I’m Just Curious: What a week! (Scams)

I’m Just Curious

by Debbie Walker

Now I don’t want you to be jealous of my luck this week but I do want to share this information with you. I didn’t realize at the first of the week how my week would be so blessed.

I got an email letter from the U.S. Department of State. At the very top it said Green Card Lottery Winning letter. Can you believe it, I won something! My family and friends will be so happy knowing that I may be able to stay here.

They tell me this green card is proof that I am officially granted immigration benefits (?) and includes permission to reside and work in the U.S. Imagine that, I can work!

The first step to getting my green card is applying for some immigrant visa. With that I’ll be able to travel to the U.S. (?) Oh yeah, and my family will be allowed to come too. I’ll bet mom will be relieved! All I have to do is fill out some form DS-230, not to worry; it is included as a download attached to the special letter.

There is a little “Ooops” involved here, having to do with an “Affidavit of Support” fee of $420. (It’s not free?)

Oh wow, I just realized the deadline for all this is April 3, 2017. Guess I need to get on the ball here! Oh and as a “Winner” I will get a free airline ticket to the USA. Hey, where do they think I live anyway?

Nuts! Wouldn’t you know I would win something I can’t qualify for! However, they have my information in their data base. Maybe there will be another contest.

Okay, so having been offered my green card the next experience this week was a call from Jennie Wilson, of the Internal Revenue. She was a recording and wanted a call back at 305-407-3323. Imagine the dilemma that Ken and I had on our hands since she didn’t say who the call was for. She warned us that an arrest warrant was being processed but we don’t know who for! At this printing we are still waiting to see who is going to prison, me or Ken.

You know I like to talk foolishness and these were funny to us. However, I read a list of 10 scams taking place in Maine now and my two were not on the list, so the count is at least 12 now.

Beware of answering your phone and answering even the question “are you so and so?” Don’t answer because some of these scammers are recording your voice answering “yes.” They can use that one word as proof that you okayed a charge. I know it shouldn’t be possible but it is. If you have a phone with caller ID, look, if you don’t recognize the area code or the number, don’t answer. Let them leave a message. If it is anything serious you can tell by the message they might leave. I got one yesterday that was supposedly an answer to a call I made checking into a back brace. Didn’t happen folks.

I will always be “just curious” and more and more lately, “careful.” Thanks for reading! Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com.