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Don’t always trust what your Caller ID says – Information on a Telephone Collection Scam (Video via Fox 29 Philly)

Scams  For those older that 35, there was a time when you actually needed to pick up a phone to find out who was on the line. There was a time when Caller ID did NOT exist. These days, there isn’t a  person out there who doesn’t use Caller ID on a daily basis, to see if it’s a call their waiting for, to see if its family or friends, to see if it’s a bill collector (yep that happens as well).  However with the advancement in technology, we also have easier and cheaper ways to “fool” technology, and unfortunately the bad guys have found a way to try to use technology against you.

There are numerous apps and services that allow you to change what is shown someone’s Caller ID for just a few dollars investment. Services like SpoofCard, which allows you to “display a number I intend them to see”.

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And how easy is it to use, VERY EASY!. From SpoofCards own FAQ section

What is SpoofCard?

SpoofCard offers the ability to change what someone sees on their caller ID display when they receive a phone call. Simply dial SpoofCard’s toll free number or local access number in your country and then enter your PIN. You’ll then be prompted to enter the destination number followed by the phone number to appear on caller ID. It’s that easy!

SpoofCard is only 1 of 100s of services out there that will allow anyone the ability to change their Caller ID numbers. For the record these services are completely legal and there are many legal and legitimate reasons why you would need to use a service like this (we are not trying to pick on SpoofCard)

(LINK) Fox 29 News (http://www NULL.myfoxphilly NULL.com/dpp/news/local_news/fox-investigates%3A-phone-app-scam) (In Philadelphia) spotlighted a scam that is becoming more common. In this scam the unsuspecting victim gets a call and sees a local number that if they check appears to be from local law enforcement, the caller claims to be a member of that law enforcement agency and claims that unless a payment is made for a debt that a warrant for arrest will be issued.  In the Fox 29 story, the person fortunately knew it was a scam.

After seeing the story, remember your Caller ID may not always show the true person who is calling.  If you ever get a call like that, call the number back and ask for the person who called (or even better the persons supervisor). Also remember, you have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, that anyone claiming you own them a debt must provide you with written proof upon request (That’s important, you must make the request).

Shopping: After Christmas Gift Returns (Via Good Morning America)

    Now that Christmas is over comes the challenge of the return. Returning gifts that were “just not right”. The following story and video comes from (LINK) Good Morning America (http://gma NULL.yahoo NULL.com/blogs/abc-blogs/holiday-gift-return-policies-nations-biggest-retailers-120637635 NULL.html) (12/26). Becky Worley reporting.

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Holiday Gift Return Policies at Nation’s Biggest Retailers

video platform (http://corp NULL.kaltura NULL.com)video management (http://corp NULL.kaltura NULL.com/video_platform/video_management)video solutions (http://corp NULL.kaltura NULL.com/solutions/video_solution)video player (http://corp NULL.kaltura NULL.com/video_platform/video_publishing)

 

Return Policies:

Barnes and Noble (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12akj0mko/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.barnesandnoble NULL.com/help/cds2 NULL.asp%3FPID=8121)

Bass Pro Shops (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12cei0iuf/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//basspro NULL.custhelp NULL.com/app/answers/list/kw/returns)

Bed Bath and Beyond (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=125ergtrj/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bedbathandbeyond NULL.com/PolicyReturns NULL.asp)

Belk (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12vf6pr5h/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//www NULL.belk NULL.com/AST/Misc/Belk_Stores/Customer_Service/Easy_Returns NULL.jsp)

Best Buy (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=11bcg2u92/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bestbuy NULL.com/)Holiday return policy (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=1362lohqr/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bestbuy NULL.com/site/Misc/null/pcmcat257800050001 NULL.c%3Fid=pcmcat257800050001); Regular return policy (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=13vehjanr/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bestbuy NULL.com/site/Help-Topics/In-Store-Return-Policy/pcmcat204400050028 NULL.c%3Fid=pcmcat204400050028)

Dillard’s (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=14of6mpl6/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.dillards NULL.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/noticesView%3FstoreId=301%26langId=-1%26catalogId=301%26splashlink=footer_policies)

JCPenney (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=14hfk3h4t/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.jcpenney NULL.com/jcp/CustomerService NULL.aspx%3FDeptID=12476%26CatID=12476%26cmResetCat=True%26=%26CmCatId=12476%257C16108)

Kohl’s (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/_ylt=Aqh_jBNCwsXIlM9GvqDrOJHMn NULL.R_;_ylu=X3oDMTFqMWRwcHJqBG1pdANBcnRpY2xlQm9keQRwb3MDMTAEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNqcWxwcWd1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDOWFjYzY3MTktZjVjYi0zNzQ1LWIwNTgtNjgwMmY1ZGQ2MTFkBHBzdGNhdANtb25leXxzYXZpbmdzYW5kaW52ZXN0bWVudARwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=0/SIG=13n6kj5c6/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//cs NULL.kohls NULL.com/app/answers/help_topic/session/L3RpbWUvMTMyNDU4NTQ0My9zaWQvWGZSVmlmTWs=/c/22,4)

Macy’s (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12h0jt36d/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//customerservice NULL.macys NULL.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/140)

Sears (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=13doriujs/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.sears NULL.com/shc/s/nb_10153_12605_NB_CSreturns%3FadCell=BH%26i_cntr=1324585506758)

Target (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=147s8i6c1/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.target NULL.com/HelpContent%3Fhelp=/sites/html/TargetOnline/help/returns_and_refunds/returns_and_refunds NULL.html)

Toys”R”Us (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=135gt8m4g/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//www NULL.toysrus NULL.com/helpdesk/index NULL.jsp%3Fdisplay=returns%26subdisplay=returns)

Walmart (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=123tprgul/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.walmart NULL.com/cp/Returns-Policy/538459)

Check (link) Good Morning America (http://gma NULL.yahoo NULL.com/blogs/abc-blogs/holiday-gift-return-policies-nations-biggest-retailers-120637635 NULL.html)  to see Price Matching Policy information.

Web: Links to Live News Streams–New York and Philadelphia

TV  During bad weather one of the things that can be affected is your TV signal. With the current Hurricane Irene (8/27/11) hitting the East Coast, if you lose your signal and want to keep up with the latest news, here is a list of LIVE (web) Streams from the major TV stations in New York and Philadelphia.

Philadelphia

CBS 3 Philly (http://video NULL.philadelphia NULL.cbslocal NULL.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer NULL.asp?vt1=l&d1=0&ClipId1=mms%3A//a986 NULL.l10239840985 NULL.c102398 NULL.g NULL.lm NULL.akamaistream NULL.net/D/986/102398/v0001/reflector%3A40985&LiveURI=mms%3A//a986 NULL.l10239840985 NULL.c102398 NULL.g NULL.lm NULL.akamaistream NULL.net/D/986/102398/v0001/reflector%3A40985&h1=Live%20Event&at1=News&LiveURITitle=Live%20Event&LaunchPageAdTag=News&fvCatNo=undefined&secure=undefined&akPort=undefined&akProfile=undefined&rnd=22734607)

 

6 ABC Philly (http://abclocal NULL.go NULL.com/wpvi/livenow?id=7129670)

 

NBC 10 Philadelphia (http://www NULL.nbcphiladelphia NULL.com/news/local/Hurricane-Irene-Barrels-Toward-Philly-Jersey-Delaware-128468208 NULL.html???)

 

My Fox Philly – Fox 29 (http://www NULL.myfoxphilly NULL.com/subindex/video/live_news)

 

New York

CBS 2 – New York (http://video NULL.newyork NULL.cbslocal NULL.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer NULL.asp?vt1=l&d1=0&ClipId1=mms%3A//a634 NULL.l10239830633 NULL.c102398 NULL.g NULL.lm NULL.akamaistream NULL.net/D/634/102398/v0001/reflector%3A30633&LiveURI=mms%3A//a634 NULL.l10239830633 NULL.c102398 NULL.g NULL.lm NULL.akamaistream NULL.net/D/634/102398/v0001/reflector%3A30633&h1=Live%20Event&at1=News&LiveURITitle=Live%20Event&LaunchPageAdTag=News&fvCatNo=undefined&secure=undefined&akPort=undefined&akProfile=undefined&rnd=20398627)

 

NBC 4 – New York (http://www NULL.nbcnewyork NULL.com/video/#!/news/local/Operation-Santa--Behind-the-Scenes/135281358)

 

ABC 7 – New York (http://abclocal NULL.go NULL.com/wabc/livenow?id=8330259)

 

My Fox New York – Fox 5 (http://www NULL.myfoxny NULL.com/subindex/good_day_ny/watch_live)

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