Scammers Exploiting the Elderly

Many people, especially the elderly, have been victimized by scammers who intimidate them into buying pre-paid gift cards to pay for correcting non-existent problems such as IRS debts, law enforcement action, Social Security or utility shut offs and actual problems such as scammer-installed computer malware and viruses. See https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/gift-card-scams.

I have written to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggesting that a warning label be placed on each pre-paid gift card, much like the warning labels on cigarette packages.

Because the elderly population is largely composed of people who get their information from reading than video content, a written warning is likely to be effective.

The pre-paid gift card warning label might say: “Government offices, including the IRS and Social Security, are not allowed to accept payment with pre-paid gift cards. No Sheriff, no court, no county, no state, no city, no town is allowed to accept payment with pre-paid gift cards. No legitimate business accepts payment with pre-paid gift cards. If you have a computer problem, call your Internet or cable provider. Only scammers ask for payment with pre-paid gift cards.”

Please join me and contact the FTC to request that it require such warning labels on each pre-paid gift card.

Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580 Telephone: (202) 326-2222

By email to: antitrust@ftc.gov

We have a Constitution--No more Czars and Kings.

My paternal great grandfather and maternal grandfather, from Belarus in the Russian empire, and from County Kerry in Ireland, respectively, immigrated to the United States and became citizens.

One renounced and abjured “all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever – and particularly to Nicholas II Czar of Russia whose subject he has heretofore been . . . .”

The other renounced “forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and particularly to Edward VII King Of The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland, of which I am now a subject . . . .”

They both declared themselves to be “attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States.”

I, too, am attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States. I believe that candidates for public office, at all levels, must support the US Constitution, the rule of law, and the results of elections. Failure to be attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States is a disqualification for office.

Incumbents who cannot support the US Constitution, the rule of law, and the results of elections should resign from office. Where proven by evidence, incumbents who have committed acts that interfere with the US Constitution, the rule of law, and the results of elections should be removed from office.

With my forefathers, I renounce fidelity to any and all individuals, who are not attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States.