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Show Sun Advocate Price, Utah Tuesday September 17,2002 8A Castle Valley State consumer protection director issues fraud alert, Warns residents to exercise caution when annnries considering if ft 60th anniversary The famify and friends ofLena Rich Jensen and Merrill G. Jensen will honor the couple on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary , at an open house Sept. 28. ' ! Vi As the economic downturn or buyers and as people start mitting to an Internet pur- across the country, many deals, the chances of fraud increase dramatically, continued the consumer protection division director. According to. Giani, Internet fraud represents the largest the early days of the web, the complaints we saw were for tens and hundreds of dollars. Now days, it is not uncommon for complaints to be fore several thousand dollars. Consumers frequently overlook obvious signs of potential fraud in the search for a good deal. It is one thing to go on EBay and bid on something that , is up for auction from a clearly established seller, noted the consumer protection division director. But to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars, overlooking dear danger signs, just because you think you will save a few dollars is unwise. Obvious signs of fraud can be auctions of newly released items such as high-en- d digital cameras, DVD players or video recorders that are in short supply in retail stores, according to the state consumer protection office. Scam artists will post numerous auctions advertising the items at remarkably low pjices, pointed out Giani. Americans are finding new, high-tec- h ways to stretch fam-- ; ily budgets. For numerous Americans, the family attic and the Internet have become the places they have found to help get through the tough economic times. With the help of the online auction, many families are turning old toys, long abandoned hobbies, knickknacks, collectable items and household odds and ends into cash. But as increasing numbers of United States consumers turn to the Internet for help ? . rtl i The anniversary open house will be presented from 3 to 6 p.m. at the senior citizens building t inPlice. No gifts, please. t f W v v .v.A;r V Is ! 1 through the financial hard times, consumer protection officials expect to see additional cases of online fraud. Criminals have a knack of recognizing consumer trends and jumping on them, ex- Elained Francine Giani, Utah of Consumer Protection director. Online auctions have been fairly easy pickings for scam artists. As more consumers go to the web as sellers Calling before digging is mandatory Contractors and homeowners mayendupdiggingadeeperhole in their wallet than in the ground if they fail to call Blue Stakes frefixe excavating.' UnderUtah State Law, "Dam-ag- e to Underground Facilities . ys -- Act," anyone engaging in excavation activity, with the exception of gardening or tilling on private property, must notify Blue Stakes at least two business days, but not more than seven calendar day, before excavation begins:' Fail- - budget stretching options h starts to settle into homes looking for better and better chase, pointed out Giani. In ' V high-tec- Index predicts: category of complaints ceived by the Utah Department of Commerce consumer rate. . Elder Alger The U.S. unemployment rate reached an ejgfrt-ye- ar 6.0 percent high in leaves the excavator liable for damage caused to any under-- , ground utility lines such as natural gas, power, fiber optic, phone, cable, water, sewer and petroleum. Cost of repairing damaged utility lines can be extensive in addition to possible civil penalties imposed as defined by law for failing to notify Elder Jason Louis Alger has been called to serve in the o City east mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da-y Saints. Elder Alger will speak in sacrament meeting Sept 22 at 9 ajn. at the Huntington lstSth LDS Ward building, 115 West 400 East There will be a luncheon for family and friends at the Hunting-to- n senior citizen center after the April Joblessness could approach 62 percent in the Mexico-Mexic- to die index. The U.S. Department r reported thatanet 39,000 jobs were added in the economy nationwide in Blue Stakes before beginning excavation. The utility locator service is .ree to the puUic, and helps minimize utility service interruptions and damage to utility property -- in line with WhUStreets consensus forecast, added the small business idex. V Julys gain was revised meeting. sharpty higher toa67,000 the initial 6JQ00 and equipment," said Gary ,.r . gain vgjjius JHansen, Blue Stakes ejjujcutive director. But most importantly, Blue Stakes can help prevent serious personal injury that could oe caused from damaging an power, gas or water gain estimate, The economy added 162)00 jobs over the past four months, after losing roughly LS million jobs in theiprecedjng 12 months. . The goods production sector afi the U 5. economy lost 33,000 jobs in August The nation's manufacture ing sector also lost 68300 jobs, the worst performance posted since January, noted the index. Notifying Blue Stakes at least two business days before commencing excavation allows util-,it- y companies the time necessary to locate and mark underground lines. Excavators are required to xmly use hand tools within 24 on Either side of the marked utility Blue Stakes is a non-procorporation created to be the link . Elder Alger will enter the missionary training center Sept. 25. He is the son of Pete and Hene Alger of Huntington. , excavators : JvsK t save moncv UKc'U DGUVGR VOIIB MILK TO VOUR DOOR! struetkmadded 34JXXX ' Services expanded tty 72,000 jobs in August, led by a 26,000. gain in the health sector. Retail trade dropped 55,000 jobs, sultmgin267,0001ost po-sitiohsinthe sector withmg . . Using the blue stakes utility locator service ensures landowners and contractors safety and toe safety of others, during excavation projects. Individuals who plan to dig need to call at least two business days before the date of excavation to aflouk, utility companies tunejotorate and mark all underground lines. Failure to com- ply, as defined by thfiavUMves the excavator liable tor any damages that may ever ga to the start tar flUlk tad cmm bach with tall cart af gracartas? Md fit (homeowners & contractors) and underground utility owners in communicating underground ixcavatkm activities in the state pf Utah. It is funded by member jitility companies., race residents can rrach Blue Stakes Util-- pro- tection office during the past year and that trend appears unabated. The majority of the consumer complaints involved Internet auctions. In the early days of the Internet five or six years ago, consumers were leery of the new technology and accordingly were much more cautious in their online purchases. But with the web becoming an integral and accepted part of everyday life, carelessness and inattention have caused many Utahns to become victims of fraudulent activities. When Internet commerce was a new concept, people were extremely nervous about almost any online purchase. They did more research before com - page 8A) pwwnt natinnuiirif jnhli-g-g are to comply with this law between re- Castle Valley missionaries (Continued from , , Coll ,JJ 650-IVU- UI (mss) Sv for the excellent care I received at Castleview Hospital While traveling back home to Alaska, I became extremely ill and required ARIES i 86East 100 South Surf & 637-55- 00 Ttaf emergency surgery. . Dr. Cox, Dr. Johnson, & Dr. King t i Pinner Special everyone from the Nurses to Housekeeping, to Steak, Coconut Shrimp, Crab Grabber Baby Back Ribs, Salad, Potato &RoU . 1695 Come Tty our Salmon at Lunch Time Only! Includes baked potato choke of soap or salad Lunch Mon-Sa- t , A special Thank Ybu to . the Pink Ladies. I hope the people in Carbon County realize the exceptional hospital that they have right hire in Price. Thank you again to everyone.1 Leeta Callahan 11:00-2:3- 0 4dXK3ose" yu f; ns a |