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Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXI Issue VII July 15, 2013 Don’t Get ‘Spoofed’ by Rogue Callers By Jason Alderman When caller ID first arrived on the scene it seemed like a godsend to many people: Now you could easily identify who was on the line and ignore unwanted calls, whether from telemarketers, an ex-boyfriend, or an unfriendly collection agency. But as often happens, unscrupulous individuals soon began manipulating the technology to defraud people by pretending to be someone else. Their scheme is called “caller ID spoofing” and, disturbingly, it’s perfectly legal in many cases. Here’s how caller ID spoofing works and what precautions you should take to avoid being victimized. For a very low cost, businesses and individuals can use widely available caller ID spoofing software to generate calls that alter the telephone number and/or name that appears on the recipient’s caller ID screen. Police, private investigators, and collection agencies have used legal spoofing services for many years. Others who might have a legitimate reason to hide their identity when making a call include domestic violence victims and doctors returning patient calls who don’t wish to release their private telephone numbers. Beyond that, the lines of legality begin to blur. The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 prohibits anyone from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. Violators can be penalized up to $10,000 for each infraction. Unfortunately, such penalties haven’t dissuaded many scammers. One common scam involves spoofers pretending to represent a bank, government agency, insurer, credit-card company, or other organization with which you do business. They count on you being reassured after recognizing the company’s name on your screen. Under the pretext of warning about an urgent situation (breached account, late payment, pending insurance claim, missed jury duty summons, etc.), the spoofer will try to coax you into revealing personal or account information, supposedly to verify their records. Often these are robocalls, where a recorded voice asks you to stay on the line to speak to a representative or call another number for more information—do not do it! If you suspect the call might possibly be genuine, contact the company yourself at the toll-free number found on your card, account statement, or the company’s official website. You should never reveal your full Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, credit card number, passwords, or other private information over the phone unless you initiated the call yourself. Someone possessing such information could use it to gain access to your existing accounts to withdraw or transfer money, raise credit limits or snoop around your recent activity, among other intrusions. ID thieves also can use your personal information to open new credit accounts (e.g., credit cards, mortgage or car loan), create a new identity, or even obtain a job fraudulently. Often, you won’t even realize something’s wrong until a collection agency—or the IRS—starts hounding you for unpaid bills or taxes. Another common caller ID spoof involves hacking into someone’s voice mail account. Many cellphone users never bother to set up passwords on their voice mailboxes. And, since many voicemail systems grant access to callers phoning from their own number, a hacker could easily spoof your number and gain access to your messages. Bottom line: You wouldn’t give your personal information to a stranger on the street. Take the same level of precaution with strangers on the phone—or online. Ogden Valley Open Market Offers Fresh Produce Valley residents and visitors have been having all sorts of fun so far with the Ogden Valley Open Market! It has been wonderful to see how talented and gifted our locals are! One thing that is really going to increase steeply now that we are hitting such a hot July, is the amount of produce our vendors will be bringing in! Derek Witt, of Eden, will be bringing to the market a selection of salad greens and kale with more fresh produce as the summer moves along. Linda Knudtson with Stoney Field Farms, in Liberty, will be supplying the market with lettuces, carrots, garlic, shallots, squashes, potatoes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peppers, and onions. We also will have wonderful produce coming from Sweet Deseret Farm. The selection varies from onions, peas, greens such as kale, chard, bakana, as well as various heirloom lettuces, beet greens etc. Sweet Deseret Farm will also supply beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs, tomatillos, ground cherries, wonder berries; and a large variety of rare and delicious melons; and several varieties of summer and winter squash! Sweet Deseret Farm is a Grade A licensed and inspected Raw Goat Milk Dairy and is an Organic Cooperative Garden that focuses on maximum nutrition and taste for all of its wholesome products. The Babcock family loves and cares for a small herd of LaMancha dairy goats, which produce wonderful milk. They challenge everyone to take a taste-test, “There is little difference in taste from store-bought cow milk, but the health benefits are significant,” states Daniel Babcock. Ideal Gardens at Sweet Deseret Farm uses heirloom seeds for all of its plants; and implements organic High Brix methods to maximize the nutrient density, health and taste of all produce. They also use no pesticides, herbicides, or non-natural fertilizers in the production of its produce. Call 801-392-4771 with any questions or visit www.sweetdeseret.com The Babcock’s also sell raw goat milk and free-range chicken eggs at their farm! The Ogden Valley Open Market will have other farmers bringing produce as the summer advances! Make sure to swing on by Thursday nights to get your weekly fresh produce in a fun-filled environment. HANDCART cont. from page 1 Parthenia Blank, twin sisters, ages 23, wrote in 1852, “25 Sun W.W. this morning we started at 3 o’clock to feed and get breakfast. Sand very deep and dust very troublesome Stoped for dinner opposite Independance Rock It is a great curiosity but we were all so tired that we could not go to the top of it It is almost entirely covered with names of emigrants Went on to the Devil’s Gate and encamped this is [is] a great curiosity but we have not time to visit it and regret it very much Passed 3 graves Forded the Sweet water. M 16” Reaching Independence Rock, located not to 18—and their leaders—from Eden’s Wolf Creek Ward participated in the “Trek” experience. They traveled to Wyoming, some lengthy distance beyond Rawlins, Wyoming, to pull handcarts along, or near, portions of the original trail that brought thousands of early LDS converts to Utah. The route was also part of the old Pony Express route, and the Oregon and Note: To follow Jason Alderman on Twitter, visit <www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney> LETTERS cont. from page 2 cific new ordinance providing for Prime Cuts Meats to operate again. agricultural ordinances to apply. Thus the If you do not want our valley to turn county planners consider Prime Cuts Meats into a just another “used to be a great place to be commercial when to live” then please it suits the purpose but exercise your demoWeber County Commissioners also agricultural when cratic rights and call Kerry Gibson 801-399-8402 needed so that in reality your County Officials Email: kgibson@co.weber.ut.us there are no common and let them hear your Jan Zogmaister 801-399-8402 conditions which apply voice. (Please note that Email: jzogmaister@co.weber.ut.us directly to Prime Cuts county engineering has Matthew Bell: 801-399-8402 Meats. In 2012 after the not yet approved this Board of Adjustment Email: mbell@co.weber.ut.us variance). voted 5-0 against, the Weber County Engineering Dale & Sandra Tuck Ogden Valley Planning Bret Barry Chad Meyerhoffer 801-399-8004 Commission voted 5-0 Clay Poulter cmeyerhoffer@co.weber.ut.us against allowing Prime Bill & Judy Culley Cuts Meats the counRoss & Julie Mertlich ty “comported” and revoked Prime Cuts Meats permit. In response Richard & Georgia Rhode you may ask what did the County Planners do Rocky & Joan Woodruff in 2013? The County Planners re-wrote all Howard & Tooki Weir Weber County Ordinances and created a spe- Richard & Shelly Smyka VCRD OPEN IN EDEN Group pulling a handcart uphill. California trails for those seeking rich farmland or gold. Emigrants numbering 350,000 to 400,000 traveled across Wyoming on this major route, also known as the Oregon Trail, from the 1840s to 1860s. The youth pushed and pulled their handcarts under an expansive blue sky; camped under a rich umbrella of bright stars; listened to the coyotes howling in the dark; drank lots of cool water in an effort to stay hydrated in the 100 degree, or hotter, temperatures in the day; sang pioneer songs; walked, ran, and cooled themselves off in a Sweetwater River crossing—all in an effort to gain a greater appreciation for the early pioneer saints. The youth took on the identity of original handcart company members, sharing their stories as they gathered together in the evening to camp for the night. The Trek lasted three short days, and two nights—hardly long enough to truly appreciate the trials of those whom they were patterning their experience after. Emigrants depended on known landmarks and landscape features to guide them in their journey west. Guidebooks were available providing detailed descriptions and trail mileage. Even subtle features such a springs, alkali lakes, ravines, bluffs, and aspen groves were noted with considerable detail to aid in the long trek. Many emigrants recorded their daily struggles and observations in diaries, letters, and journals while traveling. Cecelia Adams and An evening game of tug-o-war at the Trek campsite. far from Martin’s Cove, marked one-third of the two-thousand-mile distance from Missouri to the western frontier. Few people found any reason to stay in Wyoming until the transcontinental railroad brought enough settlers to warrant creation of the Wyoming Territory in 1868. Thousands of emigrants and pioneers died during this difficult and dangerous passage, many from cholera. Scurvy, diarrhea, and other diseases caused by a poor diet and bad water took lives as well. Other hazards included injury from wagon and firearm accidents, drownings, stampeding livestock, and the weather. Most of the drownings occurred in Wyoming as the large rivers lacked bridges and had to be re-crossed many times. While Indian attacks did claim lives, these incidents have been great exaggerated. Emigrants killed hundreds of Native Americans and threatened their way of life by overgrazing the prairie, exhausting the timber supply, and wastefully killing the buffalo. Note: Most of the information for this article was taken from historical monuments placed at Wyoming pioneer handcart sites, such as Independence Rock and Martin’s Cove. Also, “The Travelers’ Guide to Historic Mormon America” by R. Don Oscarson with Stanley B. Kimball Ph.D. Assisted Living in Ogden Valley t Nutritional, Homemade Meals Prepared by our In-House Chef Luis t Loving, Personal Care from Staff t In-House Beauty Salon t 24-Hr. Medication Management and Help with Activities of Daily Living t Level 2 Facility with CNAs on Staff t Make an Appointment for Lunch and a Tour Only Left! Formerly The Red Moose Lodge in3Eden. 2547 N. Valley Junction Drive The long Trek trail. FOR SALE: Durfee Creek Estates View Lots! MLS#1151197 Lot #65 $75,000 1.04 acre Wooded hillside lot on cul-de-sac! MLS#1151262 UNDER CONTRACT! Lot #58 $130,000 1.1 acre partially wooded lot! MLS#1151261 Lot #60 $127,500 1.28 acre Corner wooded lot! Underground utilities are stubbed, connection fees apply. Ken Turner 801.940.9000 Call 801-745-6667 or 801-541-3336 www.beehivehomes.com kenturner333@yahoo.com http://www.snowbasinareaspecialist.com |