the tech was suppose to work but, we did. This is what we learned. from the folks at AT&T. The 9-0-# scam has been around for years and is directed at businesses, hospitals, government agencies and other organizations that use telephone switching equipment called private branch exchanges (PBXs) to handle their calls. This type of fraud involves a perpetrator who calls an office and cons an unsuspecting worker into transferring him or her to an outside line. The perpetrator then starts dialing calls that are charged to the owner of the PBX. In this latest version, the caller claims to be an AT&T service technician "repairing" the phone lines and convinces the recipient of the call to help out by transferring him to an outside line and then hanging up. Below are some points about this scam worth remembering:
· This scam doesn't affect residential customers; its target is businesses.
· An AT&T service technician would never call customers and ask them to help check phone lines.
· The scam is generating a lot of interest in the media and over the Internet, but our network fraud experts report no increase in the number of fraud cases as a result of this notoriety.
· The best prevention against this type of fraud is for business managers to make their office staffs aware of it and to review what to do if it happens.
If someone receives such a call, he or she should ask the "technician" for a call-back number or for the name and number of the caller's supervisor. Then hang up.
To report this or any other phone scams AT&T business customers should call their account representatives. You also can call the AT&T Business Customer Care Center at 1-800-222-0400, or report the scam to your local law enforcement agency.
Fishing Trip Rattles Fishermen
Rattle Snake is un-welcomed passenger
(SAN)- May 15, 2006) - Brandon Crocker and J.D. Leeth of Visalia decided to head up to Pine Flat and do a little fishing this past May 5th. Using lures and looking for bass and trout they were approximately 60 feet from the shore, when they noticed a snake swimming a ways off. Not uncommon and thinking it was probably a garden snake they continued fishing.Chatting about the strange sight of the snake in the water so far from shore, they thought surely it had headed back.. The conversation quickly turned from snake to fish as their luck started to change and the fish started to bite, that was until from the back of the boat Crocker was heard calmly saying Hey, J.D. I know what happened to that snake.? There sitting on the back of the boat was no garden snake but a coiled rattle snake hitching a ride. Made us wonder how long he had been a passenger ? Even after we pushed him back in he continued to follow us, Leeth said. This fishing story gives new meaning to : They were jumping in the boat.?
NOTE: Water levels are rising quickly due to the amount of rain and fast melting snow; this is cause for concern where snakes are concerned. The Department of Forestery warns to use caution this summer season at our rivers and lakes.
STANDING ROOM ONLY !!
Visalia Mayor Jesus Gamboa (left) presents "Sunny" Johnson (far right) with a Proclomation Plaque.
(S.A.N. Feb. 2006) There were TV Cameras, reporters, photographers, representatives from Congress and the State Senate. Who could cause such excitement, the Governor maybe the president? All the hoopla was for Rosmond Johnson better known as Sunny in celebration of her 101st birthday.
This petite woman wearing a tiara and looking very regal at her table set center stage, looked no more than a girl in her 70's. Sunny gratuitously answered questions and greeted well - wishers, as flash bulbs popped like strobe lights, it was a real paparazzi event " Sunny is an exceptional woman," commented Sandra Bolin, Executive Director of Park Visalia where Sunny is a resident " It really has turned out to be a spectacular event." Bolin and the staff of Park Kingsburg had decorated to the hilt complete with a spread fit for royalty.
Visalia Mayor Jesus Gamboa took to the podium reflecting on Sunny's life, he spoke of the girl of eight born in England sailing with her family to their new home in Canada. At the age of eighteen she and her family set out for Los Angeles, California where she met her husband Lee and at the age of 22 Sunny and Lee moved to Bakersfield, finally finding their way to Visalia in 1956. He spoke how Sunny had became a naturalized citizen in 1963 and was made an honoree deputy sheriff by then sheriff of these parts Sandy Robinson. He went on to tell of her love of the outdoors, of horse back riding and visiting her parents cabin with her husband and kids. She lived each day to the fullest.
To honor this vibrant woman of 101 the mayor went on to present a plaque and proclaim February 5, 2006 as Rosmond "Sunny" Johnson Day in the City of Visalia honoring her birthday and her life.. Finally the question was asked that everyone wanted to hear, what did Sunny attribute her longevity to? "I have a drink of whiskey each evening." she replied.
SENIOR ADVOCATE GOES INTERNATIONAL
Nancy Carson (above) took a break from site seeing in Serranto, Italy to read her copy of the Senior Advocate Newspaper.
My husband and I started reading the Senior Advocate Newspaper when we moved to California. We have since moved out of state to Washington. Unable to find a publication like the Senior Advocate in this area we have continued to subscribe. My husband and I enjoy your publication so much we took it with us on our vacation in Italy.
My husband snapped this picture of me relaxing from site seeing in Sorrento, Italy. Having read the Senior Advocate from cover to cover I left it in the lobby of the hotel for others to enjoy. Thank you so much for such a wonderful paper. The articles in the Senior Advocate are informative and most interesting. Who knows where the Senior Advocate will go next.
Sincerely, Mr & Mrs Joesph K Carson, Kennewick, Washington
