6 | SUNRAYS JANUARY 2015
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
Committee Meetings
See page 138 for list of committee members.
See Sun City Texas Resident Directory or
> Community Association >
CA Advisory Committees for description of
duties for each committee.
Chartered Clubs (Non Sports)
Thursday, January 8, 2 p.m., AC MR 3
Communications
Wednesday, January 14, 9:30 a.m., CCAN
Covenants
Wednesday, January 7, 9 a.m., CCAN
Elections
Thursday, January 15, 1 p.m., AC CR
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Friday, January 9, 9 a.m., AC MR 3/4
Finance
Tuesday, January 27, 1 p.m., AC MR 3/4
Golf
Monday, January 26, 3 p.m., AC MR 1/2
Landscaped Maintained Homes
Wednesday, January 7, 10 a.m., AC MR 3/4
Modifications
Thursday, January 8, 8:30 a.m., CCAN
*Open at 10 a.m.
Thursday, January 22, 8:30 a.m., CCAN
Nominating
As needed
Property & Grounds
Tuesday, January 13, 1:30 p.m., AC MR 1/2
Tuesday, January 27, 3 p.m., AC MR 1/2
Sports
Monday, January 19, 8 a.m., AC MR 1
Wildlife
Wednesday, January 7, 3 p.m., AC MR 1/2
Other Committees or Task Forces:
Neighborhood Reps
Wednesday, January 21, 9:30 a.m., CCF/G
COPs
Tuesday, January 6, 9:30 a.m., AC MR 1/2
Con Games and Fraud Schemes
Most people feel they are too smart to be conned, but the fact is,
people from all walks of life are defrauded every year! By educat-
ing yourself on some common scams, you can avoid falling victim
to fraud.
CON GAMES
PigeonDrop –
A stranger approaches, informing you about finding
a large sum of money and they want to share it with you – provided,
of course, you can front some “good faith” money. This tactic – often
seen in scam emails and with very tight time restrictions – comes
out of the blue. Before agreeing to anything, ask yourself: why
would a stranger reach out to
you
before contacting their own
friends and loved ones?
The Obit Column Sting –
In their most vulnerable time, surviv-
ing spouses may suddenly receive bills for phony debts, purchases,
etc. Do not allow these “charges” to go unresearched! According to
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), surviving family members
typically are under no legal obligation to resolve the debts of the
deceased, and are protected by the Fair Debt Collection Practices
Act (FDCPA) from aggressive or abusive collectors (this includes
collection agencies, consolidators, and lawyers). If suspicious bills
arrive in the mail or aggressive “collectors” start phoning following
the passing of a loved one, notify the FTC immediately.
The Pyramid Scheme –
Pyramid schemes always follow a pre-
dictable formula, offering you the opportunity to make a high
return on a small investment, provided that you ask others to do
the same. In reality, only those running the schemes make any
money, while you (and anyone you convinced to invest along with
you) lose out big. Always research opportunities thoroughly before
handing over your money.
FRAUD SCHEMES
Medical Fraud
– Beware of any offer promising a “miracle cure”
or specializedmedications without a doctor’s prescription. See your
physician when health issues arise, and be sure to ask exactly
what you will be charged and what your out-of-pocket costs will
be. Never sign blank insurance forms, and never give your insur-
ance/Medicare information to anyone other than those who have
provided you with medical services.
Foreign Lotteries –
Playing a foreign lottery through the mail
or over the phone is a violation of U.S. law, plain and simple, and
you can rest assured that you have not won any contests that you
never entered in the first place. Depositing strange “prize winnings”
will not only provide scam artists with direct access to your bank
account – it will leave you holding the bill when your bank fines
you for overdrafts and bounced checks.
Recovery Fraud
–
Targeting former victims of fraud, scam artists
pose as legitimate organizations, promising to recover lost finances – for
an advanced
fee or donation, of course. No legitimate consumer or
Stay Safe, Sun City
Submitted by the
Georgetown Police Department
CA NEWS
Continued on page 8
