KWSO News 7/25/19

Community members are being warned of a recent mobile check deposit scam. Fraudsters are devising new check scams while posing as prospective employers or lenders. They contact their victims through email or social media, or even by posting a job advertisement through an online site such as Craigslist.  They will oftentimes provide the victim with an opportunity to earn quick money by depositing a check to their account or by asking for help in moving money from overseas. They request bank account information and online access. They use the information to deposit a fake check. Once the deposit has been made, the scammer will request funds to be immediately transferred back to them, resulting in the checks being returned and the funds removed from the victim’s account. Avoid falling prey to these scams by following these few simple steps: Never give out personal information to strangers. If you are offered money in exchange for your personal information, it’s likely a scam. Check your online bank statements regularly for unfamiliar items. If you apply for a work-from-home job by email or online and the first thing they do is send you a check to cash then request you to return some or all of the money to them, it’s most likely a scam. If you suspect a check is fraudulent, don’t deposit it. Remember, if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scams like this have impacted Warm Springs residents recently, so it is important that we are all aware. If you believe you have been the victim, contact police and your financial institution as soon as possible. They can place additional safeguards on your account.

The First Annual Pacific Coast Indigenous Youth Basketball Tournament starts tomorrow at the Warm Springs Community Center. Game times are 6, 7 and 8pm. There are three teams in each of the three divisions – 10 and under coed, 13 and under boys and 15 and under boys.

Heart of Oregon YouthBuild is recruiting youth ages 16-24 yrs for our Fall 2019 cohort starting October 14th. They work primarily with youth who either have dropped out or are on the verge of being dropped from traditional high school.  YouthBuild members earn their GED, high school diploma, college credit, and job skills. They work on credit recovery and serving their communities through building affordable housing. Through AmeriCorps service at YouthBuild they can earn the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award worth $1,566.14 towards post-secondary goals. It is a one year, 12 month, commitment to the program along with one year of follow-up services. There is an information session August 22 at YouthBuild’s Cloverdale location in Sisters. If you know of any youth who may be interested and have not been successful in a traditional high school setting, let them know. The info session is mandatory. There are more session dates for September and October. Visit heartoforegon.org for details.