Fraud of one sort or another is in the headlines every week. Last week it was the senior paving scam. I recently visited the AARP Web site and learned quite a bit more about senior financial abuses, many of which go unnoticed because victims are too embarrassed, scared or intimidated to report it.
My advice to anyone considering risking any money in any type of financial situation is to thoroughly research the individual or company you are doing business with.
Unsolicited emails and phone calls are obvious scams. But what about someone who seems legitimate; he has an office, business cards, perhaps a secretary or two? Believe it or not, this is where it's easy to get scammed! Don’t just go by fancy certificates on their walls; check to see if they are actually members of the associations they claim to be part of. Do the “associations” even exist at all?
Look online for records of other consumers’ experiences. If you notice that the person seems to have records of many businesses in many locations, don’t assume that the businesses are all currently in successful operation. Speaking from personal experience, this has indicated that the businessman had many troubles in the various locations, and had to close businesses and frequently relocate.
Don’t be fooled by a businessman’s fancy possessions, exciting promises or big eager smile. Read between the lines, ask around, examine the fine print, bring a witness with you. If it seems like it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
If you have been a victim of financial abuses, or know someone who has been victimized, remember that the district attorney has special fraud investigators to assist you. In Lake County these people are passionate and dedicated to bringing criminals to justice.
The State of California also encourages consumers to contact them with complaints. Reputable associations like the National Ethics Bureau appreciate knowing if one of their members has acted unprofessionally. Even local government officials can be helpful in your quest for justice.
If enough people speak up, a track record builds up, and the perpetrator has less of a chance to get away with abusing future victims.
Protect yourself. In so doing, you help protect us all.
Trophy winners (left to right) Shea Odom, Kelsey Carstensen, Cody Smith and Jacob Scott-Casey. Courtesy photo.
The Lake County 4-H Program would like to thank Lower Lake Elementary School for allowing us to use their wonderful facility for our Annual 4-H Presentation Day on February 23, 2008.
Presentation Day is a 4-H public speaking event with both competitive and noncompetitive categories.
At this year’s event there were over 30 4-H members presenting an impressive selection of demonstrations, educational displays, illustrated talks, speeches and skits.
The highest scored members in each category receive trophies. This year the trophies went to Kelsey Carstensen and Cody Smith – Agriculture; Shea Odom - Home Economics; and Jacob Scott-Casey – Other.
The youth in the competitive category, who achieved gold awards at this event, may advance to Sectional and possibly State level competitions.
We would also like to extend a special thank you to Karen Hayes from Kelseyville 4-H who was the event chair and did an outstanding job in organizing and putting on the event.
4-H Youth Development is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension.
For more information on the 4-H program contact U.C. Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, CA 95453, 707-263-6838.
Nicole Gentry is 4-H Youth Development Secretary for the University of California Extension office in Lakeport.
We would like to thank everyone who came out to "Meet Scott Fergusson" on Saturday, March 15 at the HVL Community Services District! Scott and the committee enjoyed talking with all of you.
We'd also like to thank Diana Wolf of Mugshots for providing coffee for us to enjoy with our Girl Scout cookies!
For more information about Scott please go to www.fergussonforsupervisor.com
Thank you all for your support.
Kara Chapman is campaign manager for Scott Fergusson for Supervisor 2008.
I have a suggestion regarding adoption of new development in Lake County – that the Board of Supervisors rule that a four-out-of-five vote be required any time a change or waiver is requested of the General Plan (or regional plans).
A great deal of thought and effort goes into these plans, and the decision to make exceptions should be stringent because of the magnitude of potential consequences. Development issues decide what can be done (in terms of building or land use) and where this can take place. Resources are sometimes exploited or diverted, and decisions affect both the economy and culture of the county forevermore.
Advantages of this proposal are several. Usually, those people seeking the change have a lot to gain and great resources (in the form of paid research, lobbyists, and legal staff) with which to make their point. The general population (whose numbers are greater, but who may have little to gain from new development) is unfairly burdened when such requests are made. The community must rely on volunteers who work without funding to represent the interests of both the people and the natural environment. Requiring close to unanimous agreement from officials would decrease the chance that a decision be made too easily or too quickly, and decisions taken in this manner would be less prone to unforeseen negative consequences.
Supervisors would experience less pressure to cast a sole deciding vote, which happens if a board member is absent from meeting. This solution would also be less expensive and easier to put into effect than systems like Napa’s where I understand rezoning decisions require a vote of the people.
VOTERS BEWARE: It's that time again when unscrupulous people, who are trying desperately to put certain propositions on the June or November ballots, and aren't particular about the methods used to obtain the qualified signatures.
Case in point: In front of Wal-Mart in Clearlake, a gentleman was collecting signatures for a Victim Rights Bill, but beneath his clip board he had hidden another petition which was much more controversial. We had a rather heated argument with him that if he truly believed that marriage should only be between a man and woman he should be out front and specific about the second petition.
So voters beware, be sure you know what you're signing.
