Yo-Yo Water Ball Toy Is Considered Dangerous
January 5, 2008
Parents have reported incidents of strangulation and claim that the liquid is toxic or flammable. Read more
Scam Awareness:
November 21, 2007
Here’s another email scam you might not have heard of — personal threats. They’re designed to scare the recipient to open emails or run malicious software applications.
You might be savvy not to respond to this, but you should teach your parents and young adults to be aware of this fraud.
Check out some of the subject lines these scam artists use to trick victims into opening an email:
- “We have tape of your conversation”
- “Your phone is monitored”
- “You’re being watched”
- “I’m monitoring you”
- “We’re watching you”
The email message might say:
“I am working in a detective agency. My name is not important now. I want to warn you that i’m going to watch you and monitor your telephone line. Do you want to know who paid for shadowing you? Expect my next letter.”
There are many more examples you can read at Symantec.
As always, please share your tips to keep your family safe online.
Thanks.
-BD
BD-026 - Prevent Scams Against the Elderly
November 15, 2007
Your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles are all potential targets of scam artists. You’d be shocked how even well educated and fiscally responsible people can get lured into schemes to boost their retirement savings. Read more
Article:Lottery Scam Led To Grandmother’s Suicide
November 14, 2007
Do you think I’m over-reacting when I post examples of email scams to warn your parents about?
Then read about this tragedy in New Jersey.
I am so angry right now thinking about what this women went through, the humiliation she felt, and how she died. All because some @#*! bastards took advantage of her.
Please share her tragic story with people you know.
Scam Awareness: Gold Mine Fortune
November 11, 2007
Check out this scam letter
Please don’t fall for this crap.
Be sure to talk to your parents or older relatives to help them be on the lookout for scam artists trying to prey on their kindness. As outrageous as these idiotic emails are, someone always falls for them.
Tell-tale signs:
- Ridiculously too good to be true.
- Bad grammar and punctuation.
- Conveniently too far away to verify in-person.
Just flag it as Junk Mail and delete it. Never respond!
The scam artist will con you into making a money transfer. He’ll need some amount from you as either a sign of good faith or to pay a supposed tariff or storage fee. Then you’ll never hear from him again.
Don’t be tempted by this nonsense and make sure to educate your parents and elderly relatives who might fall for something like this.
As always, please share your tips.
-BD
Product Recall: Curious George Plush Dolls
November 10, 2007
Everyone’s favorite monkey isn’t immune to lead.
Marvel Toys, of New York, N.Y., announced a safety recall of Curious George Plush Dolls. Manufactured in China, nearly 175,000 were sold in in the United States between April 2007 through November 2007 for between $17 and $30.
Hazard: Surface paint on the toy’s plastic face and construction hat contain excessive levels of lead, which violates the federal lead paint standard.
Action:
Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Marvel Toys to receive a full refund at (800) 352-2064 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site.
Related Links:
Product Recall: Aqua Dots
November 8, 2007
Spin Master, of Toronto, Canada, announced a safety recall of Aqua Dots. Manufactured in China, nearly 4.2 million were sold in Canada and the United States between April 2007 through November 2007 for between $17 and $30.
The product has also been marketed in Australia as Bindeez.
The coating on the beads that causes the beads to stick to each other when water is added contains a chemical that can turn toxic when many are ingested. Children who swallow the beads can become comatose, develop respiratory depression, or have seizures.
News accounts are reporting that it’s a similar hallucinogenic effect of a “date rape” drug.
Action:
Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy away from children and contact Spin Master to return for free replacement beads or a toy of equal value. Call (800) 622-8339 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Related Links:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
