THE RECORD Serving the Dadeville & Lake Martin area since 1897
WWW.THEDADEVILLERECORD.COM
VOL. 118, NO. 48
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015
Wire transfer scam targets area businesses By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
How many times have you received an email from your boss asking you to handle something because they were busy? Ok, lower your hands. It’s a common practice and now some cyber scammers are hoping to play on those routine requests to cheat you out of thousands of dollars at a time. Several local businesses and banks say that the practice known as “spear phishing” has targeted several local businesses. On some occasions, the scam attempt
turned out to be an expensive lesson in the latest in cyber crime. “It’s something that we in the banking industry see almost every day,” said Mark Spencer, senior vice president and central Alabama area executive for USAmeriBank. “The email comes from an address that is very similar to someone in your company. It looks real and sounds like a logical request from someone in authority at your business. “The reason they are so realistic is that this is a fulltime job for these criminals. They study your website, and in some cases get into your email. They do that
to get information that makes the emails look legitimate and extremely realistic. That’s how good they are.” In January, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center issued a warning about the wire transfer schemes that had surfaced. At that time, FBI statistics showed between October 2013 and December 2014, 1,198 U.S. victims and 928 nonU.S. victims of the scam filed complaints about the same basic type scam. The FBI estimated the losses for U.S. businesses over that period were $179 million and for businesses outside the U.S., the losses
totaled $35 million. That’s pretty big money, and it’s happening right here in our area. Just this week, an employee here at Tallapoosa Publishers got an email that appeared to be from the company’s owner, Kenneth Boone. It asked for $18,000 to be transferred by wire to an account that the email claimed was for one of the vendors used by TPI. There were emails exchanged back and fourth and the wheels were set in motion, but luckily, the TPI employee See SCAM, Page 7
Wilcox a finalist DANCING WITH A PURPOSE Active shooter for Eufaula scenario helps superintendent
train schools
By David Granger Record Staff Writer
John Wilcox, director of online and alternative education for Tallapoosa County Schools, has been named one of five finalists for the vacant position of superintendent of Eufaula City Schools. Wilcox was one of 29 applicants for the Eufaula position. He said he expects the Barbour County system to make a decision either this week or early next week. “I think they will let the finalists know something soon,” said Wilcox. “I expect it Wilcox to be this week or maybe Monday of next week.” Wilcox, who entered education in 1988 after working for newspapers for several years, served as assistant superintendent in Tallapoosa County from 2009 until the recent reorganization of the central office, when he assumed his current position. A Clay County native, Wilcox graduated high school from Goodwater High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in comprehensive social studies education from Auburn University and a master’s in educational leadership from Troy University at Phenix City. Wilcox spent time in the classroom at Reeltown, Opelika Middle School and Bullock County High School in See WILCOX, Page 7
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Schools’ staff and first responders take part in exercise By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
See DIAMONDS, Page 2
See TRAINING, Page 7
Cliff Williams / The Record
This year’s Denim and Diamonds Charity Ball featured 200 patrons dining and dancing at the Rodeo Club. Lake Martin Area United Way was the big winner, as proceeds from the Dadeville Chamber of Commerce event will go to the organization.
Denim and Diamonds raises funds for United Way By Corey Arwood Record Staff Writer
The Lake Martin Area United Way will receive proceeds from what could be one of the most well-attended Denim and Diamonds events so far. Saturday’s Denim and Diamonds Charity Ball, was the fourth hosted by The Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce at the world famous Rodeo Club. The DACC called the event “An Evening of Giving,” and a portion of the proceeds were set for the LMAUW and the various local charities it funds. “It was a success, we had a great turnout,” Linda Andrews, DACC Executive
Kiwanis get lesson in safety on all levels from Dadeville PD By Corey Arwood Record Staff Writer
The Dadeville police chief and a DPD general investigator spoke to local Kiwanis Club members Thursday as part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. The topics varied from local community-relations efforts, crime in the area, national trends and even international terrorism. They were introduced by city council and Kiwanis club member Mickey Tarpley. “Since I was elected to the city council I have learned more about why I am glad I am not a police officer. It’s probably the most thankless job often times that we have in our city. But, we have a great group,” Tarpley said.
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Administrator, said. Sharon Fuller, LMAUW executive director and DACC board member, said that the auction went well, the music, new this year by Lisa and the E-Lusion, and the food were good, and there was larger turnout than previous years. She said that nearly 200 people had signed up beforehand to attend the event which was more than the last ball. “It was probably the best attendance we had even with the fact that Benjamin Russell was in playoffs, Fuller said. She said that she did not recognize a lot of the faces she saw at the event, and that
Tallapoosa County Schools have a taken a step that no one else in the state has when it comes to protecting its students in an emergency event. In October, the system along with the command staff at the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s office, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s office dispatchers, the Dadeville Police Department, the Dadeville Fire Department, the Alexander City Rescue Squad and Tallapoosa County EMA took part in a table-top exercise. “I know of no other school system in the state that has gone to the step of table top exercises,” Tallapoosa County School superintendent Joe Windle said at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. “We are on the cutting edge in Tallapoosa County in dealing with preparation and planning for a catastrophic event.” “It is something we have been talking about for several years,” Tallapoosa County Chief Deputy Sheriff David McMichael explained to the board. “We have been training in the schools as first responders but not with everyone that would be involved in an incident. We wanted to go that next step where we had all the parties that would be involved
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Tarpley went to on to discuss the negative image that is brought to mind from traffic tickets and violations that gives run-ins with the police the connotation of something to avoid. However, he spoke about the other aspects of their jobs in regard to crime in the area that he had learned about through his close dealings during his time in office. “We don’t have exactly what’s happening in Paris, France, but we have a lot of things that are very similar on a lot smaller scale,” said Tarpley. On that note he turned the podium over to Chief David Barbour, who in turn introduced and quickly ceded his time to General Investigator Sgt. Jonathan Floyd. Floyd began by commenting on what he said was the importance See KIWANIS, Page 3
Corey Arwood / The Record
Dadeville Police Chief David Barbour and Sgt. Jonathan Floyd were the featured speakers at last Thursday’s meeting of the Dadeville Kiwanis Club and the two spoke on a wide range of topics.
Starting Friday: Creed – PG-13 The Good Dinosaur – PG The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2 – PG-13