Each week it seems a new scam threatens to strip you of your money or steal your identity. So the ACCC has released a handy little weapon to help you become more scam savvy.

The Little Black Book of Scams was designed to help people identify suspicious activities and to protect them from various types of fraudsters. It’s updated each year, so as the scams evolve, so too does The Little Black Book of Scams, keeping you one step ahead of cyber crooks.

The Emergency Information article recently posted and repeated below has been revealed as a hoax. My sources and I published the “Tips” in good faith without checking their veracity.

We apologise for any upset and/or inconvenience caused and eat much ‘Humble Pie’ accordingly.

A check with Snopes reveals the truth  here  and here

As a guide if you want to verify an alleged “fact” go to Snopes  It is the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation.

—————————————————–

Below is the incorrect article

Here are a number of actions that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival.

Check out these actions that you can do:

1.  The Emergency Number worldwide for all Mobile Phones is 112. If you find yourself out of  the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and your mobile will search any existing network in your area to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialled even if the keypad is locked. This works on all phones worldwide and is free. It is the equivalent of 000.

2. Your keys locked in the car.  Does  your car have remote key less entry? If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at  home on their mobile phone from your cell phone. Hold  your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your  home press the spare key unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone at their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be thousands of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other ‘remote’ for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the boot).

3. Hidden Battery Power. To activate, press the keys *3370# (remember the asterisk).  Do this when the phone is almost dead. Your mobile will restart in a special way with this new reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery life. This reserve will get re-charged when you next charge your mobile phone. This secret is in the fine print in most phone manuals.

4. How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?  To  check your Mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following digits on your  phone: * # 0 6 # Ensure you put an asterisk BEFORE the #06# sequence. A  15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone was stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won’t get your phone back, but at  least you know that whoever stole it can’t use/sell it either. If everybody was to do this, there would be no benefit in people stealing mobile phones. This “secret” is also in the fine print of most mobile phone manuals.  It was created for the very purpose of trying to prevent phones from being stolen.

5. ATM  PIN Number Reversal – Good to Know. If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM, you  can notify the police by entering your PIN # inreverse. For example, if your  pin number is 1234, then you would enter 4321. The ATM system recognizes  that your PIN number is backwards from the ATM card you used. The ATM will still give you the money you requested, but unknown  to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to the location. All ATM’s carry this emergency sequencer by law.

Please pass this information to your family and friends

Every Year Easter and Anzac Day occur in close proximity . They actually share much in common .

Easter commemorates the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, who came to liberate people from fear oppression and bondage .

Anzac Day commemorates the life death and resurrection of our servicepeople who also sought to liberate people from fear, oppression and bondage .

Easter precedes Anzac Day and sets the concept of service and sacrifice in  a Theological foundation . Anzac Day demonstrates how people lived out the Easter message , even unto death and beyond into life eternal.

Anzac day is our major, National Day of observance. It gathers and  touches many Australians that never or rarely attend church. Most of our nation will participate in services where Solemn Prayers will be said and hymns sung. What gathers them ? —

Anzac Day touches our souls.  It is a profoundly spiritual and religious celebration and in reality the Spirit of God and Jesus permeates this Anzac phenomenon .

The Last Post sounds as an echo of Good Friday and all the dyings in our lives , the silence reminds us of Jesus in the tomb and our need to patiently wait at times.

The Reveille rouses us from grief and reminds us of new life and hope .It calls us to action, to make our world a better place.

Anzac day is an Easter experience .

May you celebrate both Easter and Anzac Day with gratitude , for all who like Jesus , gave their lives and suffered in the cause of peace.

May Peace be with you!

Gary Stone