Bill Moak Consumer Watch Published 12:00 PM EST Nov 16, 2018 If you’ve fallen victim to a scam in which the scammer asks that you send money via a wire transfer, you probably know that the money’s gone. For years, scammers have relied on the quick transfer of funds through wire services such as Western Union and MoneyGram, giving them quick access to the funds. Federal law enforcement agencies have challenged the industry numerous times to come up with better security measures and to take aggressive action when scams are discovered, but the fraud continues. Wire transfers are what make our financial system work. Trillions of dollars are sent around the globe every day by wire. But when scammers use wire services to commit fraud, they are often subject to action by federal regulators. In 2009, the Federal Trade Commission ordered Dallas-based MoneyGram International to take measures to stop fraudulent use, include conducting regular fraud investigations, and to … [Read more...] about Are you being scammed with a wire transfer?
A wire
Don’t lose your deposit in a wire transfer scam
By Leslie Sargent Eskildsen | [email protected] | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: September 22, 2018 at 7:15 am | UPDATED: September 22, 2018 at 7:16 am I’ve never been a detective, FBI agent, private investigator, or internet security analyst. But despite this lack of accreditation and work experience, I do know that you have to be aware of hackers and scammers when it comes to electronically sending money for your initial deposit and your closing funds when buying a house. There’s even a Wire and Electronic Funds Transfer Advisory (CAR form WFA) included in every Residential Purchase Agreement, which outlines the steps buyers should take when setting up their wire transfers. To me, the following advice, copied directly from the WFA, is the most important: 1. Obtain phone numbers and account numbers only from escrow officers, property managers, or landlords at the beginning of the transaction. 2. Do not ever wire or electronically transfer funds … [Read more...] about Don’t lose your deposit in a wire transfer scam
Donald Trump Jr. Isn’t Shocked at Allegation Rod Rosenstein Suggested Wearing a Wire to Secretly Record President
U.S. Donald Trump Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr. said on Friday that he wasn't shocked by an allegation, made in a New York Times report, that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein suggested wearing a wire in the White House to record the abject chaos in the Trump administration. "Shocked!!! Absolutely Shocked!!! Ohhh, who are we kidding at this point? No one is shocked that these guys would do anything in their power to undermine @realdonaldtrump," Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter Friday, with a link to the Times article.Rosenstein suggested he could convince members of Donald Trump's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment against the president, according to the report. The 25th Amendment begins the process of removing the president if the president is determined by members of his or her administration to be unfit to hold office. Shocked!!! Absolutely Shocked!!! Ohhh, who are we kidding at this point? No one is shocked that these guys would do anything in … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Jr. Isn’t Shocked at Allegation Rod Rosenstein Suggested Wearing a Wire to Secretly Record President
VW issues diesel Passat recall — for a wiring defect
DETROIT -Volkswagen (VLKAY) is recalling about 91,000 Passat cars with diesel engines because wiring under the body can corrode, overheat and potentially start fires. The recall covers midsize Passats from the 2012 through 2014 model years. VW says wire seals in an electrical connector weren't properly assembled and can let water touch electrical terminals. This can cause a short that in rare cases can cause a fire beneath the cars. The problem was discovered when a Volkswagen factory reported some underbody fires. Dealers will replace the connector with new ones that are properly sealed. Customers will be notified to bring their cars in for service starting in June. … [Read more...] about VW issues diesel Passat recall — for a wiring defect
Smartphone Detox: How To Power Down In A Wired World
Your Health Smartphone Detox: How To Power Down In A Wired World Listen · 3:24 3:24 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/584389201/585032374" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Facebook Twitter Flipboard Email Enlarge this image Ryan Johnson for NPR Ryan Johnson for NPR If the Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov were alive today, what would he say about smartphones? He might not think of them as phones at all, but instead as remarkable tools for understanding how technology can manipulate our brains. Pavlov's own findings — from experiments he did more than a century ago, involving food, buzzers and slobbering dogs — offer key insights into why our phones have become almost an extension of our bodies, modern researchers say. The findings also provide clues to how we can break our … [Read more...] about Smartphone Detox: How To Power Down In A Wired World