Desert Messenger

30 www.DesertMessenger.com February 17, 2016 MUSIC JAM SCHEDULE Quartzsite, Brenda, La Paz Valley As the season come to an end, some Jams listed below may have ended also. Sunday 1:30pm Wagons West RV Park, Brenda 6pm Black Rock RV Park, Brenda 6:30pm. Gold Star Gospel Acoustic Monday 6:30pm. Arizona Sun RV Resort 6:30pm Ramlin Roads, Hope 6:30pm Alliance Church Tuesday 1pm Kofa Mt. RV 1pm Brenda RV Resort, Brenda 6:30pm Community Bible Church now Gospel, Country w/amplified instruments. 7pm. Desert Gold, Brenda, Gospel Wednesday 12:30pm Desert Pueblo RV Bouse 1pm Gold Star, Acoustic 1pm. Crawford's RV 6:30pm. Holiday Palms,Country Jam 6:30pm. Scenic Road RV Acoustic Thursday 6:30pm Mt. Quail Music Jam 6:30pm. QIA, Show $1 donation 7pm. Brenda RV Resort, Gospel Friday 6:30pm JR's RV Park 6:30pm Split Rail RV Park Saturday 1 pm Desert Gold RV Park, Brenda, Country 1pm Park Place Acoustic 1pm Brenda RV Park, Brenda Acoustic 4pm Mt. Quail #2 E. Cowell Is your favorite jam listed correctly? Contact Rain at 928-916-4235 Editor@DesertMessenger.com BBB warns online users of dating scams Valentine's Day is a celebration of love, an entire day devoted to showering your significant other with flowers, heart-shaped candy and grand romantic gestures. So, it's no surprise that dating websites and apps see a surge in activity this time of the year. While many people successfully find love online, Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin warns of online dating scams that could cost you your hard- earned money, all in the name of love. Scammers typically create fake profiles on social media sites, dat- ing sites or apps using pictures of real people and then assuming a false identity. Called "catfishing", the scammer builds a relationship with you and eventually gains your trust. After a few days or weeks of back-and-forth messaging, the scammer starts asking for per- sonal information or money. In some cases, the scammer resorts to extortion and threats if you don't pay them money or help launder money. According to the FBI, online ro- mance scams conned victims of all ages out of more than $200 million last year. Victims reported an aver- age of $5,000 to $10,000 in finan- cial losses. Unfortunately, because of the anonymity of the Internet and the difficulty of tracing wired transfers, catching romance scam- mers is no easy task. Last year, BBB received more than 900 complaints nationwide against online dating services. Complaints received reported issues with dat- ing site subscriptions and charges incurred even after cancelling services. To avoid any heartbreak down the road, BBB warns of these red flags in a catfish scam: Pressure to leave the dating site. The scammer immediately suggests moving the conversation to text message or your personal email. Also, watch out for profiles that message you immediately after being matched, mainly on dating apps. Hasty expressions of love. They express instant feelings of love, al- though they have very little knowl- edge of you. Claims of citizenship. They claim to be from the United States, but are actually located in an overseas call center, deployed or on assignment elsewhere. Sudden major expenses. Don't wire money if you're asked to cover trav- el costs, medical emergencies, hotel bills, hospital bills for a child or relative or visas and other official documents. Change of plans. They plan on visiting, but unexpectedly are prevented by a traumatic event or a business deal gone sour. Some may also say they're out of the country for business or military service. Requests for money. They make multiple requests for more money. They may even test you and ask for a little at first and then continue to ask for larger amounts. In some cases, the scammer sends you money and requests you transfer it to another account. For those in search of love online, BBB offers the following tips: Never wire money. It is difficult to get money back from people who may be misrepresenting themselves once it has been sent through a wire transfer service. Put safety first. Avoid putting too much personal information on your dating site or social media profiles, such as home address, work information or phone num- ber. Also, avoid giving personal or financial information to online love interests, as it could be a phishing or identity theft attempt. Take the time to research individu- als. If you see any red flags in your communication with someone, search his or her name through search engines and on social media sites. Copy and paste portions of your emails into search engines to see if they have been associated with scams. Bouse Genealogical Society Genies in the Desert Workshop The Bouse Genies are hosting a one day Genies in the Desert Workshop at the Booster Club on February 26th. Admission is $15 pre-register or $20 at the door. If you are interested in learning more about how to research you own family history, there will be classes to help you. Additional information and the registration form are located on the Bouse Genies website at http://www. bousegeniesaz.org/Events.html. Bouse Genies Meeting Schedule Bouse Genies regular meetings are held every other Friday from 9:30 AM to 2 PM. Bring a sack lunch. All meetings, seminars, and work- shops are open to the public. Meeting dates: February 12 & 26- Workshop (Booster Club) Users Groups Meeting Schedule The Legacy Users Group meets fol- lowing lunch on the first meeting of the month. The DNA Users Group meets following lunch on the second meeting of the month. The Genealogy Study Group meets at 10 AM the third Monday of the Month at the Bouse Library. For further information check out our website www.bousegeniesaz.org or www. facebook.com/ bousegeniesaz, or contact Bousegenies@gmail.com. Bouse Genies

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