Stopping California's Assisted Suicide Law

Critics of the new California law insist that it changes the relationship between physician and patient. It would also seem to change the relationship between family members and patient; and critics point out that many times family members might pressure elderly patients to kill themselves. This blog seeks to inform all Americans about assisted suicide laws, since there is so much potential for abuse.

Phony IRS Collection Calls Expand

Your caller-ID might show a Washington D.C. area code, and you pick up the phone.  Somebody with an Indian accent tells you that you are being prosecuted or sued.  They give you the same bureaucratic drivel you might get from a real civil servant, and demand that you pay immediately by sending money via Western Union.

The whole thing is a fraud. They aren't the IRS, and if you send them money - you will probably not ever get it back. What's more, law enforcement won't do anything about it, because the calls originate from outside the nation.

Caregivers and families of seniors need to educate their loved ones about these scams before they victimize seniors in your family.

How to Talk to Parents About the Future

How do you approach a parent of a family member, about their situation - when they might be in a bit of denial?

This article is helpful.

https://www.caring.com/articles/difficult-conversations-with-seniors?emailauth=1203658:c3f508758:-10950&utm_campaign=how-to-have-the-talk:13&utm_content=20151217&utm_medium=email&utm_source=local_updates_hc

FCC Gives Phone Companies Right to Block Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission has given the nation's phone companies the green light to block those annoying and illegal robocalls - as well as unwanted spam text messages.

By a 3 to 2 vote, the FCC told the companies Thursday that they are legally allowed to provide this service to customers who request it in order to take back control of their phones.

Just because the phone companies have permission to use this screening technology, however, doesn't mean they will. The FCC can't force them to do it. And so far, there's been no indication they plan to provide this service.

The technology already exists to protect customers from unwanted and illegal robocalls that are often used by scammers, but wireless and landline phone companies have not embraced it.

In the past, no matter how consumers complain, landline phone companies have refused to do it or to allow third-party screening software to work on their networks. 

AT&T has insisted that federal law and FCC regulations require them to deliver every call and specifically prohibit them from blocking any calls, even those consumers don't want. Now that one-third of America no longer uses land lines, and because so many people are losing their life savings from robocall powered phone scams, more pressure will mount on telephone companies to give consumers relief. 

59 Year Old Steals Life Savings of 92 Year Old

DETROIT -

The victim is 92-year-old Mable Miles, who has lived in Los Angeles for many years. Los Angeles police say 59-year-old Carlson Alyn Jackson. 

Los Angeles police say that Jackson, of Detroit, took every last dime of her money before disappearing. Miles' niece, Carol White, got the call that her aunt had no food or money, and needed help. 

"The way he took her property and put it in the bank, somehow transferred it out, she was left literally broke," said White.

Here is the complete story. 

Phoney Kidnap Scam

Phoney Kidnap Scam

Here is how it works - don't be a victim:

1. You get a strange call, and a recording of a familiar voice saying they are kidnapped
2. They say they don't know where they are and they are cut off
3. A voice comes on the line and gives you a western union name and address
4.  They tell you to not call authorities, or they will harm the loved one
5.   You hear screams in the background - and the sounds of somebody that is familiar to you begging for help.  The voice tells you that you have one hour to wire the money - before they kill the victim.
6.  You send money - hoping to save the loved one. They were actually never kidnapped. You have no relative by that name.

Have your own personal horror story? Post it in the comments and it will give others insight into how these operators trick people. It will help, a lot. 

Free Credit Monitoring With AAA

When you are a AAA member, you are entitled to free credit monitoring, which is the most effective defense against identity theft.

It is a service provided by Experian Credit, and does not include monitoring of the other two major agencies. But it is valuable, since most big transactions appear on all three reporting agencies.

Learn more about it here. 


The only way to prevent being victimized is to monitor your credit, since it is so easy for people to get your social security number.  There are no government agencies or non-profit firms that help you with identity theft.  A few private companies, such as LifeLock, advertise special protection over and above monitoring.  But monitoring is a good place to start, and can prevent I.D. thieves from doing the most serious damage. Don't wait until you are victimized, start monitoring your credit activity now.