The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, June 15, 2004. Letters are limited to 300 words or less. All submissions must include the author’s name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors.
In Response to “Can Jesus Really Empower?”
Dear People:
In an article, “Can Jesus Really Empower?,”(March 2004) Judy Jackson and Michael Garrett begin several sentences with the expression, “As Christians.” While acknowledging that the article does not reflect policies endorsed by ACB, I wish that the editors of “The Braille Forum” had seen fit to include a footnote or an introductory, parenthetical remark indicating ACB’s neutral position. On first reading “From Your Perspective,” a reader does not really understand that the column is an open forum. The exclusive nature of Jackson’s and Garrett’s language, at first, seems to come from the editorial staff, and it is offensive. Not all ACB members, of course, subscribe to these beliefs. We are as diverse as American culture, and that is why we have a tradition of separation of church and state.
Sincerely,
[Rev.] Sozan Peter Schellin, Zen Buddhist Tradition, Austin, Tex.
Regarding Credit Card Fraud
We all receive e-mails all the time regarding one scam or another; but last week I REALLY DID get scammed! Both Visa and MasterCard told me that this scam is currently being worked throughout the Midwest, with some variance as to the product or amount, and if you are called, just hang up.
It worked like this: The person calling says, “This is Carl Patterson [any name] and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud department at Visa. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling to verify. This would be on your Visa card issued by 5/3 bank. Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona?”
When you say “no,” the caller continues, “Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to your address, is that correct?” You say, “Yes.” The caller then states, “I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 800 number listed on your card, 1-800-VISA, and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this control number.” Then the person gives you a six-digit number, and asks whether he needs to repeat it for you.
The caller next says he needs to verify you are in possession of your card. “Turn the card over. There are seven numbers; the first four are 1234, the next three are the security numbers that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the three numbers.” After you read them, he says, “That is correct. I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions? Don’t hesitate to call back if you do.”
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we received a call, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The real Visa security department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was put on our card.
We filed a fraud report and closed the Visa card; they are issuing us a new number. All the scam wants is that three-digit number. Once they get it, the charge goes through, and they keep charging every few days. By the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then it’s harder to actually file a fraud report. The real Visa people assured us that they will never ask for anything on the card — they already have that information.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from “Jason Richardson of MasterCard” with a word-for-word repeat of the Visa scam. This time I didn’t let him finish. I hung up.
We filed a police report (as instructed by Visa), and they said they are taking several of these reports daily and to tell friends, relatives and coworkers. Pass this information on!
— Beth Terranova, Newport News, Va.
Regarding ‘The Houseplant’
Dear Editor,
I would like to make comment on the article by Patricia Kepler, entitled “The Houseplant” (April-May 2004). I thought she did a very nice job capturing the attention of those of us who are unemployed.
In the summer of 1999 I began volunteering as a receptionist at a former non-profit organization headquartered in the Chicago area. They liked the work I did so much that they put me on their payroll. (I went to school with the program director, who was eventually promoted to executive director. He helped me a lot in junior high and therefore knew what I was capable of.) I was a paid employee for a little over a year, and then the organization went through some changes. The receptionist position became fast-paced; the technology used wasn’t yet accessible. As a result, the staff had to stop paying me. They made it clear to me and my parents that this had nothing to do with me personally or my job performance. I still agree with that assessment.
I also began experiencing health problems and ended up leaving the organization in May 2001. It is now April 2004 and I am still unemployed. Yet I have lots of skills and talents. I think it is a shame that nobody has come up with a solution to unemployment. Somehow, somewhere, attitudes must change. We must show the non-believers in society that we can work. Those with very paternalistic views about blindness must be made to change their ways. Every individual situation needs to be treated as such. Politicians need to improve situations for people with all types of disabilities. Thank you for publishing this article, and thanks to ACB for creating a magazine which speaks to the core issues faced by many of us.
— Jake Joehl, Chicago, Ill.