Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 22, 2019 DEA warns of alarming increase of scam calls W ASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration urges its DEA-registered practitioners and members of the public to be cautious of telephone calls from criminals posing as DEA or other law enforcement personnel threatening arrest and prosecution for supposed violations of federal drug laws or involvement in drug-trafficking activities. DEA continues to receive reports from practitioners and the general public, alike, indicating that they have received calls threatening legal action if an exorbitant fine is not paid immediately over the phone. The callers typically identify themselves as DEA personnel and instruct their victims to pay the “fine” via wire transfer to avoid arrest, prosecution and imprisonment. The reported scam tactics are continually changing, but often share many of the following characteristics: Callers use fake names and badge numbers or, alternatively, names of well-known DEA senior officials. The tone of calls is urgent and aggressive; callers refuse to speak or leave a message with anyone other than the person for whom they are calling. Callers threaten arrest, prosecution and imprisonment, and in the case of medical practitioners, revocation of their DEA numbers. Callers demand thousands of dollars via wire transfer or, in some instances, in the form of untraceable gift cards taken over the phone. Callers falsify the number on caller ID to appear as a legitimate DEA phone number. Callers will often ask for personal information, such as social security number or date of birth. When calling a medical practitioner, callers often reference National Provider Identifier numbers and/or state license numbers. They also might claim that patients are making accusations against the practitioner. It’s important to underscore that DEA personnel will never contact practitioners or members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment. DEA will not request any personal or sensitive information over the phone. Notification of a legitimate investigation or legal action is made via official letter or in person. Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law. Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat using the online form or by calling 877-7922873. Reporting scam calls will greatly assist DEA in investigating and stopping this criminal activity. Any urgent concerns or questions, including inquiring about legitimate investigations, should be directed to the local DEA field division. To report scam activity online, visit https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/esor/spring/ main?execution=e1s1. For contact information for DEA field divisions, visit https:// www.dea.gov/domestic-divisions. Melrose Running Club to offer “WALK TO RUN” M ELROSE – The Melrose Running Club (MRC) will conduct a 10-week “Walk to Run” program for individuals interested in becoming beginner runners. The 20th edition of Walk to Run will commence on Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. from the Melrose Knights of Columbus on West Foster Street. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. with a shoe clinic following the first run conducted by Marathon Sports of Melrose. The MRC Walk to Run program is modeled after several nationally developed beginner running programs and is designed to develop a continuous 30-minute beginner runner. Articles and tips on running, shoe selection and nutrition will be provided by members of the MRC. Program applicants should be in good physical health (consult with your physician before starting this exercise program), be able to walk continuously for 30 minutes (prepare your legs with at least eight days of walking, 20 minutes for the first four days and 30 minutes for the last four days), and a have strong desire to learn how to run. U.S. Coast Guard auxiliary safe boating course Registration opens for April classes T he Lynn Flotilla of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be presenting a Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) course at the Volunteer Yacht Club (68 Lynnway, Lynn, Mass.) beginning on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. The course will consist of eight classes on consecutive Tuesdays that will run about two hours each. Upon successful completion, a certificate and wallet card will be issued that will be recognized by all 50 states and will meet the requirements of states that mandate a course to use their waters. Several subjects will be covered, such as Navigation Rules, Equipment Required, Aids to Navigation, and Boating Safety. Please contact Flotilla Commander Ken Bornstein at 781581-2306 or kenborn1@juno.com to register for the course or for further information. A three-lesson Basic Navigation Course will follow the BS&S Course for those interested. OLD SACHEM | from page 5 Cost of the program is $30 and includes a half-year individual membership in the MRC. For more information or registration, please access the Walk to Run homepage on the MRC website at www.melroserunningclub.com. The MRC is a co-ed club that meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Melrose Knights of Columbus, which is located at 23 West Foster St., for fun runs of three to seven miles. Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to join the Tuesday night runs. The MRC is a member of the Road Runners Club of America. finished, most consecutive seasons with at least one save, 18; most seasons with at least 25 saves, 16; most seasons with at least 30 saves, 15; most seasons with at least 35 seasons, 12; most seasons with at least 40 saves, 12; and most seasons with at least 50 saves, 2. He claims 11 seasons with a sub–2.00 ERA, and most career saves for a single winning pitcher, 72. In postseason play his career mark was 0.70 ERA; most consecutive scoreless innings, 33 1/3; most career games in which he pitched, 96; and most games finished to clinched series, 16. He was also the most all-star selections for a reliever at 13. In his after baseball life, he is involved with philanthropic activities in Panama, including the Mariano Rivera Foundation, to help underprivileged children obtain an education. As a Pentecostal Christian he has founded churches in Panama, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, California, Florida and the Refugio de Esperanza (Refuge of Hope) in New Rochelle, N.Y. He awards scholarships to the College of New Rochelle to deserving students and has donated $627,500 to charities from his foundation. In 2014 he received the MLB Receiver of the Year Award, and a section of River Avenue bordering Yankee Stadium at 161st Street was renamed “Rivera Avenue” – along with the release of his autobiography, “The Closer: My Story,” coauthored with Wayne Coffey. New York University (my son Charles is a graduate) bestowed an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. In 2018 he was nominated to co-chair the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition. Another award which few have earned is that he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot where he was eligible, the first ever elected unanimously. We will probably never see another closer with the ability of Mariano Rivera. GET GREAT DEALS NOW ON ADVERTISING RATES: Call Jim at 781-983-6187 Publishing free every week in Everett, Malden, Revere and Saugus
21 Publizr Home