Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/617076
BetterBusinessBureau Everyonelovesasurprise present, except when it's a scam. Be on the lookout for scammers who are taking advantage of the holiday season. This con seems like you are receiving a package, but it's really a way to steal your credit or debit card in- formation. Howthescamworks Your phone rings, and it's a delivery company say- ing that you have a pack- age on the way. A short while later, the door bell rings. Sure enough, it's a delivery person holding a gift basket. You ask who sent the gift, but the deliv- erer doesn't know. He or she may claim the card was sent separately. You decide to accept the "gift" anyway. Before the de- livery person can leave it, he or she says you need to pay a nominal "verification fee." In one version of the scam, the amount allegedly con- firms that the basket, which contains a bottle of wine, was given to a person of le- gal drinking age. The deliv- ery person claims he or she can only accept credit or debit cards, and produces a hand held card scanner. This may all seem totally normal, but it's a set up. The "card scanner" is actually a device that collects the credit or debit card num- ber, PIN and security code. Con artists then use this to make unauthorized charges or commit identity theft. Protect yourself Be suspicious of a pack- age from an unrecognized delivery service or source. If a friend or family member wants to surprise you, they will likely send a gift using an established service. Do not give your credit or debit card to someone at your door. Unless you re- quested the package and ex- pected to pay something, you shouldn't have a fee at delivery. Asking for ID is OK, but not a credit card. It is not out of the ordinary to ask for identification when al- cohol is delivered, but the receiver would not be re- quired to pay a fee to re- ceive a gift Look out for other varia- tions. This isn't the only de- livery scam that pops up at this time of year. BBB has a warning about a number of holiday scams at bbb.org/ holidayscams) To find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper at bbb. org/scam. To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker. SCAMALERT Deliverydriverstealscustomerinfowithcra ycon JULIEZEEB—DAILYNEWS Red Bluff Police Dispatcher Suszette Erb, right, pins the badge on new Dispatcher Quenton Mullins, le , while Chief Kyle Sanders looks on Wednesday at a ceremony at City Hall. Mullins replaces Dispatcher Kim Ochoa, who will retire Monday. Mullins is a Tehama County native who was grew up in Los Molinos, graduating from Los Molinos High School in 2005. He received an associate's degree in general studies from Butte College before obtaining a bachelor of science in kinesiology in 2013from Sacramento State. RED BLUFF Police swear in new dispatcher Wednesday Deputy City Clerk Cheryl Smith, le , swore in Red Bluff Police Department's newest member, Officer Darren Holman, at a ceremony Monday in City Hall. Holman was born and raised in Red Bluff before moving to Los Molinos. He is a 2004graduate of Los Molinos High School and a 2009graduate of Chico State University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He served his country in the Army's Airborne Field Artillery Unit a er graduating from college. CEREMONY Red Bluff police swearing-in If experience is the best teacher, surely I have achieved expert sta- tus in the field of buy- ing clothes washers and dryers. 25 years ago we bought our first brand new washer and dryer — Whirlpool set from a warehouse club. The price came to $1,100 for the set. Noth- ing fancy, just a couple of workhorses. After 16 years of constant use, the washer finally failed be- yond repair. After a great deal of re- search and contempla- tion, we settled on the LG Waveform Ultra Ca- pacity High Efficiency Top Loading washer and companion steam dryer. I loved that set until we moved into a tiny apart- ment with space for only the washer or dryer or both, if we could stack them. We can't stack a top-loading washer, so we gifted the LG set to our son, and bought a stack- able GE front loading washer and dryer. Fabu- lous decision. Front-load- ing washers have been so greatly improved over the years. I had no problems at all with nasty smells or moldy build-up. And I really enjoyed the steam feature on the dryer. The GE set sits in stor- age now because our laun- dry room is not prop- erly configured to ac- cept a gas dryer. That will change one day soon, but in the meantime I am thoroughly enjoy- ing the 12-year-old Whirl- pool washer and dryer set that came with this house. Talk about deja vu! I'm right back where I started so many years ago, with a couple of amazing work- horses with basic settings and no digital displays. With that background in mind, together with a long conversation I had with a repairman who works on all brands of washers and dryers ex- cept Samsung (he ab- solutely refuses to work on Samsung products, which I found interest- ing) — and in response to so many readers wanting to know the best inexpen- sive washer/dryer — here is my advice: SET A BUDGET Determine the price you're willing to pay for the appliance, whether it be a washer, dryer or the set. Lock eye- balls with that number and commit to it. MUST HAVE FEATURES Write down the top three features you need in this appliance. Traditional top-load washers will of- fer temperature manage- ment and load size op- tions, and that's about it. Do you really need more than that? TAKE A TOUR Go to a Sears store, which now carries the top brands of appliances with your three requirements and color choice. Then lis- ten and pay close atten- tion to what you learn. In the store, the salesman will try to steer you into a higher-end model with lots of bells and whistles you'll probably never use. Keep going back to your three "must-haves." Per- sonally, I would lean to- ward a traditional Whirl- pool or General Electric appliance. Once they be- come ancient they'll still be working well. Parts and service for these two brands are considerably less expensive than for brands like Samsung and LG. MAKE THE DECISION Once you narrow your choices to the one that fits with your budget and meets your needs, make the de- cision, find the best price, arrange for delivery and installation and don't look back. If you hold out to find the absolute perfect washer/dryer at the per- fect price, you'll still be looking next year this time — and driving your- self nuts with indecision. Would you like to send 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 Solid advice for how to buy the best washer and dryer JULIE ZEEB — DAILY NEWS PLEASERECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. Thankyou! IT only T A K E S A S P A R K . O N L Y Y O U C A N P R E V E N T W I L D F I R E S . s m o k e y b e a r . c o m Please Mary Hunt Gaumer's Since 1967 Something Special for that Special Someone • Follow us on Facebook www.gaumers.com 78 Belle Mill Road, Red Bluff, CA (530) 527-6166 • Jewelry • Museum • Lapidary Last Saturday before Christmas Mon.-Fri, 9am-5pm, *Saturday hours in December Open Christmas Eve until 3pm Regular Haircut $ 2 00 off KWIK KUTS FamilyHairSalon 1064SouthMainSt.,RedBluff•529-3540 ANY RETAIL PRODUCT 20 % off withanychemicalserviceof $50 or more Notgoodwithotheroffers Expires 1/31/16 With coupon Reg. $13.95 645AntelopeBlvd.Su#10 530-330-1096 We've Moved Reformer Pilates and Tabata Bootcamp to frontier village Limitedopeningsin 736-1389 632 Main Street, Red Bluff Ragz To Riches 20% off Selected Items (Must present coupon) Unique Seasonal Gifts Handcrafted Items C O U P O N C O U P O N Enrollment, Plan Changes, Income & Subsidy Modifications 805 Walnut Street CornerofWalnut&Jackson Red Bluff 530-840-6611 Lic# OK13422 ENROLLMENT Service Assistance CertifiedInsuranceAgent 413WalnutStreet•530-528-8000 Sat.-Mon. 10am-4pm • Tues-Fri 10am-5:30pm Se Habla Español www.redbluffgoldexchange.com www.angelsamongusall.com ServingOurCommunityForOver21Years Joinusinsupporting CHIPS FOR KIDS Toy Drive $ 10 .00 new, unwrapped toys Collecting Toys thru 12/13/15 LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, December 17, 2015 MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4