Crime Watch: Steer clear of these latest email scams

Today I want to share with you some interesting scam emails shared by readers. We truly need to be super-careful and not open or respond to any of them.

I personally got the one from Kabul and had to laugh because this was a new one for me. I am not showing the email address, but trust me it looked very official especially when I do have friends that are stationed in Kabul. Here is the email I got:

Subj: Greetings from Kabul.. ... .

Hello,

I am CPT. Greg Hooper an officer of the U.S Army presently serving with the 395th CSSB peace keeping forces in Afghanistan. You may not know me but i really need your help as i have some very important packages to ship to you for safekeeping until i return back home to the USA.

I will explain in details only if you meet my conditions. Thanks for your prayers & support as we hope to return in one piece!!

CPT. Greg Hooper.

The second email I want to share came from a read who had some very good suggestions and its really worth sharing, since he had a personal experience with the email. Here is what he had to say:

Dear Carmen:

Thank you for your article in The Miami Herald on Jan. 6, 2013, titled "Two email scams you shouldn’t fall for." I haven’t seen the second one you mentioned yet, but I’ve received the first one several times over the last two or three years. It’s amazing how many of my friends and acquaintances have been robbed overseas in the last few years!

I’m writing because I thought there was one element to the scam that I thought important to be emphasized, and, if you ever decide to re-publicize the information, I’d suggest including it. Sometimes, when I’ve received those e-mails, they are not only from someone I know, but the email address in the "FROM" line is identical to the email address of the friend who is supposedly writing to me. This instantly leads a person to trust that the email is legitimate. And, since a quick "reply to" will allow the recipient to verify that it’s true, it’s easy to fall for it.

However, when you hit "reply to", the e-mail address to which the message will be sent is NOT the same as the one from which it appeared to have been sent. The address changes — very, very subtly.

For example, I could receive a message from a friend at "FRIEND101@gmail.com", but, when I hit "reply to", the message will be sent to "FRIEMD101@gmail.com" (the "N" was subtly changed to a "M") or "FRlEND101@gmail.com" (the capital "I" has been changed to a lower-case "L"). So if I sent an email to the person using "reply to", asking "is this true?!?", I would likely receive a message back from the scammer verifying it’s fictitious validity.

Thanks for listening and for aiming to protect the public!

Jeff Rothkopf

Folks, like I always say the Internet is a wonderful form of communication, but it brings its dangers, therefore we all must be vigilant and astute when using it.

Read More..

Making the Wonderful World of 'Oz the Great and Powerful'

Oz The Great and Powerful lands in theaters on March 8, and director Sam Raimi's epic, magical return to L. Frank Baum's beloved fantasy land features a dazzling cornucopia of costumes, set creations and makeup effects unlike anything moviegoers have seen before. Go behind the scenes to see how the filmmakers put it all together…

Pics: Stars without Makeup

Disney's fantastical adventure stars James Franco as Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician and flimflam man with dubious ethics. Hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he first thinks he’s hit the jackpot -- until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.

Video: Watch the 'Oz' Trailer!

Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil and put his own magical talents to the test to transform himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, but a better man as well.

Read More..

Rector of Manhattan's Trinity Church to step down

The embattled head of Manhattan’s Trinity Church is stepping down, giving church leaders two years notice.

The Rev. James Cooper, 68, who heads one of the richest parishes in the Anglican world with Manhattan land holdings of at least $1 billion, sparked a revolt in 2011 over his dictatorial leadership style and his grandiose development plans.

Nearly half of the church’s governing board was forced out or quit.

As the revolt got heated, Cooper considered retiring but, as The Post first reported, only if the church met his demands: burial in the historic Trinity Church graveyard where Alexander Hamilton was laid to rest; an undisclosed “thank-you” payment; a donation in his name to a charity; and $200,000 per year, for seven years, to fund a staff and support services in order to continue his “ministry.”

Helayne Seidman

The Rev. James Cooper

Cooper, who has led the church since 2004 and made $1.3 million in compensation in 2010, then decided not to step down.

He lives in a $5.5 million SoHo townhouse that the church purchased for him.

Earlier this week, Jeremy Bates, the former head of the Trinity Congregational Council, sued Cooper and church vestry to change the election process for Trinity board members. Cooper stacked the board with his cronies, his critics alleged.

Read More..

American Airlines, US Airways announce merger

After a nearly yearlong courtship, the union became official Thursday: American Airlines and US Airways have formally announced plans to merge.

An early morning announcement by the airlines confirmed reports widely circulated after boards of both companies approved the merger late Wednesday.

The move brings stability to one of Miami-Dade County’s largest private employers more than a year after the airline and its parent company filed for bankruptcy protection, leaving the fate of thousands of employees — and the largest carrier at Miami International Airport — in question.

According to the Thursday announcement, the deal was approved unanimously by the boards of both companies, creating the world’s biggest airline with implied market value of nearly $11 billion, based on the Wednesday closing price of US Airways stock. The airline will have close to 100,000 employees, 1,500 aircraft, $38.7 billion in combined revenue.

The deal must be approved by American’s bankruptcy judge and antitrust regulators, but no major hurdles are expected. The process is expected to take about six months, according to a letter sent to employees Thursday by American CEO Tom Horton.

Travelers won’t notice immediate changes. The new airline will be called American Airlines. It likely will be months before the frequent-flier programs are merged, and possibly years before the two airlines are fully combined. The new airline will be a member of the oneWorld airlines frequent flier alliance.

And for Miami travelers, it’s unlikely that much will change at any point. American and regional carrier American Eagle handled 68 percent of traffic at the airport last year, while US Airways accounted for just 2 percent. American boasts 328 flights to 114 destinations from Miami.

“We don’t expect any substantial changes at MIA if the merger occurs because our traffic is largely driven by the strength of the Miami market and not the airlines serving it,” said airport spokesman Greg Chin.

American has said for more than a year that its long-term plan calls for increasing departures at key hubs, including Miami, by 20 percent. That pledge has already started to materialize; in recent months, the airline has added new service to Asuncion, Paraguay and Roatán, Honduras.

During its bankruptcy restructuring, about 400 American employees lost jobs, leaving American and its regional carrier, American Eagle, with 9,894 employees in Miami-Dade County and 43 in Fort Lauderdale. US Airways has few employees in the area.

“It really isn’t going to affect Miami in a very major way anytime soon,” said Michael Boyd, an aviation consultant in Evergreen, Colo. “Only because US Airways isn’t a big player in South Florida.”

At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, American and US Airways combined would still only be the fifth-largest airline after Southwest, Spirit, JetBlue and Delta, a spokesman said. The two airlines have little overlap in routes from Fort Lauderdale.

Despite the lack of major changes, Boyd said the merger would be a good development for Miami.

“It should be positive for the employees and it should be positive for the communities that the airlines serve,” he said.

Robert Herbst, an independent airline analyst and consultant, said US Airways will add a “significant amount” of destinations in the Northeast, including Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Read More..

Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies.

She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that were intended to provide care for the poor who used the clinic, which is a federally qualified health center, entitling it to special state-federal Medicaid funds.

The formal charges accuse Abbate of taking more than $10,000 between 2008 and 2012, according to a federal court document. . She is charged by information, a sign she is cooperating with prosecutors and FBI agents. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

The center employs about 300 people and gets about $4 million annually from the federal government.

Read More..

Worn Out? Stars Step Out in Same Style

Emily Blunt vs. Katy Perry

Though Katy Perry's cleavage-baring mint green Gucci dress on the Grammys red carpet had shutterbugs going wild, it was actually the orange Alexander McQueen halter gown she wore to the 2013 MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala Honoring Bruce Springsteen which most fashion critics preferred -- a gown that Emily Blunt already wore to perfection at the Harper's Bazaar Woman of the Year Awards in October.

While both A-listers look spectacular in this hard to pull-off color, who do you think looks best in the dress -- Emily, or a curvier Katy?

Read More..

LIRR running extra eastbound trains ahead of tonight's potential snowstorm

The Long Island Rail Road is offering eight extra eastbound trains for people trying to get home before the next snowstorm.

The extra LIRR service will run from roughly 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory starting at 5 p.m.

It says another 3 to 5 inches of snow could fall on eastern Long Island.

Some parts of Long Island are still digging out from the 30 inches of snow that accumulated during the last storm.

Reuters

Long Island Railroad workers are seen along the tracks in Manhasset on Saturday after a blizzard smacked the region.

Read More..

Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies.

She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that were intended to provide care for the poor who used the clinic, which is a federally qualified health center, entitling it to special state-federal Medicaid funds.

The formal charges accuse Abbate of taking more than $10,000 between 2008 and 2012, according to a federal court document. . She is charged by information, a sign she is cooperating with prosecutors and FBI agents. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

The center employs about 300 people and gets about $4 million annually from the federal government.

Read More..

Chinese New Year rings in at St. Thomas University

A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration was held at St. Thomas University on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Miami Gardens. The free event was open to the public and also featured an ancestral-veneration ceremony, lion dances and a reception.

Read More..

Valorie Curry The Following Interview Episode 5

Like many of you, I excitedly watched The Following to see Kevin Bacon in his first-ever TV role. And while it's been great seeing him battle James Purefoy's charismatic killer, Joe Carroll, I quickly became infinitely more invested in Joe's three followers: Emma, Jacob and Paul. Well, last night took the tension to a new level as Emma cemented her control over that triumvirate in the most memorable shower scene since (ironically) Kevin Bacon in Wild Things.

And if thought that was shocking, just wait until next week's episode reveals the fallout from Emma's emotional expression!

To find out what fans can expect from future eps of The Following, I caught up with the absolutely amazing Valorie Curry (one of 2013's biggest breakout stars) to talk all about this thrilling threesome and find out why opening her heart is the most dangerous thing Emma could ever do.

ETonline: What kinds of reactions have you been getting from fans?

Valorie Curry: Most people have been like, "You're a monster, you give me nightmares, don't talk to me." [laughs]

ETonline: That just means you're doing your job right! And I have to say, last night's episode was amazing. What was your reaction to reading that shower scene for the first time?

Curry: I found it to be so different in the moment than I anticipated when I read it in the script. When I read it, my first thought was it was sexual. I mean, obviously we can't do that -- even the director said, "We can't imply a threesome before 10 o'clock, so here's what we're going to do."

RELATED - TV's Most Devastating Deaths

ETonline: And in the moment?

Curry: In the moment, it was so much more emotional than sexual. It was such an important moment for Emma -- I mean, the whole episode is. When Paul walks in and Emma admits that they both love him, it's the first moment of earnestness and honesty and vulnerability. With him, she's already tried being strong, she's tried being manipulative, she's tried being violent and none of that worked, so she has to be vulnerable and open herself up to him in order to calm him down. I love that moment because it was the first moment you see hints of the girl we showed you in episode two. And that opens a whole lot into the following episodes.

ETonline: I also sensed a motherly vibe in the way she welcomed Jacob to the shower. Am I just reading into things?

Curry: No, that's exactly what she wants to be. I don't think she would have thought of that with these men until that moment though. I mean, she definitely fancies herself that way with Joey and would love to step in and just be his mother, but her love is so genuine for Jacob and in that moment he needs her support and love. Never in a million years did she think she would be a mother to those boys, but that's the position she finds herself in. It's sort of like Wendy and The Lost Boys. Not only does that work, but it keeps her from being alone.

RELATED - How Kevin Williamson's Abandoned Scream 3 Script Became The Following

ETonline: But it's pretty risky to open herself up like that to people she might have to kill. I mean, if Joe told her to eliminate Jacob, would she be able to?

Curry: That is the ever-present fear inside of her. As an actor, that's a thought I clung to the entire time because she's not supposed to open up and love them; that's why my heart breaks for her. People talk about Emma as a monster, but this man found her at an incredibly formative time in her life -- she was this abused, broken person. And then Joe comes in and becomes father, God and lover to her. Emma loses herself to him. But she's just a pawn in his game. Joe positions Emma to suit his fancy. I mean, she turns 18, shows up at the prison and Joe says, "You're going to be with this boy." She loves Jacob because Joe gives him to her, but if she lets herself truly love Jacob, it's a risk knowing she'll do whatever Joe asks of her in the future.

ETonline: We've met several members of the cult Emma is in charge of, will we see other groups that she had a hand in forming?

Curry: You will see more of the universe of the cult, and you'll see places she has control over as well as places she doesn't. That will put her in interesting positions in the coming weeks -- it's a big universe filled with a lot of people who all want to be close to the same man.

RELATED - Natalie Zea Talks Claire's Conundrum

ETonline: Right! There could be a million Emma's out there who all think Joe loves them the most. I'm excited to see her meet some of them. What are you excited for people to see in the coming weeks?

Curry: The rules of engagement are constantly changing. I think what you like about episode four in terms of the character's complexity and vulnerability only increases. But that coincides with even more heightened circumstances, which is just an explosive combination. Episode four sets the stage for a lot. Just when I think I understand the characters and I understand the world, [creator Kevin Williamson] blows my mind with a new episode that has somebody doing something I didn't expect. I understand he has this whole enormous masterplan and he knows every aspect of it. That allows me as an actor to trust him explicitly because I don't need to think about that stuff ... I guess that's kind of how Emma is with Joe [laughs]. I guess Kevin is kind of like my Joe.

The Following airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Fox

Read More..