Social Security Warns of ID Theft Scams

Almost 70 million Americans depend  on Social Security benefits. Sadly, whether you are already receiving benefits or not, your Social Security account is a tempting target for scammers. The sheer complexity of this mainline federal assistance program makes Social Security accounts particularly vulnerable to hacking by cyber attackers. As a result, the Social Security Administration has identified some particularly dangerous scams you should be aware of whether you are already receiving benefits or plan to in the future. Online Social Security Account Scam The Social Security Administration (SSA) strongly urges all current and future beneficiaries to set up a personal â€Å"My Social Security† account on its website. Opening a My Social Security account allows you to check the size of your current or future benefits and change your bank account direct deposit information or mailing address without having to visit your local Social Security office or wait on hold to speak to an agent. The bad news is that scammers also take advantage of many My Social Security accounts. In this bit of awful, scammers set up My Social Security accounts in the names of people who do not already have them, thus allowing them to transfer the victims’ current or future benefits to their own bank accounts or debit cards. While Social Security will reimburse victims of this scam, it can take months and leave you without benefits during that period. How to Prevent It Scammers can only set up a bogus My Social Security account in your name if they already know your Social Security Number and other personal information, which in today’s data-breach-of-the-week environment is all too likely. So, the thing to do is set up your account as soon as possible. Anyone over age 18 can set up a My Social Security account. Even if you do not intend to start drawing benefits for years, a My Social Security account can be a valuable retirement planning tool. When you set up your account, be sure to choose the â€Å"Add Extra Security† option on the online signup form. This option will cause a new security code to be sent to your cell phone or email ever time you try to access your account. You will need to enter the code in order to log on. It is sort of inconvenient, but far better than having your benefits stolen. The Fake Social Security Employee Scams There exists a whole set of scams in which the perpetrator—posing as a Social Security â€Å"agent—calls victims regarding their benefits. For example, the scammer may claim the SSA needs to verify the victim’s direct deposit information. In another more complex scam, the victim is told that their Social Security benefits are being cut because they have inherited a house from a relative; an event that would not result in a reduction of their Social Security benefit. To help perpetrate the fraud, the caller then places the recipient on hold and plays the same on-hold recordings actually used by Social Security. When the scammer comes back on the line, the victim is that told proceeds from the sale of the house will be sent to them if they pay the back taxes. Of course, there are no inherited houses or back taxes. How to Prevent It The SSA recommends taking extreme precautions before giving out personal information. â€Å"You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the contact, or are confident of the person to whom you are speaking,† says the agency. â€Å"If in doubt, do not release information without first verifying the validity of the call.† Which you can do by calling Social Security’s toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the legitimacy of the call. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call Social Securitys TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.) Also be aware that scammers have also perfected the black cyber crime art of â€Å"caller ID spoofing,† so even if your caller ID says, â€Å"Social Security Administration,† it is probably just another scammer. The Data Theft Scare Scam Given the number of actual government data breaches these days, this scam is particularly believable and dangerous. The scammer – again pretending to work for Social Security – tells the victim that the agency’s computers have been hacked. In order find out if the victims account has been compromised, the scammer says he needs to verify that the SSA has the victim’s correct bank account information. To set the hook, the scammer gives the victim account information he knows is incorrect. In the end, the victim is tricked into giving the scammer their correct bank account information. Bad, very bad. How to Prevent It The SSA recommends ignoring calls and emails regarding account data breaches. The agency never initiates contact with beneficiaries by phone or email.Even letters regarding data breaches can be scams as scammers have gotten very good at making envelopes and letters look â€Å"official.† If you get such a letter call the real Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to find out if the letter is legitimate. If the letter gives any other number to call, do not call it. The No COLA For You Scam While it hasn’t happened since 2014, Social Security adds a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in most years based on the rate of inflation. But, when there is no increase in the consumer price index (CPI), as was the case in 2015 and 2016, there is no COLA for Social Security recipients. Scammers—again posing as SSA employees—take advantage of these non-COLA years by calling, emailing or sending letters to victims stating that the SSA had apparently â€Å"forgotten† to apply the COLA increase to their accounts. As with other scams, victims are given a form or link to a website where they can â€Å"claim† their COLA increase by providing their Social Security Number and bank account information. By now, you know what happens next. Tell your money goodbye. How to Prevent It Ignore the letters, calls or emails. When and if they are given, Social Security applies COLAs automatically and without fail to the accounts of all current beneficiaries. You never have to â€Å"apply† for them. The New, Improved Social Security Card Scam In this one, the scammer, again posing as an SSA employee, tells the victim that the agency is replacing all old paper Social Security cards with new high tech, â€Å"ID theft proof† computer chips embedded in them. The scammer tells the victim that they will not get any more benefits until they have gotten one of the new cards. The scammer then claims that he can â€Å"expedite† the replacement card if the victim provides their identity and bank account details. Clearly not the smart thing to do. How to Prevent It Ignore the claims. The SSA has no plans, desire or money to replace millions of old Social Security cards or to start issuing high-tech cards. In fact, the SSA recommends you not even carry your Social Security card with you due to the threat of identity theft. Instead, memorize your Social Security number and put the card in a safe, secret place. Report Suspected Scams The SSA’s office of inspector general asks Americans to report known or suspected incidents of scams. Reports can be submitted online at the SSA’s Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse website. Reports can also be submitted by mail to: Social Security Fraud Hotline​P.O. Box 17785Baltimore, Maryland 21235 In addition, reports can be submitted by telephone to 1-800-269-0271 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (TTY: 1-866-501-2101 for the deaf or hard of hearing.)

Disaster Preparedness and Response - 7600 Words

Disaster Preparedness and Response Measures and Actions for Specific Disasters Preparing for Emergencies (General) Prepare For Disaster * Set up a place to meet after a disaster. Choose an out-of-state emergency contact person. * Know different ways to get out of your home. * Be ready to help your neighbors. Ask them to make sure you are alerted in a disaster. * Have disaster plans for work, school and child care. * Keep emergency supplies in your house and car. Check them every six months and restock if necessary. * If you have an infant, keep extra formula. * Tag your pet and keep extra pet supplies. * Know how to turn off your gas, water and electricity. * If you use medical equipment,†¦show more content†¦Give first aid if trained. * Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. * Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for the latest emergency information. * Remember that flooding may occur after a mudflow or a landslide. * Check for damaged utility lines. Report any damage to the utility company. * Check the building foundation, chimney, and surrounding land for damage. * Replant damaged ground as soon as possible since erosion caused by loss of ground cover can lead to flash flooding. * Seek the advice of geotechnical expert for evaluating landslide hazards or designing corrective techniques to reduce landslide risk.47 Preparedness for Hurricanes Hurricanes can be dangerous killers. Learning the hurricane warning messages and planning ahead can reduce the chances of injury or major property damage. BEFORE Plan an evacuation route. Contact the local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter, and ask for the community hurricane preparedness plan. This plan should include information on the safest evacuation routes and nearby shelters. Learn safe routes inland. Be ready to drive 20 to 50 miles inland to locate a safe place. Have disaster supplies on hand. * Flashlight and extra batteries * Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries * First aid kit and manual *Show MoreRelatedEmergency Preparedness and Disaster Response956 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Crystal Lusk Walden University Family, Community, and Population-Based Care 4011-12 March 19, 2014 Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response A disaster is an event that is a natural or man-made occurrence that can disrupt or destroy the lives of those it affects (Stanhope Lancaster, 2014). Management of a disaster includes four phases; prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (Stanhope Lancaster, 2014). Hawaii’s isolationRead MoreEmergency Preparedness and Disaster Response in Schools979 Words   |  4 PagesEmergency Preparedness and Disaster Response in Schools Jennifer Cox Walden University NURS 4010 Section 06, Family, Community, and Population-Based Care May 5, 2013 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE IN SCHOOLS The professional nurse uses clinical judgment and decision making skills to provide appropriate nursing care and collaborates with other health care professionals responding to the emergency or disaster. The purpose of this paper is to outline the professional nurse’sRead MoreEmergency Preparedness : Planning For Disaster Response1100 Words   |  5 Pages Emergency Preparedness: Planning for Disaster Response Karoline H. Maes Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing Abstract For many years the population suffers with unpreparedness during an emergency. Disasters occur all around the world and health care executives need to guarantee that their organization develops an all-hazards emergency plan relevant to the type of organization and their location. Also, regulation and implementation of an effective plan that providesRead MoreEmergency Preparedness And Disaster Response Efforts2465 Words   |  10 Pagesthe idea of Health Information Adoption (HIT) is considered for larger clinics, hospitals, and physician offices only; but the smaller Community Health Clinics (CHC) play a major role in a communities capabilities for both emergency preparedness and disaster response efforts. HIT is making its way into more and more healthcare organizations and the benefits are clearly seen with improved patient safety, organizational efficiency, and patient satisfaction in healthcare. These are just a handful ofRead MoreDisaster Management : Preparedness, Response, Re covery, And Mitigation2071 Words   |  9 Pages Many claimed that the federal government was slow to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the storm. This paper will examine the four elements of disaster management – preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation – as well as an analysis on the data presented. Before we discuss disaster management, it is important to briefly sum up the events of the events that began on August 25, 2005 to fully understand the brevity of the situation. Meteorologists began warningRead MoreThe Role Of Women s Disaster Preparedness And Response Planning3510 Words   |  15 Pagesâ€Å"Natural disasters are a tragedy in their own right but in countries with existing gender discrimination women are the worst hit. While most disasters cannot be prevented, policy makers, international and humanitarian organizations must develop better policies to address the special needs of women in the wake of large-scale natural disasters.† - Neumayer (LSE, 2006) This essay will seek to justify that the inclusion of the role of women in disaster preparedness and response planning is imperativeRead MoreFood Festival s Disaster Preparedness And Emergency Response Plan954 Words   |  4 PagesEmergency Management Agency, n.d, pg.3). Therefore, the committee will develop an emergency action plan to address the potential risk associated with the particular event. The following sections of the Charlotte Food Festival’s disaster preparedness/emergency response plan will detail the various techniques and strategies to address the risks associated with food safety and illness prevention, alcohol, crowd control, weather, fire, violent threats, and various emergencies. The presence of alcoholRead MoreDisasters Caused Destruction On The Health Of The Public1290 Words   |  6 Pagescaused destruction, various injuries and death. Preparation for the disasters and effective response actions when the disaster occurs can help minimize the long-term effects of the disaster. Today, disasters are of even greater concern than in the past. The frequency of disaster events has increased, due to, in part increasing technology. Human communities are also much more condensed, increasing the potential for exposure to disasters. Furthermore, due to increasing population size and new technologiesRead MoreOccupational Health And Safety Policies1680 Words   |  7 PagesEmergency Response including Fire Safety Introduction Emergency Preparedness is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding both natural and manmade disasters. It involves mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters. Emergency management requires a partnership among all levels of employees inside factory. Successful preparedness requires detailed planning and cooperation among each section. Objective The objective of emergency preparedness is to developRead MorePreparedness and Emergency Management1355 Words   |  6 PagesTransfer Between Preparedness and Emergency Management Thomas R. Hamblin University of Massachusetts at Lowell Abstract This paper examines a case study about the transfer of knowledge between preparedness and emergency response as conducted by Kerstin Erikkson of Lund, Sweden University. Erikkson (2009) conducted the case study by analyzing emergency response following Gudrun, a storm with hurricane force wind gusts that struck the South of Sweden in January 2005. This disaster caused significant

Use of Inhaler With and Without Spacer-Free-Samples-Myassignment

Question: Disuss about the Use of Inhaler with and without spacer. Answer: The work conducted by Berger et al. has shown that the use of inhaler with or without spacer rarely has any significant effect on the patients. He had conducted an experiment to study the bronchodilator effects by the use of MF/F 100/10g with the use of spacer or without spacer. In comparison to placebo, it was found that indeed the medication had better broncho-dialatory effects in the participants in comparison to placebo but the presence of spacer did not make a significant impact. It was seen that when MF/F was used with spacer, it resulted in larger change in mean FEV1AUC012hr versus placebo that provided a mean difference of about 124 ml. Again when MF/F was used without spacer, it also brought successful effects over placebo and there was ultimately a main difference of 102 mL in mean adjusted FEV1AUC012hr . Therefore, the author had suggested that it did not bring out any difference with or without the use of spacer as the difference that had been noticed are not statisticall y significant. The difference is so small that it cannot be suggested to make a difference if used. However, the author had not denied any works which have showed that spacers are indeed more helpful than without the use of spacer with inhalers. In such explanations, he has provided data where he believed that modern spacers bring out more effects the non conventional spacers. However in his work, he had got the results that broncho-dialation was larger in patients with the addition of spacers than without the use of spacer but without any significant effect. He had suggested that proper clinical teaching of the patients to correctly use inhalers also has positive effects reducing the chances of use of inhalers. The authors had conducted an extensive study where they used the pressurized metered dose inhalers called pMDIs with the presence of spacers. It was earlier beloved that these combined methods are very much helpful for coordinating inhalation with actuation. The method that they selected here mainly consisted of using of the spacer with that of either extra-fine or fine articles inhaled corticosteroids called ICSs. Experiments were conducted by the use of extra-fine particles ICS with and without spacer in about 2090 participants. The next set of experiments used the 2 arms of fine particles ICS cohort study using 444 participants. In the previous case of the use of extra-fine particles no differences in rate was observed between spacer as well as non spacer arms and similar such occurrence also took in case of the fine particles ICS. These made them to conclude that no evidence is found which would support the fact that the use of spacers improved asthma outcomes for both the extra- fine as well as fine particles of the ICS administered by the pMDI. These had helps the researchers to stand against the long standing assumptions that spacers are able to improve the pMDI effectiveness. They also reject the thinking that there is also a need of pragmatic trials of spacers in clinical practices. Work or Levi et al. (2013) had a different take on the entire scenario for the experiment that he conducted had separate set of results which were not in lieu of the findings of the above two articles proposed by famous researchers. The scientists have actually selected participants where certain portion was taking pressurized metered dose inhalers after a good amount of training. Separations of the participants were done where they used pMDIS alone and the other groups used breath actuated pMDIs with the use of spacers. They had analyzed the results which have shown a striking result different for the other two. It showed that a greater proportion of the patients who have utilized the spacers along with their pMDIS have much better control over their conditions in comparison to those who have used the pMDIs alone. Another important fact that came out, which although not important in the assignment, is that breath actuated pMDS brings better result than conventional pMDIs. They have found that although patients who used breath-actuated pMDIs and spacers are low, a statistically significant difference in the numbers attaining asthma control is noted that proves the efficiency of the intervention. Therefore, researchers are of the opinion that those patients, who are not being benefitted from the training of using pMDIs alone, should definitely use spacers with them to increase the efficiency. Rahmati, H., Ansarfard, F., Ghodsbin, F., Ghayumi, M. A., Sayadi, M. (2014). The effect of training inhalation technique with or without spacer on maximum expiratory flow rate and inhaler usage skills in asthmatic patients: a randomized controlled trial.International journal of community based nursing and midwifery,2(4), 211. Rahamati et al., have stated in the year 2014 that the utilization of proper inhaling technique and proper knowledge of the patients about the rise of the inhalers are far much important that the controversy of the use of Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) with or without the use of spacers. He mainly conducted a very simple research where he took patients suffering from asthmatic attacks often and grouped them into three. The first group was the control group, the second groups had people where training was given to handle only MDIs and the other the third group were the patients whom training was given to use MDIs and spacer together. After assessing their knowledge and functional skills in handling the techniques if inhalation of medication, they were given three training sessions. After that, their ability to use MDI was assessed. A quantitative data analysis showed striking results which still carried in the confusion of the efficiency if the use of spacers. It showed that the process t o take education through inhalers developed to a large extent due to the training and therefore the results shown by the second and third group was much higher than the control groups who showed poor efficiency rate in the skilled taking of the medication. No difference between the second and third group in the health of the patient was noticed. The intervention providing skills developed in the two groups but both the methods showed similar results which means that the combined provision of MDI with spacer did not bring any additional benefit than the use of MDI alone when both the groups become skilled enough to use the inhalers properly. This study conducted by Crane et al. (2014) has revealed that the participants who were mainly aged and over 55 years old, it was helpful for them to use spacer along with that pMDIs. This is because the results from the study have shown that patients who only took education in using pMDIs did not do better than those who used the device along with the spacer. The study also showed that dry powdered devices brought the best results after training programs. However, in the context of the discussion, the researcher had clearly stated that spacer use along with pMDIs bring out more additional benefits and are therefore more advantageous to the older citizens. Reflection: The use of PICO framework is immensely helpful in finding the right types of articles which will provide us with the best and authentic information. This framework basically acts as a filtering media which helped me to correctly choose the articles which were proper covering the criteria that I wanted to include in the bibliographies. I also got a large amount of help from the framework as it helps me to clearly understand and note down what my main motive was to incorporate in the study and helped me to develop a mind map about how to include all the specific details that were needed to support the scenario provided to us. It helped me to set p a comparative mode of discussion where the articles were searched entirely in a way which matched with the search question set by the Pico. In short, it narrowed my search, clearly depicted what I needed to check out for and how I could find the correct articles with the help of the question set. References: Levy, M. L., Hardwell, A., McKnight, E., Holmes, J. (2013). Asthma patients' inability to use a pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) correctly correlates with poor asthma control as defined by the global initiative for asthma (GINA) strategy: a retrospective analysis.Primary Care Respiratory Journal,22, 406-411. Guilbert, T. W., Colice, G., Grigg, J., van Aalderen, W., Martin, R. J., Israel, E., ... Evans, J. M. (2017). Real-Life Outcomes for Patients with Asthma Prescribed Spacers for Use with Either Extrafine-or Fine-Particle Inhaled Corticosteroids.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Berger, W. E., Bensch, G. W., Weinstein, S. F., Skoner, D. P., Prenner, B. M., Shekar, T., ... Teper, A. A. (2014). Bronchodilation with mometasone furoate/formoterol fumarate administered by metered?dose inhaler with and without a spacer in children with persistent asthma.Pediatric pulmonology,49(5), 441-450. Berger, W. E., Bensch, G. W., Weinstein, S. F., Skoner, D. P., Prenner, B. M., Shekar, T., ... Teper, A. A. (2014). Bronchodilation with mometasone furoate/formoterol fumarate administered by metered?dose inhaler with and without a spacer in children with persistent asthma.Pediatric pulmonology,49(5), 441-450. Crane, M. A., Jenkins, C. R., Goeman, D. P., Douglass, J. A. (2014). Inhaler device technique can be improved in older adults through tailored education: findings from a randomised controlled trial.NPJ primary care respiratory medicine,24, 14034. Guilbert, T. W., Colice, G., Grigg, J., van Aalderen, W., Martin, R. J., Israel, E., ... Evans, J. M. (2017). Real-Life Outcomes for Patients with Asthma Prescribed Spacers for Use with Either Extrafine-or Fine-Particle Inhaled Corticosteroids.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Levy, M. L., Hardwell, A., McKnight, E., Holmes, J. (2013). Asthma patients' inability to use a pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) correctly correlates with poor asthma control as defined by the global initiative for asthma (GINA) strategy: a retrospective analysis.Primary Care Respiratory Journal,22, 406-411. Rahmati, H., Ansarfard, F., Ghodsbin, F., Ghayumi, M. A., Sayadi, M. (2014). The effect of training inhalation technique with or without spacer on maximum expiratory flow rate and inhaler usage skills in asthmatic patients: a randomized controlled trial.International journal of community based nursing and midwifery,2(4), 211.

The Sorrows Of Young Werther Essays - Romanticism, Knstlerroman

The Sorrows Of Young Werther The purpose of this papers it to give general information about the author, Wolfgang von Goethe, and introduce as well as analyze the main character of one of his most influential works: The Sorrows of Young Werther. The protagonist of this series of confessional letters, Werther, is in fact a tragic figure who committed suicide as a result of his loneliness and critical approach to society, as well as his obsession for a woman, Lotte, whom he could not eventually conquest. Wolfgang von Goethe was a German poet, as well as dramatist, novelist, and scientist who lived between 1749 and 1832. Goethe's poetry expresses a modern, and revolutionary view of humanity's relationship to nature, history, and society; his plays and novels reflect a deep understanding of human individuality. According to the 19th-century English critic Matthew Arnold, Goethe must be considered not only the manifest centre of German literature but also one of the most multitalented figures in the entire world of literature. Goethe was born on August 28, 1749, in Frankfurt am Main, as a son of a government official. From 1765 to 1768 he studied law at Leipzig; there he first developed an interest in literature and painting and became acquainted with the dramatic works of his contemporaries Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. Their influence and his own connection to the daughter of a wine merchant at whose tavern he dined are reflected in his earliest poetry and in his first dramatic works. These early plays included a one-act comedy in verse, Die Laune des Verliebten (The Lover's Caprice, 1767), and a tragedy in verse, Die Mitschuldigen (The Fellow-Culprits, 1768). Goethe's health broke down in Leipzig and he returned to Frankfurt, where, during his recuperation, he studied occult philosophy, astrology, and alchemy. Through the influence of a friend of his mother, Susanne Katharina von Klettenberg, who was a member of the Lutheran reform movement known as Pietism, Goethe gained so me insight into religious mysticism. From 1770 to 1771 he was in Strasbourg to continue his study of law; in addition, he took up the study of music, art, anatomy, and chemistry. He lived according to the ideal expressed in Faust: never to be satisfied with what one is, but to strive incessantly to learn, to improve, to accomplish. His writings clearly show his development from youthful rebellion to the search for emotional restraint, objectivity, beauty, and the ideal human personality. The two parts of Faust, moreover, have often been considered representative of the prevailing tendencies of German literature; the first part contains many elements of the literary movement known as Romanticism, and the second represents the classicism most admired by Goethe. When initially began writing The Sorrows of Young Werther Goethe intended for it to be a play, however at the beginning of July 1774 his work came to an end, in a form of a short novel in a series of confessional letters, as Werther in many areas, in fact, reflected Goethe himself, and his relationship with a woman named Charlotte, that like in the novel, was married to his friend Christian.3 Werther represents, on one hand the individual whose intelligence and artistic mind isolate him from the rest of the society. His sensitivity to beauty and nature generally separate him from getting himself involved with the townspeople in the story. For example his disrespect of the Princes superficial knowledge of art, demonstrates that he cannot tolerate anyone who does not share his artistic insight. Furthermore, Werther does not find in the story an equal or a superior to himself. Even Lotte, the woman he loved, did not have the power to help him with his obsessions and desires. Other than his artistic abilities Werther had some psychological problems, which also seem to affect his ability to interact with others. A class difference plays another role in Werthers isolation. He is placed in fact between the lower and higher classes, making it more difficult to find his place in the social status. His middle-class status first accompanied him in town where the lower classes fear h e is trying to patronize them due to their level. Another factor that increases his sense of isolation and bitterness was