MARCH 29, 2017
WHITE BEAR/VADNAIS HEIGHTS PRESS
www.presspubs.com
5A
Beware of ‘Can you hear me?’ scam calls “Can you hear me?” “Are you there?” “Is this you?” ost people have been asked these questions in a phone call. News outlets and organizations across the country report that people are receiving calls from individuals who ask questions designed to get a “yes” answer. But responding “yes” may leave people on the hook for more nuisance calls and maybe even unauthorized charges. This new scheme is called the “Can You Hear Me?” Scam. The calls go like this: “Chris” received a call while he was eating dinner. He answered the call, and a person asked, “Can you hear me?” Chris replied, “Yes.” He then heard a recording that claimed he had won a free cruise. Chris realized the call may be part of a scam and hung up. How the scam works The details of this scam vary, but it always begins with a call, usually from a telephone number that appears to be local. When the person answers the call,
M
the scam artist tries to get the person to say “yes”—most often by asking, “Can you hear me?” “Is this the lady of the house?” or a similar question. By responding “yes,” people notify robo-callers that their Movers and number is an active telephone number that can Shakers be sold to other telemarketers for a higher price. Lori Swanson This then leads to more unwanted calls. In some cases, the caller may record the person saying “yes.” Scam artists may be able to use a recorded “yes” to claim that the person authorized charges to his or her credit card or account. How can scammers access your account? Some companies share their customers’ information with thirdparty companies or allow third parties to charge customers’ accounts (called “cramming”) in exchange for payment. Scam artists
may also obtain financial information from data breaches or leaks or through identity theft. Whether the “Can you hear me?” calls are simply nuisance calls or something more sinister, there are steps you can take to avoid falling victim to phone scams. • Check phone numbers closely. Scam artists spoof calls to make them appear to be from a local telephone number. Even if a number appears to be local, it is best to avoid calls from numbers with which you are not familiar. • Hang up. If you answer a call that seems suspicious, hang up. Remember, “Minnesota Nice” does not apply to scammers. It is not rude to hang up abruptly on a suspicious caller. • Carefully review your financial statements and telephone bills. Whether or not you have been targeted by a scam, it is a good idea to review your bills line-by-line for unauthorized or fraudulent activity. The law provides some protection for people to dispute unauthorized charges to their credit cards
and bank accounts, but these laws generally impose time limits. It is important to check right away for charges you did not make or approve so you have time to file a dispute. Reporting unwanted calls If you receive a call that may be part of a “Can You Hear Me?” scam, you should report it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). The FTC has the authority to enforce federal laws regulating nuisance calls and interstate fraud over the telephone. Contact the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 877-382-4357 or www. ftccomplaintassistant.gov. For more information, or to fi le a complaint, contact the Office of Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400, St. Paul, MN 55101, 651-296-3353 or 800-657-3787, TTY: 651-297-7206 or 800-366-4812. Lori Swanson is Minnesota’s attorney general.
OBITUARY NOTICES
Donna Jean Vollhaber (nee Herbert) Age 74 of White Bear Lake Donna was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on February 3, 1943. She was one of three children to Elsie (nee Lindusky) and Henry Herbert. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School in White Bear Lake before going to and graduating from White Bear High School. She attended Creighton University and later graduated from St. Paul’s School of Nursing in 1963. She met the love of her life, Craig Edmund Vollhaber and the two were married at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church on August 22, 1964. Donna was a joyful and bubbly woman who spent her time caring for their three children, Vicki, Mary, and Todd. Her favorite family moments were spending time with her family at the lake. When she was not with her husband and kids, she enjoyed reading and gardening. Donna will be remembered for being very ladylike and stylish. She was always smiling, very friendly, extremely kind, witty and will be missed by all who knew her. Donna passed away at Waverly Gardens on March 25, 2017, after an 11-year battle with dementia. She is preceded in death by her parents, Elsie and Henry Herbert; and her baby girl, Leslie. She will be dearly missed by her husband of over 54 years, Craig Vollhaber of White Bear Lake and Tequesta, Fla.; her children, Vicki (Jim) Carver of Lino Lakes; Mary (Eric) Snustad of Shoreview and Todd (Sheila) Vollhaber of North Oaks; her grandchildren, Charlie (Leslie), Katie, Patrick, Emily, Megan, Lauren, Colin, Sean, and Anna; her great-grandson, Jacob; her two siblings, Jack Herbert and Roberta Lavalley; and many other family and friends. Mueller Memorial is serving the family, to leave a message please visit www.MuellerMemorial.com or call 651-4294944 for more information.
Marion L. Salie
Dr. George Schossow h
Beloved Mother & Grandmother Age 89 of White Bear Lake Preceded in death by husband Reynold; parents Fred and Laura Forseen and siblings Betty, John and Roger. Survived by daughters Robin Gibis (Gary) and Patti Peters; grandchildren Todd and Brian Haessig, Jennifer (Craig) Dietsch and Joe Pollock; great grandchildren Kayla, TJ and Noah. Retired Whirlpool executive. Gathering of family and friends, Saturday, April 1, 2017 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with a graveside service to follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Memorials preferred to Alzheimer's Research.
Dr. George Schossow, 90, died peacefully March 23, 2017. Preceded in death by his wife Jeanne and son Mark. He is survived by his daughter Dawn Witthaus and her husband Marc, niece Alice Murray and her husband Hollis and his sister Bertha Lindstrom. Loved and remembered by his Grandchildren Nicole Scott, Lindsey Witthaus, Michael (Lauren) Witthaus and Kayla Schossow, great-grandchildren Andre, Grace and Max. He had many beloved nieces and nephews who were very special to him. George was blessed to have special people in his life that loved and cared for him. Dr. Schossow was a longtime physician in the White Bear Lake area and created numerous inventions that contributed to society and the medical field. He had an amazing mind and sense of humor and will be greatly missed by all those who knew him. He won awards and acknowledgments for his ingenuity and inventions and was a Veteran of the Navel Air Force. He was also a longstanding Mason and spent his later years cared for by Dawn, Marc and Granddaughter Lindsey in White Bear Lake. A celebration of his life will be held at the White Bear Lake VFW on Thursday, March 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. with a presentation at 3 p.m.
Phil Bonin Age 70 Of White Bear Lake Born on July 7, 1946 in St. Paul. Peacefully died on March 20, 2017- Feast of St. Joseph at his home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Preceded in death by father Rolland and sister Jeanne. Survived by wife Molly (nee Mock); sons Brian (Rachel) and children Ben, Brendan and Jude; Brett (Lesley) and children Ethan and Andrew; daughter Kristi (Sean) Conrad and children Marin and Chase; mother Ann Bonin; brother Dick (Sue) and sisters Barb Anderson, Bev French, Marcia (Steve) Lang and Geraldine Bonin. Phil was an active member of the White Bear Lake community and a St. Paul Winter Carnival Vulcan. Memorial Mass was Friday, March 24 at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in White Bear Lake. Private interment St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to Frassati Catholic Academy or Loavesandfishesmn.org.
DEATH NOTICES
Mary K. Castellano (nee Kelly) Mary K. Castellano (nee Kelly), 83, of White Bear Lake. Memorial Service 12 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at Honsa Family Funeral Home, 2460 East County Road E, White Bear Lake with visitation one hour before service. Interment Oakland Cemetery.
Tom Kelly Tom Kelly, 80, formerly of White Bear Lake. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was March 25 at St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery.
Appeal process proceeds in conservation district’s case against DNR BY DEBRA NEUTKENS EDITOR
WHITE BEAR LAKE — The Court of Appeals has agreed to hear the White Bear Lake Conservation District’s (WBLCD) case against the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) protective elevation order. The attorney for the conservation district said the DNR will now be required to create an administrative record or index of what it used to set the elevation. The agency has an April 4 deadline to provide the record. The conservation district then has 30 days to respond. The conservation district filed an ap-
peal Feb. 16 seeking review of the Dec. 21, 2016 order by the DNR setting a protective elevation of White Bear Lake. The WBLCD contested the 922-foot number, asking the agency for a public hearing on the issue, which the DNR denied. There was a question as to whether the DNR served proper notice to the WBLCD on the day of the Dec. 21 order, which would have meant the district had to file an appeal by Feb. 21, 2017. The district served a writ of certiorari on the DNR Feb. 22, which the DNR said was too late. In its order dated March 21, the appellate court wrote that the DNR’s Dec. 21 notice regarding the protective elevation “simply advised the relator (WBLCD)
of the respondent’s (DNR) intention to announce its decision at a ‘courtesy briefing’ to be held later that day. “In this case, the relator did not receive due notice of the actual decision until the week of Dec. 26, when a copy of the Dec. 21 order was mailed to a board member.” Therefore, the three-judge panel agreed, the writ was served within the 60-day appeal period. Signed by Chief Judge Edward Clearly, jurisdiction by the Appellate Court was accepted. A DNR motion for an extension to file the itemized list of the contents of the record was also granted, giving the state until April 4. Attorney Alan Kantrud filed the appeal
on behalf of the conservation district, noting the protective elevation order was issued without affording the governing body any opportunity for public comment or hearing. The conservation district had requested in 2015 that the protective elevation of White Bear Lake be set at 924 to 924.5 feet, a level needed to reopen Ramsey County Beach. The counsel said no one from the board was invited to the December DNR briefing announcing the number, which Kantrud called a “callous” oversight. When the district asked the DNR for due process to challenge the order, the DNR refused, prompting the appeal.