New Take on an Old Scam

As the economy stays pretty bad - the scammers are trying new tactics. This one purports to be from a U.S. citizen complete with name and address and we are to believe she went to Nigeria to get her money and saw "my" name, phone number and email....

The email itself is addressed to undisclosed-recipients so my name is only one of a long list of those to whom this was sent - and if she was being such a "good" citizen why did she not make a phone call?

And then there is this- where the scam makes an honest statement: You really have to stop your dealing with those contacting you through email communications.

Well yes - but - if we must stop communicating through email - why are you asking me to email this fake barrister?

BEWARE - people only want your money - if t were a real financial matter - you would be NOT be contacted by
email!

Please do not respond to these....

*******************
Hello Friend,

I am Mrs. Jane W.Rowland, I am a U.S.A. citizen, 46 years Old. I reside here in West Texas. My residential address is as follows. 319 Runnels; Big Spring, Texas 79720, United States of America.

I am one of those that executed a contract in Nigeria years ago and they refused to pay me, I had paid over $70,000 trying to get my payment all to no avail. So I decided to travel down to Nigeria with all my contract documents.

And I was directed to meet Honourable Barrister Ben Mark ESQ, who is the Attorney General of CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE, and I contacted him and he explained everything to me. He said that those contacting us through emails are fake. Then he took me to the paying bank, which is THE CO-OPERATIVE BANK ONLINE OF NIGERIA PLC, and I am the happiest woman on this earth because I have received my contract funds of USD$5.6Million Moreover, Honourable Barrister Ben Mark showed me the full information of those that have not received their over due payment; and I saw your full name and email, your contract amount, your phone number as one of those that have not received their payment.

This is what you have to do right now. You have to contact him direct on this information below to release your payment.

Contact Name: BARRISTER BEN MARK ESQ.
Postiton: Head of Chambers.
Email Address: benmark73@yahoo.com.hk
Fax_234-1-7593154
Office Address: Plot 2961 Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

You really have to stop your dealing with those contacting you through email communications or telephone calls conversations, okay, because they will dry you up until you have nothing to eat. The only money I paid was just $1,200 for IRS permit fees, which you know. So you have to take note of that and act accordingly and I assure you that with the help of this reputable Attorney General (Honourable Barrister Ben Mark ESQ) your over due payment will be release and wire transferred to you.

Thank you very much as you read this message and God bless you and your family.

Mrs.Jane W.Rowland.

Voices in Our Heads: Mother's Day Memories

I am heavily invested in politics and even though election season is over politics is never ”over.” After a recent major fundraiser - which got me home very late - after a longer week of late nights – my body rebelled.

When I awoke, still tired, I heard my mother's voice "You know – you’re not 20 anymore."

There are other of her sayings that sometimes appear but “not 20 anymore” is the one that comes back with some regularity - especially when I am doing "things" that we ancient elders are not "supposed" to be doing.

My mom started on that mantra when I was in my 40's and began playing competitive softball, touch football and squash. All of these come with the possibility of injuries and I was not immune: broken finger, broken ankle, sore quads, and being hit by line drives!

Ouch - but I did not stop as my own mantra is “play when hurt.” I finished a softball double header with a broken finger and ended that season only after the orthopod said further injury could result in serious permanent impairment.

I would tell my mother of my latest games - injuries or not – and she would repeat her mantra. It became a regular laughing point of all our conversations and she admitted she wished she still could do what I was doing! This continued until she died at 95 and I was in my early 60's - still doing those sports and telling her about them.

So when I had my exhausting week - her words rang in my head and I wondered if she was somewhere shaking her head proudly saying aloud to all who listen "that daughter of mine" - then to me "You know – you’re not 20 anymore."

The Top 100 Best Wellness Blogs for Women

Masters in Health Care included this blog on their list of 100 Best Wellness Blogs for Women. It's #87 on this site and in the category of Fit and Healthy After a Certain Age.

Although I giggle at the concept of "after a certain age" I am grateful for this honor.

Credit Card Scammers

There is a company who keeps calling - they use a 506 area code but the number that shows up in your caller ID has too many digits - it is not a real number and you can not call it back and they never ever leave a message.

One day they called me 3-4 times in an hour then they went away for months- but they come back - like today.

I once answered to try to find out who they were. After asking a few times for the company name - I got words along the line of "card services." If you press on with your questions you get "we can help you with your credit card." If you ask which card; they say all of them [?] When someone calls me and I have to ask questions about why they are calling - I am suspicious.

And if you continue to question them - guess what happens? Yup - they hang up on you :D

They have to be a scam - so if you see area code 506 followed by 229 or 224 or 222 do not bother answering.

Aging and Homelessness

I was chatting with a neighbor the other day about wine - when she just blurted out that she had met with her financial advisor last week and was told in no uncertain terms that she could not retire next year as she had planned on.... Her retirement fund had taken that big a nosedive!

She likes her job so she was not all that unhappy – but she been looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren – and now her retirement is being put off until who-knows-when...

But as least she has a job and a retirement fund that may eventually creep back up into something akin to an amount to retire on.

Unfortunately for others the unemployment rate is at a record high, more stores are shuttering, more homeless are on the streets or in their old cars [including many more of the older generations – people like you and me.]

We used to respect our elders and take care of them. When did we lose that focus?

At some point in the last 30 or so years we became a me-first and a me-only culture and it’s now become apparent that the me-first/only greedy persons have devastated the world’s economy – of course while saving themselves.

It’s sad to see and read about people in their 70’s and 80’s living in cars. I love camping out – but that’s because I know I can get home and take a warm shower and eat warm food at the end of some stretch of time. I even lived in my VW van while driving to Alaska and back from the East coast – but again - I knew I had someplace to return to after 4 or more months of living in that vehicle --- and --- I was in my 30’s!

I can’t imagine doing that now for any long stretch of time – my body would be very unhappy -- and I expect those who are doing this hurt. Cars are not comfortable beds.

We again need to respect our elders and care for them – not leave then out in the streets.

Soon I will post about how our obsession with youthful looks and youthful people may be harmful.

Comments?