Newspaper Page Text
Page 10 - Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The Jenkins County Times
j enkinsc ountytimes .com
Sheriff warns against
holiday scams
By Joe Brady, Editor
far
The Times
Sheriff Robert Oglesby encourages residents to stay vigilant during the holiday season.
“Scammers often employ various tactics to exploit unsuspecting individuals.” Sheriff
Oglesby explains. Here are some crucial tips to help you steer clear of scams and what
actions to take if you encounter suspicious activity:
Be Cautious of Suspicious Calls:
- Remain vigilant when receiving calls from unknown numbers.
- Do not provide personal information over the phone.
Never Give Out Personal Information:
- Guard your personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank details, and
passwords.
Beware of False Law Enforcement Calls:
- Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not request monetary payments to satisfy
warrants over the phone.
Avoid Unusual Payment Methods:
- Be skeptical if asked to make payments through gift cards, payment apps (e.g.. Cash
App), or wiring money (Western Union).
- Scammers use these methods to make it difficult to recover lost funds.
Verify Call Authenticity:
- If contacted by a "business" or "law enforcement agency," hang up and independently
verify their authenticity by calling a publicly listed number.
Reporting Scams:
- If you've lost money or have information about a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
For reporting unwanted calls, use the streamlined reporting form at DoNotCall.gov.
What To Do If You Already Paid a Scammer:
- Act promptly regardless of the payment method.
- If paid by credit or with debit card, contact your bank for a "chargeback" to reverse the
charges.
- If paid with a gift card, prepaid card, or cash reload card, contact the issuing company
immediately to request a refund.
- For wire transfers through companies like MoneyGram or Western Union, report the
fraud and ask for a reversal.
Additional Actions:
- If you granted remote access to your computer, update security software, run a scan,
and delete identified threats.
- Change passwords immediately if provided to a scammer, creating strong, unique
passwords.
- If your Social Security number was compromised, monitor your credit report.
Beware of Fake Refund Scams:
- Exercise caution if someone offers to "help" recover lost funds. This is likely a fake
refund scam.
"Be proactive in reporting suspicious activities to safeguard yourself and your community
during this holiday season,” Sheriff Oglesby cautions.
Stay Healthy for the Holidays
Vaccination is Your Best Protection Against
Serious Illness
By Nancy Nydam,
Special Contributor
far
The Times
The Georgia Department of Public Health
(DPH) is reminding Georgians that holiday
gatherings, crowded travel, and more time
indoors make it easier for germs to spread,
especially those that cause flu, COVID,
and RSV. Vaccination is the most important
step you can take to protect yourself and
your loved ones.
Everyone ages 6 months and older
should get a flu vaccination and updated
COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccines
can be given at the same time, so it’s just
one trip to your healthcare provider or
pharmacy. Side effects are typically mild
and only last a day or two. If you do get
sick, vaccination will help prevent serious
illness or hospitalization.
Some adults may need an RSV
vaccination, but it’s important to talk to
your healthcare provider first to see if
RSV vaccination is right for you. Pregnant
women can protect their unborn babies by
getting an RSV vaccination; and the CDC
recommends an RSV preventive antibody
for infants and some older babies at higher
risk for severe RSV disease.
If you have signs or symptoms of a
respiratory virus, like a cough, runny
nose, or fever, tests can help figure out
which illness you have. COVID tests are
widely available over the counter, at health
departments and kiosks statewide. Kiosks
also provide flu tests. Your healthcare
provider may also test you for flu, COVID
and/or RSV. You can also discuss the best
treatments available with your healthcare
provider.
Basic prevention measures should be
followed to help prevent further spread
of respiratory illness and to help mitigate
outbreaks of infection - covering your
coughs, sneezing into your elbow, throwing
away used tissues, washing your hands
frequently with soap and water, and staying
home if you’re sick so you don’t put others
at risk.
The holiday season can be stressful with
responsibilities and obligations. Remember
good eating, sleeping, and exercise can
help keep you healthy, too.
For more information about flu, COVID,
or RSV, log on to dph.ga.gov.
Democrats Score Wins
in Off-Year Elections,
Easing Worries for
2024
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
eucto
Tuesday's off-year elections
delivered a much-needed reprieve
for anxious Democrats who have
been grappling with concerns
about President Joe Biden's ability
to secure a victory in the upcoming
presidential election. Crucial races in
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and
other states brought positive results for the
party, bolstering their hopes for the 2024
race.
In Virginia and Pennsylvania, considered
bellwether states for the 2024 election.
Democrats secured critical victories, further
solidifying their position. Meanwhile,
Kentucky saw its incumbent governor win
re-election with a wider margin than in his
initial bid, defeating a rival supported by
former President Donald Trump.
The elections on Tuesday put a range of
pressing national issues to the test, including
abortion, crime, election administration,
and the impact of the conflict in Israel,
shedding light on the current political
climate.
President Biden Finds Encouragement
Abortion Emerges as a Decisive Factor
President Biden was quick to seize on the
election results to boost his own political
fortunes. In a tweet, he proclaimed, "Across
the country tonight, democracy won and
MAGA lost. Voter’s vote. Polls don't. Now
let's go win next year."
The tweet followed a recent New York
Times/Siena College poll that showed
Biden trailing fomier President Trump by
significant margins in several swing states.
This had caused concern among Democrats
over the weekend, particularly in the face
of challenging polling data.
While the Tuesday elections were
primarily local and state-level contests,
they provided a much-needed morale boost
for President Biden, who has been seeking
positive news to bolster his standing.
One of the standout takeaways from
Tuesday's elections was the prominent
role of abortion-related issues. Since the
Supreme Court's decision to overturn
the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling and the
elimination of federal abortion protections
last year, a coalition of pro-abortion
rights voters has consistently supported
Democrats in various races and secured
victories in numerous abortion-related
ballot initiatives in both red and blue states.
This trend continued unabated on Tuesday.
In Ohio, voters passed a ballot initiative
that enshrined abortion rights in the state
constitution. In Virginia, Democrats
regained control of the Legislature, despite
Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin's
campaign promise to impose new abortion
restrictions if the GOP won back the state
Senate. In Pennsylvania, a Democratic
state Supreme Court candidate was able to
expand on President Biden's 2020 margin
of victory, winning a race where abortion
rights played a significant role.
The results underscore the enduring
importance of the abortion issue in the eyes
of voters as the 2024 presidential election
approaches.
Governor Youngkin Faces Setback
One of the key figures in the 2021
political landscape, Virginia Governor
Glenn Youngkin, faced a significant setback
in Tuesday's elections. Youngkin, who had
been rumored as a potential late entrant
into the 2024 presidential race, had been
considered a viable alternative to former
President Trump in the GOP primary
campaign.
However, despite his efforts to flip the
state Senate and gain a Republican trifecta
at the state level. Republicans not only
lost the state Senate but also control of the
state House. This outcome marks a notable
hurdle in Youngkin's political journey, even
though his national future may remain
intact beyond his gubernatorial term, which
ends in 2025.
While the elections held on Tuesday
were local and state-level, they serve as a
reminder that the political landscape can
shift quickly and significantly influence
the national picture, adding intrigue and
uncertainty to the lead-up to the 2024
presidential race.
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