RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: – Cold temperatures typically increase the number of fatal home fires.  The United States Fire Administration confirms this with a 2007 report that shows a rise in the number of people killed during cooler months compared to warmer months. 

One likely explanation for the escalation in fatal fires is the heavy use of fuel-fired appliances, such as fireplaces, wood stoves, and furnaces during winter months.  While heating systems can malfunction despite being serviced, many of the incidents are attributed to poor maintenance, which means that heating related fires during cooler months can be prevented.    

The key to preventing heating related fires is proper maintenance.  You may also want to adopt the following safety tips to protect your family and household: 

Heating – Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean

• Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
• Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
• Kerosene heaters may not be permitted in certain areas.  If you use a kerosene heater, use only the recommended fuel.  Always refuel outdoors safely away from your home.  Allow the heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
• Just like its name, space heaters need space.  Remember to keep all combustibles at least three feet away from each heater. When buying a space heater, look for control features, such as automatic shut-off and tip-over shut-off.

Protecting the Inside/Outside of Your Home

• Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
• Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
• Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.  Test them monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year.  Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.
• Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.

TIPS FOR OUTSIDE YOUR HOME:

* Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming — a condition where water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.

 * If your engine is experiencing hard starts, stalling, or other problems, fix it now, not later.

* Install new windshield wiper blades. Blades should make full contact with the window. Keep extra washer fluid and an ice scraper in your car.

* Keep a cold weather safety kit in your car that that includes gloves, boots, blankets, flares, water and a flashlight.

* Examine your tires for tread life and uneven wearing. Be sure tires are properly inflated. Tires lose a pound of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops.

* Make sure the heater and defroster are properly working to ensure driver visibility.

* Flush the cooling system every two years with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water. Check the level, condition, and concentration of the antifreeze mixture periodically.

 * Check your battery fluid levels, battery posts, and cable connectors. Bad connections can prevent your car from starting.

* Check your brakes as recommended. If you’re experiencing trouble such as pulsations, noises, or longer stopping distances than seem normal, have a professional look at it immediately.

* Make sure all lights and bulbs are in working order and replace any burned-out bulbs.

* Have a mechanic look over your car whenever you spot something that does not seem normal.   An inspection now may prevent you from being stranded on a cold winter day.

*These tips were sent to 10 On Your Side by Allstate Insurance based out of Illinois.

I arrived at the Coast Guard base about 7:45a and was immediately asked if anyone told me to pack my lunch (of course they didn’t!) and informed that it was going to be a ”long day”. After a quick stop at the exchange where I purchased enough snacks to get me through the day, I met the Commander (CDR Bruyere) and Co-pilot (Lt. Davis) of my flight. We boarded the HC-130J Hercules aircraft, and after a few routine checks, we were on our way. The flight began about 9am and we started heading south towards Wilmington, NC. 

Our "ride" for the day!

Once we arrived in the Wilmington area and positioned ourselves about 100 miles of the coast, AMT2 Brandon Kelly began transmitting the Urgent Marine Information Broadcast every 15 minutes on VHF-FM channel 16, the marine band radio emergency channel.  The warning stated that Tropical Storm Danny was about 24 hours away from the East Coast of the United States and included wind speeds, direction and speed at which TS Danny was traveling.     

My view from the flight deck/cockpit!

From Wilmington we headed straight up the East Coast to New York. When we arrived in New York, I thought to myself that this flight was a “piece of cake.” Little did I know that we were only HALFWAY through our SEVEN (yes 7!) hour flight and that we still had to go all the way back down to Wilmington. Now, one would think that being in a plane that big, motion sickness, dizziness and headaches wouldn’t be a problem… well think again! After 5 hours of being in flight(and flying through numerous thunderstorms), motion sickness got the best of me (no I didn’t get sick [THANK GOODNESS], but I did have a MASSIVE headache). When I told the crew members what was wrong, they assured me that if I put on the oxygen mask then it would solve most, if not all, of my problems, boy were they right! (I guess these guys haven’t been in the Coast Guard this long without learning a few “tricks of the trade”!)

Nice mask, huh?!?!?

In all, we didn’t see many boats on the water (only about 15 along the East Coast). The Coast Guard feels like their mission was a success. Commander Bruyere stated that he was happy that most of the mariners took the precautions necessary for the upcoming storm and stayed off the water for the day.

We landed back at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard base around 4pm on Friday afternoon. During my 45 minute drive back to the station, I couldn’t help but think that a 7 hour flight would have me halfway to Europe or already on the West Coast of the United States (and laying on the beach) or almost in Hawaii.  BUT I figured I can’t complain too much, but home wasn’t such a bad place to land!  (Let’s be honest, by that time, I was just happy to be on the ground!)

The crew of flight 2001 was wonderful. CDR Bruyere and Lt. Davis, were very hospitable and great in answering all of my questions. The guys in the crew made sure that I understood what was going on and took time to explain everything to me! I can’t thank them enough for their warm welcome… they even let me check out the view from the co-pilot’s chair (actually I snuck in while he was “stretching his legs”!!!!)

I got to sit in Lt. Davis' seat!

Thanks guys!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Asian Invasion: The “Asian Extortion Scam” targets business owners, mostly of Asian decent, with death threats and other violence. Scammers pluck personal information about their targets from online searches and use the sensitive data to make victims feel vulnerable. The extortionists, who appear to be calling from outside the U.S., generally demand between $10,000 and $30,000 — though the FBI says there have been no reports of actual violence stemming from the schemes.

2. Mystery Shopping Scam: Some companies pay “mystery shoppers” to act as sample customers and test out the service at stores, banks and restaurants. But scammers are now targeting stay-at-home moms with “opportunities” to be defrauded of thousands of dollars. Victims receive a letter in the mail from a company offering about $400 for shopping at a few stores, along with a check for thousands of dollars to fund the purchases. The victim deposits the check into their back account, stops by a few stores and is then asked to wire about $2,000 back to the company. But when the original check bounces, victims are out the $2,000 they wired back — plus all the money they spent to go shopping.

3. Hit Man Scam: In the Hit Man e-mail scheme, scammers send letters claiming that the boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse of the recipient has arranged for their death. “It would say something like, ‘Your boyfriend paid $30,000 to have you killed, but if you pay me $15,000 it won’t happen,’” Kolko told FOXNews.com. Another version says a loved one will be kidnapped unless an advance ransom is paid out immediately, naming specific relatives (information found courtesy of — you guessed it — more online searches). Kolko said some recipients feel anxious when the sender names their loved ones, which can make them more apt to believe the threat is authentic.

4. Million Dollar Scam: If you’re offered a shot on the “Oprah Millionaire Contest Show,” you’re not going to be the lucky winner of $1 million — you’re the target of a new scam. In order to participate, recipients of the scam e-mail must first send their contact information and are required to buy airfare and a ticket to the show in advance. Victims are later asked to fill out questionnaires seeking detailed personal information, which can put them at risk for identity theft. Other scammers have been mailing counterfeit checks with a letter that claims recipients they have won the “Oprah Show Summer Sweepstakes” — a contest that ended in 2006.

5. Grandparents Scam: “Hi grandma, it’s your favorite grandson,” says a scammer on the line. “Tommy, is that you?” “Yes, grandma, it’s Tommy. Listen, my wallet was just stolen and I’ve lost all of my money. Do you think you could send me some to make it through the end of the month?” Unsuspecting victims, momentarily confused or suffering from hearing loss, go along with the story and wire money out — up to $15,000 in the case of one giving grandmother who thought she was sending $15,000 to help cover an auto accident, according to the Better Business Bureau.

6. Military Wheels: People posing as U.S. troops have been posting to classifieds Web sites offering cars on the cheap that they have to sell quickly before being deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. The scams typically claim there is a third-party protection program to ensure a safe transaction, but when payments are sent to the “secure” service, victims either don’t receive the car, or get stolen vehicles or ones with a salvaged title.

7. Jury Scam: Victims of the Jury Scam get an e-mail containing a fake subpoena ordering recipients to testify before a grand jury, complete with seemingly genuine details like your name, a case number and court seal. But the e-mails contain malware that can ruin a computer. Another version of the scam involves a phone call in which the caller claims to be a jury coordinator and intimidates victims into revealing personal information. Once the caller gets a victim’s Social Security Number and birth date, it’s all over.

8. Border Bust: Spam claiming to be from a former assistant commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol says a foreign diplomat has been stopped with a consignment of thousands or even millions of dollars, which was found to be an inheritance for the recipient. Victims who get drawn in receive more e-mails claiming it is a crime to carry the consignment into the U.S., and demands personal information and a $250 fee to prove the recipient was not involved in a terrorist act. If they fail to do so, the spammers tell their victims they are proving they intended to smuggle the money into the U.S., which is a federal offense. Victims never receive a dime but will continue to get e-mails demanding more money for fees in connection with getting their “inheritance.”

9. FBI Scams: The FBI says there have been “tons of complaints” about e-mails from people claiming to be FBI agents. Some appear to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center and say the recipient has extorted money and must refund the money or face prosecution. Others, from the non-existent Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division, inform recipients that they are the beneficiary of millions in inheritance. To claim the money, recipients must supply their full name, address and bank account number. Scammers even incorporate the names of top FBI executives into their e-mails by reading authentic FBI press releases, lending an air of credibility.

After seeing this recent report from FOX NEWS, Virginia Beach Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit sent us a few tips on the best way to prevent these scams:

Hello,
Sorry I didn’t inform you about my travel to UK for a Program, am presently in London. I am stranded here because the hotel where i lodged was burgled and i was affected. I would like you to assist me urgently with a soft loan of $1900 to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home. I would appreciate whatever you can afford.May God bless you.
 Here is my information:
Name/ Dick Rose
 Address: 2-24 Kensington High St
Zip code: W8 4PT
State: London
Country: England
 
Please email me the Western Union Money Transfer details as soon as you send the money. I will pay you back as soon as i am back . I wait to read from you soon.

Regards,
Dick Rose

If you have received a letter/e-mail and you think it might be a scam, but aren’t sure, feel free to call us here at 10 On Your Side and we’ll help you figure it out.

Jamie Shackelford

10 On Your Side Producer

jamie.shackelford@wavy.com

In many cases the number is coming up on the Caller ID as an unknown number. When you answer the phone, there is an automated recording that says that your credit card account has been compromised and that you need to enter your card number, expiration date, etc. in order to reactivate your account. Luckily, all of the people that have contacted me have been smart and have entered either all 0’s (zeros) or all 1’s (ones) when the recording asks for their card number. Once they enter the number, the system congratulates them for successfully reactivating their card.

Thankfully most people know that this is a scam, however, I’m writing this for all of those people who may not realize that it’s a scam. PLEASE BE WARNED AND PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR THIS. This is all a ploy to gain access to your credit card number.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this scam or any others. I can be reached at jamie.shackelford@wavy.com

If you have a 10 On Your Side story idea, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jamie.shackelford@wavy.com

Jamie Shackelford

10 On Your Side Producer

The vehicle had been sitting her in driveway for about 4 months and the viewer had no idea who it belonged to or how it ended up in her driveway. After contacting the city herself without any success, she contacted 10 On Your Side. I was able to step in and call the city on her behalf.

By that afternoon, the Sheriff’s office had been notified and the vehicle had been towed!

Here’s the e-mail that I received from the viewer after contacting the city:

That’s the power of 10 On Your Side!!!

If you have a situation where you need the help of 10 On Your Side, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jamie.shackelford@wavy.com

Jamie Shackelford

10 On Your Side Producer

Here’s Kay Young’s orginial report on the Police impersonators:

Here is Andy Fox’s 10 On Your Side report about the police lights:

Here is the link to the final 10 On Your Side success story

If you have a story or story idea that you think 10 On Your Side should look into, please contact me at jamie.shackelford@wavy.com

Jamie Shackelford

10 On Your Side Producer

So according to the IC3, here’s what’s happening: The scam artists are using online guest books from obituary websites to identify and locate their targets. Basically they use the last name of the person who signed the guest book as the surname for their “client”.  Just as in the letters, the fraudster says that they are trying to locate the next of kin for the “client” who has been deceased for years. The would-be victim is then asked to transfer a large sum of money in exchange for a percentage of the “client’s” will.

To ensure that you don’t fall victim to one of these scams, please remember to always delete unsolicited e-mail and never respond to emails or letters that mention foreign or overseas accounts. If you happen to receive one of these e-mails, please file a complaint with IC3 at www.ic3.gov and as always, if there’s something 10 On Your Side can help you with, please contact me at jamie.shackelford@wavy.com

Jamie Shackelford

10 On Your Side Producer