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Tuesday, October 13, 2015
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Beware the phishermen How to protect yourself from identity theft scams By Dave Cook dcook@bcrnews.com
As incidents of identity theft continue to rise, it’s becoming more important than ever to guard personal information. As quickly as security features and investigation methods improve, identity thieves change their bait. Phishing is the name given to email and website scams and can include sophisticated thefts over the phone. Below are some examples of phishing and tips on how to avoid becoming the catch of the day. If you receive an email, text or phone call and see or hear the following, be on guard:
• We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure your account is not compromised, please click the link below to confirm your identity. • During our regular verification of accounts we couldn’t verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information. • Our records indicate your account was overcharged. You must call within seven days to receive your refund. These messages will appear to be from places you do business with, such as banks or credit companies. They can threaten to close your account or take further action if you don’t respond. Don’t reply, use the link or call phone numbers provided in the message. These can
direct you to phony sites. They may look real, but their real purpose is to acquire your information. If you’re concerned about your account and want to contact the organization the message claims to represent, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit card. Another common scam is a caller claiming they are from the IRS. IRS scammers use fake names and badge numbers and may know the last four digits of your social security number. They can be capable of spoofing the IRS tollfree number to make it appear as if it’s the IRS calling and victims can hear background noise that mimics a busy call center. They can also send phony emails to
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Re-enactment offers a history lesson from long ago
BCR photo/Mike Vaughn
BCR photo/Dave Cook
The Shadows of the Blue and Gray marched its way into Princeton this last weekend. A history lesson from long ago, event-goers had the opportunity to see many Civil War-era activities, including music, suttlers, Calvary, battles and more. See more photos in today’s BCR on Pages 2 and 20.
DePue man dies in crash Accident still under investigation By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The Princeton Police Department and Bureau County Coroner’s Office are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on Ace Road near Van’s Way around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff said she pronounced the 54-year-old DePue man dead at 8 p.m. She said the cause of death was massive trauma to the head. Wamhoff said the driver of the motorcycle allegedly had been headed home from an out-of-town
football game where he had been to watch his daughter cheer. She said it appeared the driver took Ace Road on his ride home. When he attempted to turn onto Van’s Way from Ace Road, Wamhoff said it appeared the motorcycle was going too fast. When the driver tried to negotiate the curve, the motorcycle struck a curb, causing the crash, she said. Police continue to investigate the accident. Wamhoff is withholding the name of the man until all family members have been notified of the accident. Comment on this story at www. bcrnews.com.
The energy in empathy State Superintendent Tony Smith advocates for relationship and continuity in the classroom By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — After sharing his thoughts on how to improve education at the Illinois Association of School Boards Starved Rock Division Fall dinner Tuesday, Oct. 6, Illinois State Superintendent Tony Smith addressed questions from fellow educators in the crowd. When asked about district size and his thoughts on consolidation, Smith said the conversation must be based around the best possible outcome for our children. He doesn’t want to center around a particular number of districts, but allow communities to discuss
how they can maximize services by sharing resources. “As long as you’re working on and from what kids need, I don’t really care how many districts we have,” Smith said, gladly dissecting issues with the mindset that “we make meaning by being in dialogue.” The topic of school funding arose, and Smith indicated the cuts Illinois has experienced over this previous decade have to stop, regardless the endurance state educators have shown in overcoming these seemingly annual cuts. “I have yet to be in a conversation anywhere
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