Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/697800
HEATHERHOELSCHER-DAILYNEWS Avehiclehitahigh-voltagepowerboxjustbeforenoonMondayintheparkinglotbehindBannerBankonMain Street. The two women inside the vehicle were not injured . The vehicle, a Toyota, was damaged on the le front side where it struck the box. Around noon, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. was en route to the scene to check and make sure the building connected to the power box had power and that the metal around the building was safe to be around. The Red Bluff Fire Department assisted at the scene. ACCIDENT POWERBOXSTRUCK Thereisaveryreal and very terrible scam happening in the U.S. in which con artists are target- ing and scamming money from grandpar- ents. It begins with something most grandparents want more of: a phone call from a grandchild, or so they think. The caller pre- tends to be in distress about something; he's been hurt in a car acci- dent or arrested or got- ten in some kind of trou- ble, and he needs money — fast. One former scam- mer told CBS News that scammers can make up to $10,000 in a single day on the grandparent scam. When he was do- ing it, he just kept call- ing and calling until someone took the bait, and then started calling again. A typical conversation goes like this: "Hi, grandma and grandpa. It's me, Johnny. I'm in a little bit of trou- ble right now. Yeah, Ash- ley is good. But I've got a problem. If I tell you, you have to promise to keep it between us. Don't tell Mom and Dad. They'd freak out and wouldn't understand. I'm on va- cation. But I got into a little accident, and I was arrested for a DUI. Things got out of con- trol, and I need you to send me money. Pleease." These days, it's not hard to find enough per- sonal information about someone — name, col- lege, location, etc. — to make the story sound believable. To make things even more convincing, scam- mers will sometimes im- plore a fake police officer or attorney to get on the phone and explain the seriousness of the situa- tion (to post bail or cover medical costs, for exam- ple). The grandparents are asked to purchase pre- paid money cards, which are commonly avail- able at grocery stores and convenience stores. Once they purchase the cards and put money on them, the scammer in- structs them to provide the multi-digit code on the back. Then, they can go online and drain the funds. This is not a new scam. You may have heard about it in the past. But this crime isn't winding down. On the contrary, it is growing. Innocent grandparents are being scammed ev- ery day (the average re- ported loss of victims in Ohio was more than $4,000 in 2015), all for the love of their grand- children. Grandparents who fall for the scam admit to being heartbroken and feeling foolish. As with all kinds of financial abuse of elders, many ac- tually try to hide it for feeling embarrassed and fearing losing control of the money they have left. One of the reasons this scam works is the special the relationship between grandparent and grandchild. It's dif- ferent than the relation- ship between parent and child. Grandparents are more likely than parents to send money with no questions asked. Scam artists understand this and take full advantage of it. Ohio Attorney Gen- eral Mike DeWine has offered the following tips for consumers to pro- tect themselves from the grandparent scam: • Talk to your family about these scams and discuss how you would communicate during a true emergency." • If you get a call from a grandchild or other family member who claims to be in trouble, ask questions only your real family members would know how to an- swer." • Don't send money via wire transfer or pre- paid card in response to an unexpected phone call. These are preferred payment methods of scammers because they are difficult to trace or recover once payment is provided." "Limit the amount of information you post online and limit who can view your informa- tion. For example, don't post upcoming travel plans online, because scammers could use that information to take advantage of your fam- ily." Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE Crimealertfor grandparents Mary Hunt The Pacific Gas & Elec- tric Co. offers the following tips to keep cool during this week's heat wave. Close the drapes or shades on the sunny sides of your house. When possible, delay chores that produce heat such as dishwashing, laun- dering and cooking until cooler times of the day or night. Set your air conditioning thermostat to 78 degrees, health permitting, when you're at home and to 85 degrees when you're away. Use a ceiling fan while you're home and running the air conditioner. This will allow you to raise your thermostat setting about four degrees. Allow cooler air from the morning or night before to flow into your home. As the temperature rises, close the windows and draw the shades to keep pre-cooled air inside. Check the filter on your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. A dirty filter can cause your system to work harder to keep you cool, wasting en- ergy. Run the dishwasher only when full. Wash full loads of laun- dry using cold water. To- day's modern detergents work great in cold water and about 90 percent of the energy used by clothes washers goes to water heat- ing. If possible, enjoy an af- ternoon out — at the pool, movies, park or local li- brary. HEAT WAVE Tips offered on staying cool SUSANVILLE All Lassen National Forest offices will be closed on Monday, July 4 in observance of the Inde- pendence Day holiday. For- est offices will resume nor- mal business hours on Tues- day, July 5. Throughout the holiday weekend, residents of and visitors to the forest — es- pecially those around Lake Almanor — are asked to use landlines to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency. The increased volume of cell phone users during holiday weekends strains rural tele- communication systems. In the event of an emergency, using a landline is the best way to reach help. Fire officials are remind- ing area residents and vis- itors to be careful with fire and to leave fireworks at home when they celebrate Independence Day in the national forests and on other public lands. It is il- legal to possess or use fire- works in national forests, national parks, and on pub- lic lands managed by the Bureau of Land Manage- ment. Even following the wet spring, conditions are dry- ing out quickly, according to fire officials. People need to take care when camping, cutting fuelwood, and even driving in the forest. Lassen National Forest lies at the Crossroads of California, where the gran- ite of the Sierra Nevada, the lava of the Cascades and the Modoc Plateau, and the sagebrush of the Great Ba- sin meet. The forest is man- aged for recreational ac- cess as well as timber and firewood for homes, forage for livestock, water, min- erals and other natural re- sources. For more information, call 257-2151 or visit www. fs.usda.gov/lassen. LASSEN FOREST Preparations underway for holiday weekend The California State Board of Equalization an- nounced Monday that the state excise tax on gasoline will drop by 2.2 cents per gallon on Friday, July 1. This will lower the ex- cise tax rate from 30 cents to 27.8 cents per gallon for the 2016-17 fiscal year, effec- tive through June 30, 2017. "California requires the BOE to adopt a revenue- neutral excise tax rate for each fiscal year, and when the selling price of gaso- line falls, we are legally ob- ligated to reduce the ex- cise tax accordingly," said Chairwoman Ma. "This is a mathematical formal- ity and not a policy matter within the discretion of the Board." The Board approved the 2.2-cent tax rate reduction at its February 2016 meet- ing. The Board has been re- quired to adjust the excise tax rate on gasoline since 2010, when two pieces of legislation — AB x8 6 and SB 70, the budget trailer bills collectively known as the fuel tax swap — took ef- fect. BOARD OF EQUALIZATION Tax rate on gasoline to drop by 2.2 cents on Friday 530-526-9887 645 Antelope Blvd. • Suite 8 Red Bluff, Ca 96080 www.countrycaninedayspa.com info@countrycaninedayspa.com Professional Groomer for 10 years, serving Tehama County and surrounding areas Country Canine Luxury Day Spa We care for the whole dog M-F 11am-6pm • Sat. 11am-3pm • Closed Sunday 592 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff ( In the old Pronto Market) (530) 528-0799 BBQ PORK★ BEEF ★ CHICKEN Weareverypleasedto announce: We Took First Place - Peoples Choice Award at the Rolling Hills Casino Rib Cook-Off for 2016 and2015,2014,2013,2012, 2011, 2010 & 2009 2 Bud's BBQ Juli Foster Exclusive Agent 250 Walnut Street Red Bluff, CA 96080 Office 530-527-5534 Cell 530-339-1595 Fax 530-527-4808 julifoster@allstate.com CA Insurance License Number OD41159 24-Hour Customer Service Bankruptcy: $ 899 (Forindividualchapter7does not include filing fee) Flexible Payment Arrangements Free Consultations LawOfficesof DerekD.Soriano Offices also in Chico, Willows 530-402-8281 Hablamos Espanol : 530.636.2529 derek.soriano@dereksoriano.com www.dalescarpetandflooringredbluff.com Come in and see us in our NEW LOCATION at 330 Walnut St. Red Bluff 530-529-4004 Summer is upon us once again! Beat the heat and protect your flooring with Hunter Douglas Window Fashions. Free estimates!' LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, June 28, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5