Newsletter-May-June 2016 - Skagway Chamber of Commerce

SKAGWAY
CHAMBER NEWS
MAY/ JUNE 2016
Skagway Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 194, Skagway, AK 99840 Tel: 907.983.1898 Fax: 907.983.2031
[email protected] www.skagwaychamber.org
THANK YOU TO OUR NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS!
STANDARD * A Fine Line * Alaska Expeditions*Alaska Icefield Expedition *Alaska Marine Lines * Broadway Jewelry*
Chilkoot Business Services * Cruise Line Agencies * GGGR Gallery *NEW Klondike Doughboy * KHNS * Kirmses * Mile
Zero B&B *Mountain Flying Service *Skagway Brewing Company *Skagway School District *Skagway Sculpture
& Flower Garden *Skagway Storage Company *Skagway Ace Hardware
* Skagway Traditional Council *Sockeye Cycle *SMART * Temptations * Temsco Helicopters *
SECOND BUSINESS * Kone Kompany ASSOCIATE *Alaska Shirt Company * Klondike Gold Rush National
Historic Park
SPONSOR *Alaska Power and Telephone *
The Skagway Chamber of Commerce invites you to become a part of an exciting and rewarding organization.
The New Predators: Today’s scam artists are on the phone, at your door and online. Here’s the second installment on on to fend them off by Joe Kita
Cancer rip-off
Last spring, in one of the biggest busts of its kind, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged four national charities
(the Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, the Children’s Cancer Fund of America and the Breast Cancer
Society) with defrauding consumers of $187 million. At the other end of the cancer-scam spectrum, last August a reigning beauty queen (Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International) was arrested after allegedly claiming she had cancer and swindling tens of thousands of dollars from sympathetic supporters. She even shaved her head and staged a “Bingo for
Brandi” fundraisers, authorities say.
YOUR PLAN
Before contributing to any charity, check out its rating on charitynavigator.org. Instead of giving cash to door-to-door solicitors on your credit card number to callers, ask for more information about the charity (brochures, websites) so you can
investigate the cause first. Also be wary of popular online giving sites such as gofundme.com. The best thing you can do
to protect yourself from this or any scam, suays former con artist Frank W. Abagnale, who is now AARP’s fraud watch
ambassador, is to be skeptical. Ask questions. Trust your gut.
Chip Card
Banks and credit card companies are in the process of issuing customers new “chip” cards. “The data is protected in an
integrated circuit (rather than a magnetic strip), and there’s a dynamic code that resets after each use,” explains Vernon
Marshall, senior vice president and functional risk officer for American Express. “They’re almost impossible to counterfeit.”
But here’s the scam. The FTC is warning con artists are impersonating card issuers and sending emails requesting personal and financial information, or asking that you click on a malware-laced link before being issued a new card. The
fraudsters are sending emails-purporting to be from companies such as American Express– that convincingly use the
company’s logo and color scheme, and even footer links such as “View Our Privacy Policy” and “Contact Us.”
YOUR PLAN
No credit card company will email or call you to verify personal info it already has on file before mailing a new card. (At
most, you’ll get a letter in the mail saying it will arrive soon.) If you’re ever unsure, simply call the number on the back of
your card( not the one supplied by the email) and ask the company if it’s trying to contact you.
Faith-based dating
Reports are sufacing in AARP’s Fraud Watch Network about a new ripple in online dating deceptions. Traditionally,
these scams have involved con artists stealing the hearts of unsuspecting singles (many of them seniors) and then
Continued on Page Two
21st Annual Ducky Derby will be held on July 4th, 2016 at Pullen Pond at
5PM, Don’t miss out on your chance to win.
Tickets are available NOW at the Skagway Chamber of Commerce office on the corner of 7th
and State, Broadway Jewelry, Skagway News, The Sweet Tooth and Broadway Video/Radio
Shack. Our Board of Directors are also selling tickets so if you run into Georgia, Jackie,
Vanessa, Lea, Susie, Jennifer, or Katie snag a ticket from them. Why not get an early start!
Continued from Page One
Did you know…
Using various ploys to steal money. But now scammers are targeting faith-based sites like
BigChurch, Christian Mingle, JDate and others. “People are more likely to fall for scams on sites
like these because they can’t believe somebody of their own faith is a con artist,” explains Jane
Margesson of AARP’s Maine office.
YOUR PLAN
Before getting involved with anyone online, use Google or Spokeo.com to research the person,
and even view his or her address on Google Maps. Finding “no results” is a red flag Do a
Google Image search for a profile picture. Keep in mind that people who are legitimately looking
fro love won’t ask for money (unless they’re your kids).
Medical identity theft:
When most people hear identity theft, they think of someone stealing their credit card info and
buying a big-screen. But you can’t legally be held liable for fraudulent purchases like that. It’s
different, however, with medical identity theft, “You can be required to cover the cost for health
care services you never received,” Abagnale says. These can include tests, prescription drugs
and even operations.
YOUR PLAN
Never surrender Social Security, Medicare or health insurance numbers to anyone you don’t
know and trust. Be particularly wary of free health checks offered at shopping malls, fitness
clubs and retirement homes (so-called rolling labs). If they ask to photocopy your cards or sign a
blank insurance claim form, don’t do it, Nofziger says. (After all, it’s supposed to be free.) It’s
also vital to review all statements from your insurance provider. If there are any charges you
don’t understand, call immediately. And when shopping online for prescription drugs or other
health-related items, remember that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Joe Kita is a freelance journalist
Insight of the Day
Look well to this day.
Yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is
only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a
vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day.
Excerpt from an ancient Sanskrit poem
America The Beautiful, Thanks Park Service (100th Anniversary) will be the
theme for the 4th of July Parade this
year. Plan now to participate in the parade and festivities. If you are interested
in putting a float in the Parade, either
Kiddie or Regular parades, please make
sure you get an official entry form from
the Chamber of Commerce at 701 State
or email request to:
[email protected]
Kiddie Parade and Regular Parade
Forms are AVAILABLE now at the
Skagway Chamber of Commerce Office.
If you would like to participate in this
years floats or marching in the parade,
don’t hesitate to contact us.
A Few of
2016 DIRECTORS & STAFF
our
Temptations– Madalynn Ellis
Alaska Artworks– Jesse Guilliams
Skagway Brewing Co.– John MacPhie
White Pass– Madleine and Jacob
DIRECTOR:
Jackie Schaefer, President
P.O. Box 297 983.2427
[email protected]
DIRECTOR:
A Fine Line– Anne Lattka
Katie Klug, Vice President
P.O. Box 1225 907-612-0824
[email protected]
Inspired Arts– Brook Hale
DIRECTOR:
Westmark– Danielle Hanson
Granny’s Gallery– Kendra Guilliams
Train Shoppe– Reba Wallace
Shirt Off My Back– Ali Olsen
Alaska Christmas Store– Christian Wallace
Gold Rush Gifts– Daniel Mallot
Skagway Mining Co.—Angelina Ciccnino
Skagway Chamber of Commerce– Daniel Malloy, Troy Winder, Matt Spencer
Thanks to all of the Businesses that participated in this yearly event!
Big news! This year the Skagway Chamber or Commerce is
sponsoring their first Cancer Duck. Cancer Ducks are $10 each
or by Donation and all of the proceeds will go to the Swedish
Cancer Institute Treatment Center, where several of our community members have been treated for cancer themselves.
Treatment for cancer is a grueling and often times an incredibly difficult experience for the patients who sit for hours at a
time getting chemotherapy. All proceeds will go specifically to
the Swedish Cancer Institute Treatment Center to help make
that time for patients a little easier by providing them with
puzzles, coloring books and pencils, IPods, Journals, etc.
We’ve all been touched by Cancer in one way or
another and now is your time to SUPPORT THE
FIGHT. Pink Ducks are available through the
Skagway Chamber of Commerce, Temptations,
and Broadway Jewelry. Get yours today.
Susie Anderson, Sec./Treasurer
[email protected]
805-501-9042
DIRECTOR:
Vanessa Flynn
P.O. Box 285 907-612-0480
[email protected]
DIRECTOR:
Lea Mauldin
P.O. Box 567 907-973-2113
[email protected]
DIRECTOR:
Jennifer Castle
[email protected]
907-612-1200
DIRECTOR:
Georgia Jackson
706-318-7702
[email protected]
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR:
Blaine Mero
P.O. Box 194 983-1898
[email protected]
The 2015 Parade theme is:
“America the Beautiful. Thank
You Park Service. 100th
Anniversary”
P.O. Box 194
7th and State St.
Skagway, AK 99840
Phone: 907.983.1898
Fax: 907.983.2031
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:
www.skagwaychamber.org
CHILKOOT-GATEWAY INSURANCE AGENCY
P.O. BOX 456
SKAGWAY, ALASKA 99840
PHONE 907-983-2240
FAX 907-983-2969
INSURANCE—BONDS
Continuing the 57-year
tradition of a local independent agent
58
Serving the people of Skagway.
Debbie L. Ackerman, CISR
Agent
[email protected]