FYI – Nov. 4

Watch out for tele-cons
Con artists are taking a particular phone scam to a new level, attempting to scam restaurants, auto-repair shops and more. The Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington received numerous reports about con artists misusing Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) to place fraudulent orders and scam businesses,
 Using this technology—intended to assist the deaf and those with trouble hearing or speaking—the scammer uses an operator to relay typed messages to the called party, in this case the business.
Through the relay service, the scam artist calls requesting to use the business’ services, but alleges that the delivery company they use won’t take credit cards. As a favor, the caller requests that the business wire money to the shipper and add the funds to their total order cost, which will be charged to the “customer” or scammer’s credit card. In this scheme, the wired money goes to the con artist and the charges end up on a stolen credit card.

Group aims to stop texting/driving
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety are launching new legislative and communications campaigns to reduce distracted driving and improve safety on our roadways during Teen Driver Safety Week.  AAA will work to pass laws banning text messaging by drivers in all 50 states by 2013, citing strong public support for the laws, the danger of distracted driving, and new research by the Automobile Club of Southern California showing the impact of California’s texting ban.
Currently, 18 states (including Alaska) have laws that address text messaging by all drivers. Two more states have laws that prohibit teens or other new drivers from texting while driving. Laws differ across the states and some have significant shortcomings, according to AAA.
AAA Foundation research shows about one in five U.S. drivers admit to texting while driving at least once in the last 30 days.

Arts Contest now open
“Bringing Honor Through Education” is the theme for the U.S. Department of Education’s 2010 Native American Student Art Competition.
 The competition, which celebrates the values and successes of education in Native American communities, is open to all American Indian and Alaska Native students in grades Pre-K through 12. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 29, 2010.  


Students must register their entry online or over the phone prior to submitting their entry. See http://kids.indianeducation.org, e-mail sac@indianeducation.org, or call 866-259-0060.

Medicare123now.com now available 
Now seniors and caregivers have a new, free web resource to help better understand what Medicare is all about. Created with their needs in  mind, Medicare123now.com is written in simple, easy-to-understand language and offers valuable information about Medicare including premiums, options and qualifications. Follow this link to review the web site: www.medicare123now.com/index.html 
 
Big Brothers, Big Sisters to meet
The local organization of Big Brothers, Big Sisters is hosting its annual meeting luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitors Center. Come hear how the program is going in Homer and news from through out the state. “Bigs” and “Littles” also will be telling of how the program has transformed lives.
For more information, contact Susan Kirn, community director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska at 235-8391.

Beggs named ‘Top 40 under 40’
Outgoing Pratt Museum Director Heather Beggs was named one of Alaska’s “Top 40 Under 40” by the Alaska Chamber of Commerce and the Alaska Journal of Commerce Oct. 30 and will be recognized at special luncheon Jan. 14 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. The award was created in 1998 to recognize Alaska’s top young professionals under age 40.