Ghosts of Turkeys Past

“Due to our recent security updates and several fraud attempts in April (month of fraud prevention), we find it necessary that you should verify your account details that we have on file to ensure that your online banking service is not interrupted. We request you to confirm and update your information today by following the link below:”

This is an excerpt from an email that I received from “*Canadian.Imperial.Bank.of.Commerce*” and in case you haven’t figured it out yet… it wasn’t actually from the CIBC at all. In fact, this is just one of three emails I received in less than two days. The other two were “from” RBC and BMO. And, about five minutes ago, I received yet another warning email from Scotiabank.

Having seen these types of scams before and knowing that my bank – and I’m sure the ones listed here as well – does NOT ever ask you for you banking or personal information via email or the phone, I knew immediately this was a scam to gain access to funds.

The criminals who send the emails or make the phone calls try to trick unsuspecting victims into giving out key information by pretending they’re from reputable companies. The trick for the average would-be victim is to think first AND, more importantly, contact your bank or credit card company right away. Don’t be a victim. 

My intention for sharing this information with you is to ensure that no one in our readership falls prey to these scams.  The “BMO” email threatened deactivation of my account, however they didn’t have my name, contact information or account number… so just how were they planning on deactivating my account? As for my accounts with RBC, Scotiabank, and CIBC… I don’t have any.   

This banking scam is just one of the many ways these creative but lazy criminal types have thought up to try to “earn a living.” 

There are phone scams asking to help with credit card debt… this is a scam focussed on getting your credit card information so they can help create more credit card debt for you. There are phone scams about problems with your computer, which are basically an attempt to access your computer remotely or get you to buy unnecessary software at exorbitant prices. Don’t be fooled!

My advice to the lazy criminal types: Get a REAL job!   S.C.

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I love October. I love Thanksgiving. I love autumn. Seriously, what’s not to love?  Nature becomes a treat for all the senses with the changing colours, the cool temperatures, the smells of roast turkey and pumpkin pie… the taste and touch of comfort. 

Every October I’m reminded of a famous Bible verse, which I’m almost positive most of you have heard at one point or another. It begins: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun.”

Autumn is a time for change. It’s a time when the earth takes a much needed rest, readying herself for a full period of growth in the coming spring.

This past weekend, with the Seaway District High School graduation and the Thanksgiving holiday we found “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” It was a time to reminisce over memories of yesterday and talk about our hopes for tomorrow.

Graduates have entered a new phase of their lives and, just in time for Thanksgiving, they were able to share their successes (and disappointments) with friends and family. Change has embraced them and they’re being challenged to step up and be their best.

As teens transition toward adulthood, residents in the SD&SG riding prepare to make a transition of their own: a political riding that has long been red has emphatically changed its colour to blue.

Conservative Jim McDonell is replacing retired Liberal MPP Jim Brownell. 

There is “a time to keep silent and a time to speak.” On October 6th, did you speak up by voting or did you stay silent? How did the choice you made on the 6th contribute to the outcome of the election?

Will our new MPP be able to meet the challenges of his new position? More to the point, will he be able to make things happen for this riding when he is a Progressive Conservative working in the shadows of a Liberal Premier? On that note, will our Liberal premier be able to work effectively with a minority government? 

With so many questions left unanswered, can we be sure of anything? Yes, we can. “To everything there is a season…”

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Planners at SDG Counties delivered the bad news last week that the $4.2 million Morrisburg roundabout and street-scape would have to be scaled back. The project, which was put out for tender before Christmas, saw […]