Monthly Archives: May 2022

Folks Over the Age of 60 Scammed 5 Times More through Tech

Posted on by
Reply

After retirement, seniors now face phone scams from Africa or Caribbean countries. According to CBS, older adults were scammed out of roughly $1.7 billion in 2021, a 74% increase from 2020, increasing significantly in 2022.

“Upwards of 92,000 seniors fell victim to elder fraud last year. 2,189 of them were from Georgia. Not only has the number of elderly victims increased at an alarming [rate but] so has the amount of money they’ve handed over to scammers. The average dollar loss per victim was $18,000, according to the FBI. Tech fraud was the most reported type of scheme affecting older adults, with 13,900 reported victims. Also relatively common were identity theft schemes, with 8,902 victims; and romance scams, with 7,658 reported victims.”

Scams occur all over the world, from identity theft to phone scams to the extortion of retirement benefits for seniors.

They often claim to have won the lottery and seek to obtain taxes and other fees over the phone, or ask for contact information such as an email address and home address, as well as sensitive private information such as social security numbers.

Never react to someone giving you too good of news over the phone or email. If you receive such a call by mistake, use another phone to record the other person’s call and report it to the police or to the relevant government office.

If You Paid a Scammer

Did you pay with a credit card or debit card? Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account? Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did you pay with a gift card? Contact the company that issued the gift card. Tell them it was used in a scam and ask if they can refund your money. Keep the gift card itself, and the gift card receipt.
Did you send a wire transfer through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram? Contact the wire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.

  • MoneyGram at 1-800-MONEYGRAM (1-800-666-3947)
  • Western Union at 1-800-325-6000
Did you send a wire transfer through your bank? Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. Ask if they can reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
Did you send money through a money transfer app? Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the money transfer app and ask if they can reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask if they can reverse the charge.
Did you pay with cryptocurrency? Contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible.
Did you send cash? If you sent it by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask them to intercept the package. To learn more about this process, visit USPS Package Intercept: The Basics.

If you used another delivery service, contact them as soon as possible.

If You Gave a Scammer Your Personal Information

Did you give a scammer your Social Security number? Go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps you should take, including how to monitor your credit.
Did you give a scammer your username and password? Create a new, strong password. If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there, too.

If a Scammer Has Access to Your Computer or Phone

Does a scammer have remote access to your computer? Update your computer’s security software, run a scan, and delete anything it identifies as a problem. Then take other steps to protect your personal information.
Did a scammer take control of your cell phone number and account? Contact your service provider to take back control of your phone number. Once you do, change your account password.

Also check your credit card, bank, and other financial accounts for unauthorized charges or changes. If you see any, report them to the company or institution. Then go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps you should take.

Report a Scam to the FTC

When you report a scam, the FTC can use the information to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public, and share data about what is happening in your community. If you were scammed, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

You can check out what is going on in your state or metro area by visiting ftc.gov/exploredata.

 

CoreeDaily.com

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without express written permission.

Attention to AAPI youth and young adults paid internships available

Posted on by
Reply

Who (age of 14-24) lives in LA county residents,

apply this medical career with paid ($15/hr) internships.

AAPI Career Pathways Speaker Series

Let’s Talk Medical Careers!

Introducing Coroner Akiko Tagawa, Chief Deputy of Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner

Friday, May 27, 5pm PDT

More information & registration below!

We are pleased to have our guest speaker Akiko Tagawa, Chief Deputy of Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. FACE President Hyepin Im and Edward Yen, President of LA County Asian American Employee Association and Assistant Executive Officer of the Board of Supervisors Executive Office will moderate the conversation.

FACE is pleased to announce our next AAPI Career Pathways Speaker Series as part of our AAPI Youth@Work Career Pathways Initiative to provide mentorship and career advice opportunities for youth on Friday, May 27th @ 5:00pm PT via Zoom.

See also information about the PAID internships below!

APPLY TODAY @ HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/FACECPI

REGISTER NOW

About Akiko Tagawa

Akiko Tagawa’s career with the County of Los Angeles spans over 25 years. Her career started as a health inspector conducting restaurant and apartment inspections after graduating with a degree in Environmental and Occupational Health from CSU Northridge. She was part of the team that created the ABC restaurant grading system and supported outreach to the community to expand awareness of food safety issues. She found that her community outreach skills were limited and went back to school at UCLA to obtain her masters in community development and social marketing while working. She was actually in class when the 9/11 attacks occurred in New York, that shifted her career goals from advancing in food safety policy with the FDA, to taking a position with the Dept of Public Health Executive Team to strengthen public health emergency response. Work in organizational development and training suited her, but found herself wanting to do external facing work and moved to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Program where she worked on policies related to sober living and implemented the nation’s first process improvement programs with the County Contracted rehab facilities. She missed the administrative work and took a position as the executive assistant to the administrative deputy of Public Health where she honed her skills in administrative management. She then took a position with the Probation Department where she oversaw the management of the juvenile facilities but was quickly pulled back to Public Health where public health related emergency response was beginning to be the norm, including response to Ebola, a Hepatitis A outbreak, a Measles Outbreak, the Exide Lead Contamination Outreach, Woolsey Fire Outreach, and most recently work on the COVID19 Pandemic. She was part of the team that stood up the mega vaccination PODs. She has been the Chief Deputy of the Medical Examiner-Coroner for the last 13 months.

CoreeDaily.com

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission.

Next NRA Convention is in Texas, the latest state to deal with mass shooting

Posted on by
Reply

The National Rifle Association will hold its 2022 annual meeting on May 27-29 in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. According to CNN, at this annual meeting, guest speakers include former President Donald Trump and many other conservative politicians.

At this event, Donald Trump, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, and Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, also a Republican, are also scheduled to speak on Friday. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, both Republicans, will be at the meeting and scheduled to speak.

The NRA condemned the shooting in a statement Wednesday, calling it a “horrific and evil crime.”

“Although an investigation is underway and facts are still emerging, we recognize this was the act of a lone, deranged criminal,” the group said. “As we gather in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognize our patriotic members, and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure.”

The massacre is the deadliest shooting at a school since the Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut in 2012 that left 26 people dead, including 20 children aged between 6 and 7 years old.

Almost every week, US citizens hear of mass shooting sprees on the news, and not only is this tiring for US citizens, it makes the US look like a lawless place to those in the international community, making the obsession with the second amendment by some look even more ridiculous.

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without express written permission.

In Texas, 18 year-old Gunman kills 21 Elementary Students

Posted on by
Reply

Salvador Romas (18) opened fire in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas killing at least 19 children and 2 teachers on Tuesday morning. According to a Texas state senator, Roland Gutierrez was briefed by police, but few victims have been publicly identified. One of the teachers has been confirmed as a 4th-grade teacher, Eva Mireles who was married with one child.

The attacker shot and killed his grandmother at her house before he headed to Robb elementary school where 90% of the children are Latino children. It is located near the Mexican border. This elementary school had only 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-grade students. He ran from classroom to classroom to kill the innocent children and their teachers. The gunman was eventually killed by law enforcement.

Law enforcement is investigating the motive for this gun massacre. Many people are getting sick of mass shootings, as just last week, 10 black people were killed at the supermarket in Buffalo, NY. Almost every day, people died from gun violence without any reason.

The absolute number of dead and injured are not finalized yet, but the permanent emotional and psychological mark will be left in this community, unfortunately.

Much condolence to those who are suffering.

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without express written permission.

CDC alerts gay and bisexual men are prone to getting monkeypox

Posted on by
Reply

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention alerted that gay and bisexual men are getting the monkeypox virus more easily and spreading it to the community on Monday.

A CDC official, Dr. John Brooks stated that anyone who can contract monkeypox through closed personal contact would be in danger regardless of their sexual orientation. Dr. Brooks added that many of those affected are gay and bisexual, however. While it did not mean that sexual orientation determined who contracted the monkeypox, the population susceptible is in the gay and bisexual community.

Dr. Brooks said monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease, but it can be transmitted through sexual and intimate contact as well as through shared bedding. The virus spreads through contact with body fluids and sores. He added that it is very important for physicians and individuals to be aware of the symptoms associated with monkeypox, particularly anal or genital lesions that can be confused with herpes, syphilis, or chickenpox.

“Anyone with a rash or lesion around or involving their genitals, their anus or any other place that they have not seen it before, should be fully evaluated, both for that rash but particularly for sexually transmitted infection and other illnesses that can cause rash,” Brooks said.

Monkeypox usually begins with symptoms similar to the flu including fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes. It leads to body rashes on the face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth, or genitals that turn into raised bumps that become blisters.

Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, a CDC official said that while the virus has a long incubation period, patients are considered most infectious when they have a rash. Though monkeypox can spread through respiratory droplets, the virus comes from infected lesions in the throat and mouth that can expel it into the air. Transmission from respiratory droplets requires prolonged face-to-face contact, according to CNBC,

“This is not Covid,” McQuiston said. “Respiratory spread is not the predominant worry. It is contact and intimate contact in the current outbreak setting and population.”

The smallpox vaccine appears to be about 85% effective at preventing monkeypox, based on research in Africa, according to the CDC. The U.S. has a stockpile of 100 million doses of an older generation vaccine called ACAM2000 that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for people at high risk of smallpox, according to McQuiston. However, the vaccine can have significant side effects and any decision to use it widely would require serious discussion, she said.

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without express written permission.

A Cup of Poem – 오월 광주/서형삼

Posted on by
Reply
Photo by Corih Kim

五月光州

서형삼

光州五月恨成山

不度春風水住關

晉主文公同泣洗

掌歡滿世漂魂還

(刪韻:山,關,還)

광주의오월은

恨이山을이루어

봄바람도넘지못하고

물도막혀고였다네.

이제晉나라文公이살아와

함께울고씻어주니

박수소리,환호소리

세상에가득하고

떠돌던넋들도

돌아오도다!

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without express written permission.

Author Corih Kim Speaks at Reading Club in South Korea

Posted on by
Reply

Author of the book, “Tears of the Yangtze,” Corih Kim was invited to speak with a Reading Club, “Dale Carnegie Gwangju CEO Book Club” located in Gwangju, South Korea on May 12th, 2022.

She discussed the motivations and inspirations that led to her decision to write the novel, “Tears of the Yangtze.”

The event was enjoyed by all, and the meeting involved discussion in depth.

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission.

DC enforces owners of vacant & Blight houses due to tax evasions

Posted on by
Reply

News Release — DC Office of the Attorney General

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

May 10, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT:

Office of Communications

OAG Sues Owner of 1000 C St NE for Falsely Claiming Property Is Occupied to Avoid Taxes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AG Racine today announced the first enforcement action brought by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) against owners of long-term vacant or blighted homes who made false claims to avoid paying the higher property taxes that the District imposes on empty or blighted properties.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) filed a lawsuit against the owners of a crumbling and vacant Ward 6 home, alleging that they made false claims to the District to avoid paying the vacant property tax since at least 2015. This enforcement action represents a new front in OAG’s efforts to combat the District’s affordable housing crisis and to ensure property owners uphold their legal responsibilities.

“Too many District residents are struggling to find safe and affordable places to live, while more than 3,000 homes sit vacant across the city,” said AG Racine. “The Council has imposed higher taxes on vacant and blighted houses to motivate owners to keep properties in use and in good repair. But instead of fixing up, renting out, or selling these homes, some owners repeatedly lie to avoid paying the taxes they owe. That’s not acceptable, and we’re putting owners on notice: if you own a vacant home, you must register it with the District and pay all required taxes. If you try to cheat the system, the Office of the Attorney General will hold you accountable.” 

“This is an important step in what should be the final chapter of three decades of a vacant building in our city,” said Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. “I’m hopeful that this suit will send a message that the District is serious about fraud and that these LLCs must make an effort to put their properties back into use rather than continue to try to game the system.”

“For years, this vacant property has been a blight in our neighborhood and the owner has avoided paying their fair share of taxes,” said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Laura Gentile (6A05). “I’m grateful AG Racine is taking action to hold them accountable. Hopefully we’ll finally see this property put to good use.”

Despite a booming real estate market, more than 3,000 residential properties in the District are sitting vacant or blighted. When properties sit vacant, they reduce the supply of available housing and can attract drug activity and crime, affecting the safety and quality of life of nearby residents. To motivate owners to fix their properties and return them to productive use, the D.C. Council imposed significantly higher property tax rates on vacant and blighted homes than on those that are occupied. However, rather than paying the required taxes on vacant properties—or selling or renting out these homes—some owners attempt to evade their tax obligations by repeatedly submitting false information to the District claiming their properties are occupied or falsely claiming a tax exemption to which they are not entitled.

Under the District’s False Claims Act, it is illegal to knowingly make false statements to conceal, avoid, or decrease an obligation to pay the District—and those who break the law can face extremely steep costs. The District can file a lawsuit seeking to recover three times any amount that is owed (treble damages) and can also obtain civil penalties for each violation of the law. OAG has independent authority to investigate and take legal action under the False Claims Act.

Lawsuit Against Owners of 1000 C St NE
OAG filed suit against the owners of 1000 C St NE, a once-stately home in Ward 6, for making false claims to the District to avoid paying the vacant property tax since at least 2015. In the suit, OAG alleges that the home has sat vacant for years: boarded up, overgrown, with crumbling masonry, a visibly decaying roof, and vacancy notices pasted on top of weathered vacancy notices from prior years. Yet year after year, its owner, George Papageorge, who owns the property through an LLC, avoids registering the property as vacant and paying the higher property tax rate as required. Instead, they repeatedly and falsely report to the District that the property is occupied. With the suit, OAG is seeking to recover unpaid property taxes, damages, and penalties from the defendants that could total more than $750,000.

Α Cup of Poem – 세월 (김호천)

Posted on by
Reply

세월

청곡 김호천

소 걸음으로 살아도
산천이 어지럽게 하고

생각을 잊으려 하나
발길에 그리움만 밟힌다.

동백도 철쭉도
라일락도 모란도

망신 주는 모과도
피 흘리며 이승을 떠났네.

새 소리도 없는
외로운 창가

푸른 하늘에
구름만 흐르네.

2022.5.2

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2022.

All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission.