YOUR VOTE COUNTS

Click on the link to vote whether you think the league should have a phone number assigned so members without internet access can have an open line of communication with the league. And if the vote to secure a phone line is YEH, what phone service should the league pursue?

THE VERDICT: HANG UP

Don't Fall for Jury Duty Scam

The phone rings, you pick it up, and the caller identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller says he'll need some information for "verification purposes"-your birth date, social security number, maybe even a credit card number.

This is when you should hang up the phone. It's a scam.

Jury scams have been around for years, but have seen a resurgence in recent months. Communities in more than a dozen states have issued public warnings about cold calls from people claiming to be court officials seeking personal information. As a rule, court officers never ask for confidential information over the phone; they generally correspond with prospective jurors via mail.

The scam's bold simplicity may be what makes it so effective. Facing the unexpected threat of arrest, victims are caught off guard and may be quick to part with some information to defuse the situation.

"They get you scared first," says a special agent in the Minneapolis field office who has heard the complaints. "They get people saying, 'Oh my gosh! I'm not a criminal. What's going on?'" That's when the scammer dangles a solution-a fine, payable by credit card, that will clear up the problem.

With enough information, scammers can assume your identity and empty your bank accounts.

"It seems like a very simple scam," the agent adds. The trick is putting people on the defensive, then reeling them back in with the promise of a clean slate. "It's kind of ingenious. It's social engineering."

In recent months, communities in Florida, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, California, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Hampshire reported scams or posted warnings or press releases on their local websites. In August, the federal court system issued a warning on the scam and urged people to call their local District Court office if they receive suspicious calls. In September, the FBI issued a press release about jury scams and suggested victims also contact their local FBI field office.

In March, USA.gov, the federal government’s information website, posted details about jury scams in their Frequently Asked Questions area. The site reported scores of queries on the subject from website visitors and callers seeking information.

The jury scam is a simple variation of the identity-theft ploys that have proliferated in recent years as personal information and good credit have become thieves' preferred prey, particularly on the Internet. Scammers might tap your information to make a purchase on your credit card, but could just as easily sell your information to the highest bidder on the Internet's black market.

Protecting yourself is the key: Never give out personal information when you receive an unsolicited phone call.

Attention All Gardening Enthusiasts

If you come across a plant that needs to be thinned out in your garden or you no longer want a certain plant, tree or bush, send us an email so we can pick up these "sprouts". We'll be happy to find a new home for them. Also, if you would like to donate simple light-weight landscaping pots, we would love to have them.

Several locations in our area need some "sprucing" up. We will have projects coming up where we could use plant material to beautify either a yard of someone in need or an adopted piece of land.

If you have a bare spot in your garden or want to diversify and share what you have an abundance of, contact us today at cafcivicleague@yahoo.com.

Minutes for May 8th CAF civic league meeting

Welcome: The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Brenda A at Point of View Elementary School. Boy Scout Troop 499, under the direction of Dave A, presented the colors and led the pledge of allegiance. There were 31 in attendance. We observed a moment of silence for those impacted by the shootings at Virginia Tech.

Topic: Louise McC, from the American Red Cross, was invited to speak to us on emergency preparedness. The emergency could vary from a hurricane to a fire. There are 5 steps we all need to remember.

• Make a plan - both a communication plan with family and loved ones and an evacuation plan. Make a contact list with numbers and emails, especially one out-of-state contact. Write your plan down and have a route of evacuation that you practice, whether it is from your house during a fire or out of town for a hurricane.
• Build a kit - These are important items to include: water (1 gallon per person per day), food and manual can opener, flashlights and batteries, First Aid kit ( medicines), battery-powered radio, simple hand tools (screw driver, hammer), important papers in a plastic bag, duct tape and plastic sheeting. Other things that might be needed are cash and coins, pet supplies, extra clothing and bedding.
• Get trained - Enroll in CPR, AED, First Aid, Baby Sitters Training, or Water Safety classes. You may be able to save a life one day.
• Volunteer - Get involved. Our largest local disaster is the single family house fire.
• Give Blood - We always need blood in disasters. People can give blood up to 6 times a year, every 56 days. The closest upcoming blood drive for our area is at Emanuel Church on Parliament Dr. on June 4th from 2-7pm.

For more information go to http://www.redcross.org/ or (757) 446-7779

Hurricane season starts June 1st. In the event of a hurricane watch or warning, fill your gas tank, have your kit ready, watch local media, store extra water, close interior d00rs and "shelter in," and if power is lost, turn off your appliances.

Topic: Pierce G - President of the Brigadoon Civic League and a member of Roads Before Density. They are asking the city of Virginia Beach to review redevelopment plans in regards to the population density they will spawn. There is a vote on May 22nd at 6pm at city council. Mr. Pierce Granger asks that we email the mayor and ask her to not rezone Spence Farms until more examination has occurred.

Topic: Treasurer's Report - Wayne T

Wayne reports that we now have 82 voting members and $4180.59 in the treasury. He announced that the Council for Civic League Organizations met April 11th. Real estate taxes and immigration status of criminals were hot topics.

Topic: Crime Stats for Our Area and the June 23rd Safety Fair - Ginny P

Ginny broke down the latest crime stats for our area for March and April. The crimes included runaways, assaults, destruction of property, car theft, and a drug arrest. She invited everyone to attend, or volunteer to help, at the Safety Fair at Point of View Elementary on June 23rd from 10 to 2pm. She really needs two teams of helpers. One group would help from 9 until noon. The other group would help from noon until 3pm. Some of the groups/activities coming include a bike rodeo, CPR lessons, a monster firetruck, skin cancer screening, senior safety program, pool/water safety, and free hot dogs.

Topic: Real Estate Report - Scott W and Debbie B

A handout was distributed that showed the highest and lowest sale prices for our neighborhoods. Scott noted that it is still a seller's market, but that buyers have some reluctance. Our homes are still very desirable on the market and sell well when priced at market value. Prices ranged from $460,000 to 95,000. Time on the market ranged from one and a half to two months.

Topic: Announcements by Acting Chairperson, Brenda A

Our next meeting will be June 12 at Point of View Elementary. Our CAFCivic League blog will have the Instant Message feature turned on at all times, so you can contact the league. Our chairperson, Cherese J, resigned due to upcoming surgery and health issues. Brenda A, vice c0-chair, will serve in the chairperson capacity until elections in January. A raffle was held and three $25 certificates from Lucky Dogz were awarded to people present. We thank them for their generosity and support. The meeting was then adjourned.

Respectfully submitted: Carole B, Secretary for CAFCivicLeague

CPR SIGN UP AT NEXT MEETING, JUNE 12th

The Tidewater Center for Life Support (TCLS) will be hosting a Free Family & Friends CPR course. This course will include adult, infant, and child CPR skills.

We are asking for a small donation of $5.00 for The Mended Hearts, an affiliate of the American Heart Association, dedicated to offering support and encouragement to heart disease patients and their families.

If you have a little one or family member at-risk, please join us for an informative course with plenty of hands-on practice and learn to make a difference. The Family and Friends CPR course is not for certification.