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BBB Warns of Scams, Scams and More Scams
For scammers, the season of holiday giving is the season of taking, and Tennesseans’ hard-earned money again tops scammers’ wish lists. Unfortunately, Tennessee consumers are falling for scammers’ ploys when it comes to gift card swindles in increasing numbers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s Consumer Sentinel Network reports Tennesseans lost nearly $1 million – over $943,000 – through prepaid gift card scams in 2018, which is a 44 % increase compared to 2017 when scammers stole $653,709 from consumers.
While family, friends, and co-workers may use gift (or ‘reload’) cards to express holiday appreciation, scammers want the cards’ PIN numbers for fast cash, and they’re willing to do and say anything to get those numbers from consumers.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Consumer Affairs (TDCI) is warning consumers of a new and increasingly common scam where callers pretending to represent a federal or state agency contact consumers about a fictitious debt and demand payment in the form of a prepaid gift card or risk punishment. Consumers should remember that no government agency will ever demand payment in the form of a reloadable gift card.
To help consumers avoid prepaid gift card and other holiday scams, TDCI offers the following tips:
GIFT CARD SCAMS:
• Always remember that a government agency will never ask for payment in the form of a prepaid gift card. If you receive a call from someone portraying him or herself as a government official, but they ask for a gift card as payment, hang up the phone.
• Never read or text someone the PIN number on the back of a gift card. The number is as good as cash in the scammers’ pocket.
• Reputable businesses, like technology support companies and shop-at-home services, don’t ask for gift cards as payment. If you’re being asked by a caller to pay for a product or service with a gift card, proceed with caution because it is likely a scam.
• If you’re buying gift cards as gifts, make sure to buy them from a reputable and known source.
• Always treat gift cards like cash and protect them as you would your wallet.
HOLIDAY SCAMS:
• Be suspicious of apps, online advertisements, or websites offering prices that seem suspiciously lower than retail prices at trusted retailers.
• Consider paying with a credit card that offers fraud protection when possible.
• Only shop on secure websites. Look for https in the address (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and for a lock symbol.
• Some retailers and delivery services need extra help at the holidays but beware of solicitations that require you to share personal information online or pay for a job lead. Apply in person or go to retailers’ main websites to find out who is hiring.
• Several trusted companies offer charming and personalized letters from Santa, but scammers mimic them to get personal information from unsuspecting parents. Check with https://www.bbb.org/to find out which ones are legitimate.
• Be cautious if you get a call or email from a family member or friend claiming to be in an accident, arrested, or hospitalized while traveling in another country. Never send money unless you confirm with another family member that it’s true.
CHARITABLE GIVING SCAMS:
• Don’t assume that charity recommendations on social media platforms or blogs have already been vetted. Research the charity yourself.
• Find out what percentage of your donation will go to the charity and whether you will be charged any fees for making a donation through a fundraising platform website.
• Check to see if the charity is registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
• Websites posing as charities can sometimes look identical to the real organization. These fraudulent websites will often ask for personal or financial information over an unsecure connection or may download harmful malware into your computer. Look for a padlock symbol or “https” before the web address indicating that it is secure.
• Avoid being pressured to make an immediate donation. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to get more information.
• If you didn’t initiate contact, avoid giving personal or financial information over the phone.
• Never write out a check or give cash to an individual solicitor. Write out checks to the name of the organization or use a credit card.
If you’ve been the victim of a gift card or other holiday scam, report it to the FTC.
For more information on being a savvy consumer, visit tn.gov/consumer. You can also check what scams are being reported in your area, the state, and across the country by accessing the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker.
For Some, the Holidays are Anything but Jolly
The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, at www.tspn.org, has information about warning signs and links to local resources. (blake_bab/Twenty20)
Some people have increased anxiety due to travel obligations, or the expenses of gift-giving. Others neglect self-care trying to make the holidays special for family or loved ones.
There is no evidence that the suicide rate spikes at Christmas, but suicides have dramatically increased in the U.S. in recent years. And Dennis Gillan, who lost two brothers to suicide, said each person needs coping mechanisms to help maintain their holiday equilibrium.
“Let’s get comfortable talking about mental health so we don’t have this increase,” Gillan said. “And then, too, if you’ve been down this road, take care of yourself. Self-care is not selfish.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is now the 10th-leading cause of death nationwide, and the second-leading cause for people ages 15-34. A report by Blue Cross Blue Shield showed Tennessee ranks among the highest states for depression rates among teens.
Temple University sociology professor Matt Wray has studied why suicide rates are higher in the American West than other parts of the United States. He said people thrive on strong friendships and family relationships, and too much solitude at any time of year can bring on feelings of despair.
“Social isolation; and I’m not talking here about loneliness, although loneliness can be a factor in suicide, but more about geographic and social disconnectedness,” Wray said.
Mental health experts say for people who struggle during the holidays, this is not the time to cancel therapy sessions. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
State Group says Tennessee should still keep Paper Trail of Voters
A state government group says Tennessee should still keep a paper trail of voters’ ballots roughly 10 years after coming out with a similar recommendation that resulted in little change.
According to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, just 14 of the state’s 95 counties produce some sort of a paper record for independent recounts and audits. The group first urged changes to the state’s election system in 2007, when it found only two counties had such requirements.
All the other counties use direct recording electronic voting machines with touch screens that do not produce a paper record that can be recounted and audited independent of the voting machine’s software.
Tennessee is one of 14 states with no statutory requirement of a paper record of all votes.
State Parks Host Free Hikes to Bring in the New Year
Tennessee State Parks will offer free, guided hikes at 55 state parks as part of the annual First Day Hike program across the state.
The hikes are designed for all ages and abilities. Some hikes are over rugged terrain while others are nice strolls. Each hike is led by an experienced park ranger. The hikes are part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes in all 50 states.
Hikes feature spectacular views and informative guidance by the rangers.
Old Stone Fort is one of the most scenic hiking areas around. Join Park Rangers on a 3.5 mile strenuous/ difficult hike along the Backbone Trail. You’ll begin at the Museum and walk along both the Big and Little Duck Rivers to the Forks of the River before ascending to the top of Backbone Ridge. They suggest dressing appropriately for the weather and wearing sturdy hiking shoes. Bringing a reusable water bottle is also recommended. Dogs are welcome as long as they remain on leash.
First Bank Partners with Coffee County CHS Track to Purchase Timing System
A pair of managers from Manchester’s First Bank present a check to CHS track coach Nathan Wanuch. Pictured left to right are CHS track athletes Dillon Helms and Trace Bryant, CHS athletic director Rebecca Koger, First Bank Financial Center Manager Ryan Mabe, CHS track coach Nathan Wanuch, First Bank Financial Relationship Manager Ryan Gray and CHS track athlete Jacob Melton
Hoping to offer more high profile and prestigious track meets at Carden-Jarrell Field, Coffee County CHS track coach Nathan Wanuch saw a need for electronic timing for his program. Wanuch undertook a fundraising campaign to raise the $8,000 needed to purchase an electronic timing system that could be used by both the Cross Country and Track programs. That campaign reached its goal on Tuesday thanks to a huge donation by First Bank of Manchester.
Needing $8,000 for the Eagle Eye Fully Automatic Timing System and computer hardware, First Bank of Manchester presented a check for the final $5,000 needed to make the purchase. Ryan Mabe, financial center manager for the Manchester branch, stated that the contribution continues First Bank’s “mission to give back to the community. At First Bank we want to support local businesses and organizations.”
Coach Wanuch saw Tuesday’s donation as the culmination of fund raising efforts to continue the improvement of the track facilities. “After the school board made the investment in resurfacing and improving the track itself, we were in a perfect location to host regional and sectional meets. The one thing needed was an electronic timing system.” Wanuch plans on using the timing system this spring beginning with a jamboree meet on March 7th.
Wanuch will be a guest on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the donation and the impact it will have on the school’s programs. The Coffee Coaches Show is heard live each Saturday at 10 AM. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln and in heard exclusively on Thunder Radio.
Preds Get Back to Basics to Beat Senators
Pekka Rinne
The home team allowed a goal just 34 seconds into Tuesday’s game, but it was all positive from there.
Three different Preds found the back of the net as Nashville defeated the Ottawa Senators by a 3-1 final at Bridgestone Arena. The result ends Nashville’s two-game skid and gives them their 20th win of the campaign.
After a road trip to Western Canada didn’t go their way, the Preds returned home to face a Senators club also dealing with injury issues, and Nashville kept it simple to collect the satisfying victory.
“We were disappointed in poor play on the road; at times it was good, and at times it wasn’t,” Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “Tonight, we came in and simplified a lot of errors in our game, and the result was there. If we continue with that game plan, I think we’ll like the results.”
“We addressed a lot of things after the last road trip,” Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “I felt like tonight, we played with speed, got the pucks deep, turned a lot of pucks over, and created chances. Our defense always plays a big role in our offense.”
Mark Stone gave the Senators their only lead of the night less than a minute in, but in the latter portions of the first, Austin Watson redirected a Mattias Ekholm point shot for his sixth of the season and even tally through 20 minutes.
After relentless pressure to start the second, it was Ellis who blasted a shot past Craig Anderson midway through the frame to put the Preds up by one, and Craig Smith added another in the third to seal the victory.
Rinne made 25 saves to collect his 13th win of the campaign and move to 8-3-0 in 11 career starts against the Senators.
“It was good for us to get back on the winning trend, and it’s always nice to come back home and play in front of our fans,” Watson said. “A really good group effort from our guys tonight.”
Back to Basics:
The hockey clichés were flying in the Nashville locker room after Tuesday’s win, but they wouldn’t be uttered if they didn’t mean something.
After the Predators said they got away from their game in recent memory, they got back to what makes them successful – keeping it simple and relying on an effective system that plays to their strengths.
“That’s pretty much exactly what we did; we got pucks behind them, got a better forecheck, and when we turned over pucks in their end, we started our cycle game,” Ellis said. “Overall it was a good game on our part.”
That, in turn, allows Nashville to prosper, no matter who is in or out of the lineup. And with four big names still on the shelf, the Preds executed the game plan to near perfection in Tuesday’s triumph.
“We are missing some fire power, but as long as we stick to what we do well, we will play good and smart hockey,” Watson said. “We get ourselves in trouble when we turn the puck over, too. We talk about these clichés like getting line changes and getting pucks out deep, but it really holds true for us right now.”
Doing that with consistency will be key for the Preds as they’ll continue to be without wingers Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson likely into the New Year. And just as they’ve done before in the recent stretch, the group prevailed once more for win No. 20.
“It’s roughly the same group that has been here the last three to four years, so we have seen this sort of thing before,” Watson said. “Guys get injured every year, it’s a part of the game but I think we are well-equipped to handle it.”
Notes:
Zac Rinaldo and Matt Irwin were scratched for the Predators on Tuesday.
The Preds are now 9-0-0 against the Eastern Conference this season.
Nashville continues their three-game homestand on Thursday night when the Vancouver Canucks come to town before finishing off their season series with the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Pete Weber’s Postgame Report
12/13/18 — Connie “Mack” Warren, Jr.
Connie “Mack” Warren Jr of Tullahoma, passed this life on Monday, December 10, 2018 at Tennova – Harton Hospital at the age of 75 years. Funeral Services are scheduled on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 2 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home with burial to follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, December 13, 2018 from 5-8 PM.
A native of Tullahoma, he was the son of the late Connie Mack Warren Sr. and the late Hazel Gordon Warren. He was a 1962 graduate of Tullahoma High School and enjoyed fishing, hunting and storytelling. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Diane McGowan Warren and sister, Ann Stewart.
Mack is survived by his son, Robby Warren and his wife, Leslie of Tullahoma; daughter, Michelle Werner and her husband, Johnny of Chattanooga; brother, Bobby Warren and his wife, Jodi of Tullahoma; grandchildren, Colby and Lydia Werner of Chattanooga, Heather Mangrum and her husband, Jonathan of Tullahoma, Clinton Warren of Murfreesboro and Gabriel Warren of Tullahoma.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in his honor to Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Charles Michael Cray
Charles Michael Cray of Fayetteville, passed this life on Monday, December 10, 2018 at his residence at the age of 68. No services are scheduled.
A native of Chicago Heights, IL, he was the son of the late Herbert Cray and the late Helene Proctor Romig. He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, riding motorcycles, boating, riding dirt bikes, barbequing and having picnics. He also loved music and enjoyed playing his guitar.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by half-brothers, Herbert Cray Jr and Kenneth Cray.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Cray of Fayetteville; son, Scott Cray of Northglenn, CO; daughter, Michelle Baker and her husband, Dennis of Columbia; half-brothers, Tony and Danny Cray of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren, Tyler, Aidan, Kayla, Nathan and Austin and three great grandchildren, Emmi, Harper and Scarlette.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
12/11/18 — Birthdays
No birthdays to report
Texas Rangers and Nashville Sounds to Play Exhibition Game at First Tennessee Park
The Nashville Sounds, in conjunction with the Texas Rangers, announced today at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Las Vegas that the two teams will play a spring training exhibition game at First Tennessee Park on Sunday, March 24 at 1:05 p.m.
“This is another thrilling and historic day for the Nashville Sounds,” said General Manager Adam Nuse. “One of the biggest goals we established with our partnership with the Rangers was to bring a spring training exhibition game to First Tennessee Park and the city of Nashville. We can’t wait to work with the Rangers to showcase Major League Baseball to this great city and our incredibly supportive fan base.”
Sounds season ticket members will have first right to their same seat for the March 24 exhibition game at a discounted rate. Members who have renewed for the 2019 season will receive additional information in the next few days.
Fans interested in securing tickets immediately can do so by purchasing a full, half or partial-season ticket plan for the 2019 season. Season ticket memberships start as low as $325. Individual exhibition game tickets will not be available to the general public until early March.
A Major League Baseball exhibition game has not been played in Nashville since June 3, 1999 when the Sounds hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates at Greer Stadium.
Recently named Rangers Manager Chris Woodward played for the Sounds in 2008. The Sounds are scheduled to announce their field staff in the next few weeks.
The Rangers’ spring training home is in Surprise, Ariz. Pitchers and catchers report on February 13 with the first full-squad workout scheduled for February 18. Texas begins their 2019 regular season against the Chicago Cubs on March 28 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
The Sounds and Rangers announced a four-year Player Development Contract in a press conference at First Tennessee Park on September 20. The Rangers’ presence in Nashville continued last month during the Sounds’ “Remastered” release event when team executives, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and current players were on hand to support Nashville’s rebrand.
The 42nd season of Nashville Sounds baseball begins on Thursday, April 4 when the Nashville Sounds host the Iowa Cubs at First Tennessee Park. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.