Weekend News Brief

State Attorney General Letitia James has joined with the Social Security Administration by warning consumers to stay vigilant against Social Security-related scams. Social Security recipients are particularly vulnerable to frauds and scams, and bad actors use a variety of tactics to deceive victims into providing sensitive information, like Social Security and bank account numbers. If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, call the AG’s office at 800-771-7755.  Here is a comprehensive list of common tactics scammers use, as well as tips to protect yourself from fraud:

Common tactics scammers targeting Social Security recipients use include:

• Posing as SSA officials;
  • They may claim that your Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity or that you must confirm personal details (Social Security number, bank account, or birthdate) to avoid arrest or benefits loss.
  • They may also claim that youneed to pay a fee via a wire transfer, prepaid gift card, or cryptocurrency.
• Promising a prize;
  • They may claim that you have won a foreign lottery, random drawing, or “millionth customer” prize but require you to pay upfront fees or taxes or provide banking details.
• Pretending to be a distressed relative and urgently asking for money to get out of trouble or cover hospital bills; and
• Pressuring you to act immediately or pay in a specific way.

The OAG offers the following tips to protect yourself from fraudulent individuals and organizations:

• Verify unexpected requests. If a “relative” asks for money, call them back using a known number.
• Do not always trust that a phone number with a caller ID is reputable. Scammers will spoof numbers to appear local or official.
• Be cautious with wire transfers and gift cards. Scammers prefer these because they are hard to trace. The IRS and SSA do not accept gift cards. Beware of anyone asking you to pay a government agency using gift cards.
• Typically, the SSA does not make phone calls. Beware of callers claiming to be from the SSA.
• If you suspect fraudulent activity, immediately hang up, do not respond, and do not provide any personal information.
• Report any suspected scams immediately. To report a scam, file an online complaint with OAG’s Bureau of Consumer Frauds

 

State Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of seven other attorneys general, have filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Education for unlawfully canceling teacher pipeline grant programs that were authorized by Congress. The Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development grant programs support K-12 teacher development efforts, improve student achievement, and help create a new teacher pipeline to fill positions in hard-to-staff schools in rural and urban areas. The coalition is seeking a temporary restraining order to urgently restore funding and access to these programs.

 

A Cheektowaga man has been arraigned on an indictment charging him with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing a man during a parking dispute last October. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office said Richard J. Walls is accused of shooting Md Rawnaq Hassan Ratin in the chest. Walls is being held without bail and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

 

32-year-old Alexander Grupp of Lancaster has pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. This stems from an incident in March 2018 when Grupp communicated with a 15-year-old girl using the instant messaging application, Discord. During these communications, Grupp persuaded the victim to send him nude pictures of herself. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date; Grupp faces at least 15 years in prison.

 

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, and the Firefighters Association of the State of New York says the clock change should serve as a reminder for people to test the batteries in their smoke alarms. Experts say doing so can help prevent a tragedy in your home if there is a fire. It’s also recommended that everyone practice their fire escape plan to make sure they know a way out of their residence in case of an emergency. For more life-saving tips, go to fasny.com.

 

Buffalo’s Allentown community continues to mourn the loss of two beloved artists. Mickey Harmon and his partner Jordan Celotto were found dead from blunt force trauma Tuesday in their apartment on St. Louis Place. Tributes have been planned around the city in remembrance, including at the Stonewall mural on Allen Street, which Harmon helped create.

 

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has been named special prosecutor in the investigation into an inmate’s death at Mid-State Correctional Facility. Messiah Nantwi died on Saturday after being rushed to a hospital from the Oneida County prison, and Governor Hochul said there are indications disturbing conduct led to his death. The state AG’s office is recusing itself because it’s representing some of the corrections officers involved in Nantwi’s death in civil lawsuits. 15 prison employees are now on leave.

 

State Attorney General Letitia James has organized a settlement with Saturn Technologies, a developer of an app called Saturn used by high school students. The company failed to protect young users’ privacy. The app allows students to create a personal calendar, message other members, share social media accounts, join groups, and know where other uses are based on their calendars. Saturn Technologies claimed the app only allowed users from the same high school to interact with each other. However, an investigation found that the company failed to verify users’ school email and age to ensure safety. As a result of the settlement, Saturn Technologies must pay $650,000 in penalties to the state and significantly change its practices to protect users.

 

Gas prices more or less continue to hold steady. Triple A reports today the average price for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.11. The state average is at $3.15. In Batavia, the average figures out to $3.14 per gallon; that’s a penny less than it was a week ago; four cents lower than a month ago; and 11 cents cheaper than it was a year ago today.

 

The Sabres woes continue as they lost 6-5 to the Tampa Bay Lighting last night.   Buffalo held a 5-3 lead near the midway point of the second period, but it was quickly surrendered after three unanswered Tampa Bay goals. The loss is now the fifth in a row for the Sabres, who will look to get back in the win column on Saturday against the Florida Panthers.

 

Casting Buffalo is calling for actors of all backgrounds to join the cast of Hallmark’s “Newport Christmas.” Actors ages 18 and up of all genders and ethnicities can play a variety of background roles, including Christmas formal guests, violin busker, Santa Clauses, and more. Featured roles include a handsome, gilded bachelor, and a 6-8 year old child. Filming will take place in Buffalo and Youngstown between March 17 and April 3. Non-union affiliated extras will earn $192 a day while union affiliated extras will earn $216 a day. Personal information, including a resume and headshot, can be submitted by emailing submissions@castingbuffalo.com.

 

With the May 7 federal REAL ID deadline just two months away, the Department of Motor Vehicles is encouraging residents to visit a DMV office to get a REAL ID or ENHANCED ID as soon as possible, even if your license is not due for renewal. Starting May 7, everyone flying in the United States or visiting a secure federal facility will need REAL or ENHANCED ID, passport or another form of federally compliant identification. Detailed information is available here:  https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/enhanced-or-real-id

 

Next Thursday evening, March 20^th from 6:30 to 8:00, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy music performed by Bart Dentino. The Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 East Main Street, Batavia is hosting the event, which is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome and appreciated, with all proceeds benefiting and supporting the Genesee Wyoming County Warming Center, during the cold, winter nights.

 

The finalists have now been chosen ahead of this year’s 2025 World Video Game Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The field of nominees includes classics like Frogger, Goldeneye 007 and Tamagotchi as well as newer games such as Angry Birds and Call of Duty Four: Modern Warfare. Each game is judged on criteria like having an extended influence on the video game industry or popular culture in general. This year’s ceremony takes place at World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester.

 

A new report says rising egg prices are soaring because companies are price-gouging customers. According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, egg prices nearly doubled in the last six weeks. A dozen costs on average about eight-dollars. The rise in prices has largely been blamed on the Bird Flu. However, the watchdog report from Food And Water Watch says that bird flu has “slightly reduced” egg production, but “corporate greed has also played a major role.”