Friday, October 25, 2013

Cavendish Update 10/25/13 Phone Scam/News/CHS/Events


The Cavendish Connects website now includes much of what was included on this blog as well as a calendar of Cavendish events. The new blog, “The Dish,” includes the Cavendish Update as well as on-going information.

Information can also be posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook Page

The 10/25/13 Cavendish Update Contains the following:
1. Phone Scams Hit the Cavendish Area/What you can do
2. Cavendish Related News
3. Cavendish Historical Society News
4. BRGNS Stick Season Social November 2nd at Sam’s Steakhouse
5. Christmas Shoebox Packing
6. Events

1. PHONE SCAMS HIT THE AREA/WHAT YOU CAN DO  
On Monday a Cavendish resident asked that the following be placed on Facebook- "Yesterday I was contacted by a bogus call concerning my computer. Turned out it was a scam attempting to get me to buy protection plan for my computer

In response, several other people posted about scam calls they've received. 
I've been getting calls telling me that they want to fix the problems I've been having with my Windows computer. When I tell them that I don't have a Windows based system, they hang up on me. Other residents posted the following:

I have had several of these calls. They were from another country, and could not speak English well at all. But He told me he was Michael Smith.lol Just tell them you're going to call your provider. They will try to give you "the number.” Don't use that one.

• They've called my husband several times. The last time he was sitting on the sofa, but told the caller he was driving his car and not at his computer and the guy hung up.

Several weeks ago a Cavendish resident commented about the high number of hang up phone calls they were receiving during the day. Could this be a way of finding out if someone is home and if it’s safe to break in?

Telephone marketing fraud is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States and a million dollar industry in Vermont alone. While anyone is a potential target, those most at risk are people 60 years of age and up.

If you seem to be getting more of these calls, it is possible your number may be on the “sucker list.” These lists, which are sold to other telemarketers, contain information about people who have responded to previous “cold” calls. Some scammers use an area code, the first three numbers for a particular area and randomly dial the last four digits. An unlisted number does not protect you from this type of call.

To the question of whether someone is calling to check to see if anyone’s home, that is becoming less likely since many people are switching away from land lines to cell phones. More likely are hang up calls from marketers working on “sucker lists” and identifying when someone may be at home and therefore the best time for a scammer to call.

It is interesting to note that a number of the scam calls in Cavendish were tech support related. This is an evolving scamming area, which began in about 2008. Unless you’ve called tech support, and they are returning your call, hang up. DO NOT TURN ON YOUR COMPUTER. Check out the Malwarebytes Tech Support Helpand Resource Page. 

For ways to avoid scam calls and where to report them, go to http://cavendishvt.blogspot.com/2013/10/phone-scams-hitting-cavendish-areawhat.html

2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Price Chopper is recalling its coconut custard pies. The supermarket says its eight inch and ten inch pies did not have all of the ingredients on the label. People with milk, egg, wheat and coconut allergies could fall ill. The pies with UPC numbers: 41735 23713, 41735 23721, or 41735 22453. The pies were sold between August 11 and October 18. Customers can return pies with those UPC numbers to their local Price Chopper for a full refund.

GMP Named Utility ofthe Year: The Solar Electric Power Association presented Green Mountain Power the 2013 investor-owned Utility of the Year Award today for its initiative incorporating solar as a cost-effective solution for its customers and for its most recent decision to make Rutland the Solar Capital of New England. Press Release 

VPR Issues Warningabout 2005 Artist Mug: A few weeks ago, questions emerged about the safety of ceramic mugs from the VPR Artist Mug series. In response, VPR screened all 34 of the mugs produced in the past decade. That process, conducted by a local firm, identified 11 mugs that contain lead. According to an accredited consumer products testing lab in Milford, NH, despite the presence of lead in the ink on the exterior of the mugs, 10 of the 11 mugs meet the applicable FDA regulation. However, one mug produced for the Fall 2005 drive, with a design by Chris Varricchione, was found to have unacceptable levels of lead content in the ceramic material. VPR advises that anyone who has this mug should discontinue its use. Press Release 

3. CAVENDISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS
Even though the Museum is closed for the winter, lots of activity is happening. There are a number of Hands on History workshops as part of the Young Historians program at CTES. A free community wide Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) workshop will be held on Nov. 2, 3-5 pm at the Gethsemane Episcopal Church Parish Hall, in conjunction with CHS’s Honoring Our Heritage initiative.

This past Thursday, members of the Cavendish Stone Church Committee, went up in the  belfry to do an assessment for winter preparations. Some of the pictures taken from this vantage point have been posted to the CHS blog and additional ones will be included on the Cavendish VT Facebook page.

Learn more CHS and how you can become involved by reading the on-line versionof the fall newsletter. 

4. BRGNS STICK SEASON SOCIAL NOV. 2 AT SAM’S
Black River Good Neighbor Services is holding its fourth annual Stick Season Social at Sam’s Steakhouse on Saturday, November 2nd starting at 6:00 p.m.  “Stick season is that season between the fall leaves and the winter snow.  There are no free concerts and not much to do, so it’s a great time to party,” said Peter LaBelle, President of BRGNS.  “This is a fun fund raising dinner and it is our major fund raiser of the year.  It will help BRGNS with operating costs so it can continue to help local people in need of food, rent, utilities & heat assistance,” said Audrey Bridge, Executive Director.

As in past years, the evening will include a cash bar, a terrific silent auction, and lots of raffle items.  Sam’s has planned a lavish buffet followed by luscious desserts.

Tickets are $50 per person, including dinner, gratuities and tax and can be purchased at BRGNS Thrift Store, 37B Main St., Peoples United Bank, the Book Nook, and The Wine & Cheese Depot, all located in Ludlow.  Or, and this is the really easy way to buy, you may purchase tickets on line at www.brgn.org.  Please call 802-228-3663 with any questions or if you have items you would like to donate for the Silent Auction or Raffle.  Tickets must be purchased in advance and are limited to the first 125 people.  BRGNS is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

5. CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX PACKING
Join Your Neighbors and Spread Some Christmas Joy. Drop in any time on November 2 between 10:00am and 1:00pm to have fun and make new friends as we pack gift boxes for some of the neediest children in the world. Operation Christmas Child is an annual event organized by Samaritan’s Purse to bless children all over the world. The Packing Party is hosted by Cavendish Baptist and located in the multi-purpose room at Cavendish Elementary School. Boxes and gifts are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own gifts to donate as well. A list of gift suggestions is available on-line. For more information about the Packing Party, call (802) 226-7131.  

6. EVENTS
Halloween is just around the corner. The Golden Stage Inn will once again have their haunted house on Oct. 31. There are a variety of Halloween activities in the area this weekend. To learn more about upcoming events in Cavendish and surrounding towns go to:

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