BEWARE OF SCAMS
Recently Father Greg shared with you the need to be aware of e-mail scams that are happening, and how to address them, regarding info from him and from the parish. I would like to take that a step further and remind you to be aware of the “stimulus check” scams that are happening now.
Fake checks ~ If you receive a stimulus check in the mail now, it is probably a fraud. It will take the Treasury several weeks to mail those out and the IRS seems to be forgoing paper checks altogether, if possible, in favor of direct deposit. If you do receive a “stimulus check” for an odd amount, especially one that includes cents, or a check that requires that you verify the check online or by calling a number, it’s a fraud.
Social media messages, phone call, or e-mails for personal information ~ The Better Business Bureau says fraudsters are sending out messages via social media, texts, and e-mails that contain links or ask a person to enter personal information and/or banking details. These messages may claim that the information is “necessary to receive your stimulus check.” Just remember that the U.S. government and especially the IRS will never get in touch with you using social media. They will usually use “snail” mail.
Another variation of the social media messages scam brings users to a fake website called the US EMERGENCY GRANTS FEDERATION and asks for your Social Security number to verify your eligibility, according to the Better Business Bureau. Be sure to do your research and see if a government agency or organization actually exists. You can usually find contact information on your own and then decide if you want to call back the company you heard from to make sure the person who contacted you is legitimate.
Claims that a “processing fee” will get your money to you sooner ~ In reality, there is no way to speed up the IRS payment process. A real government agency will not ask you to pay a processing fee in advance. You can find an official list of all U.S. federal grant-making agencies at grants.gov.
Be wary of any correspondence claiming to be the Treasury Department ~ The information you receive will come from the IRS, but remember the bulk of the stimulus checks will be done by direct deposit information that was provided to the IRS on your recent tax returns.
Finally, be wary of any pitches using the terms “stimulus check” or “stimulus payment” as the cash infusion is officially called an “economic impact payment.” Taxpayers can find official information about the stimulus payments on the IRS website. Any suspected scams can be reported to the IRS on their website or you can submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on their website.
Hoping you are all well and staying safe. And please when you are out in public—wear a mask. Please let me know if there is anything that I can help with.
Blessings always,
Linda Radder, St. Bernadette Parish Nurse
Recently Father Greg shared with you the need to be aware of e-mail scams that are happening, and how to address them, regarding info from him and from the parish. I would like to take that a step further and remind you to be aware of the “stimulus check” scams that are happening now.
Fake checks ~ If you receive a stimulus check in the mail now, it is probably a fraud. It will take the Treasury several weeks to mail those out and the IRS seems to be forgoing paper checks altogether, if possible, in favor of direct deposit. If you do receive a “stimulus check” for an odd amount, especially one that includes cents, or a check that requires that you verify the check online or by calling a number, it’s a fraud.
Social media messages, phone call, or e-mails for personal information ~ The Better Business Bureau says fraudsters are sending out messages via social media, texts, and e-mails that contain links or ask a person to enter personal information and/or banking details. These messages may claim that the information is “necessary to receive your stimulus check.” Just remember that the U.S. government and especially the IRS will never get in touch with you using social media. They will usually use “snail” mail.
Another variation of the social media messages scam brings users to a fake website called the US EMERGENCY GRANTS FEDERATION and asks for your Social Security number to verify your eligibility, according to the Better Business Bureau. Be sure to do your research and see if a government agency or organization actually exists. You can usually find contact information on your own and then decide if you want to call back the company you heard from to make sure the person who contacted you is legitimate.
Claims that a “processing fee” will get your money to you sooner ~ In reality, there is no way to speed up the IRS payment process. A real government agency will not ask you to pay a processing fee in advance. You can find an official list of all U.S. federal grant-making agencies at grants.gov.
Be wary of any correspondence claiming to be the Treasury Department ~ The information you receive will come from the IRS, but remember the bulk of the stimulus checks will be done by direct deposit information that was provided to the IRS on your recent tax returns.
Finally, be wary of any pitches using the terms “stimulus check” or “stimulus payment” as the cash infusion is officially called an “economic impact payment.” Taxpayers can find official information about the stimulus payments on the IRS website. Any suspected scams can be reported to the IRS on their website or you can submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on their website.
Hoping you are all well and staying safe. And please when you are out in public—wear a mask. Please let me know if there is anything that I can help with.
Blessings always,
Linda Radder, St. Bernadette Parish Nurse
Social Media Update
Hello OLGH and St. Bernadette friends!
Those of you who attend the liturgies on ZOOM, thank you for joining us! We’ve heard quite a bit of positive feedback! If you haven’t joined us, we invite you to do so.
If you’re still unsure about how ZOOM works, we have volunteers from both parish communities that will gladly help you with setup and answer any questions you might have.
If you want to get on the mailing list for ZOOM liturgies or would like to be put in touch with someone for assistance, please contact [email protected].
Please note that all ZOOM liturgies are password protected, which is why you must contact the above e-mail for the password to log in. We have had no incidents of hacking and we’d like to keep it that way, so for the protection of all that are in attendance, we will be keeping this policy and not posting any passcodes on Facebook.
Many people find the ZOOM liturgies to be much more enjoyable and prayerful than simply watching on television, because they are live, and they are with a community in real time. Please consider giving it a try.
Don’t forget to keep checking our parish Facebook pages and websites for the most up-to-date information! (Remember – you can view anything on Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account.) And lastly, remember to check out our YouTube Channel!
St. Bernadette Website
Our Lady of Good Hope Website
Our Lady of Good Hope Facebook Page
St. Bernadette Facebook Page
OLGH and St. Bernadette YouTube Channel
We’re doing our best to keep our communities connected and we thank you for all your support. Let us all continue to pray for one another during this difficult time.
Hello OLGH and St. Bernadette friends!
Those of you who attend the liturgies on ZOOM, thank you for joining us! We’ve heard quite a bit of positive feedback! If you haven’t joined us, we invite you to do so.
If you’re still unsure about how ZOOM works, we have volunteers from both parish communities that will gladly help you with setup and answer any questions you might have.
If you want to get on the mailing list for ZOOM liturgies or would like to be put in touch with someone for assistance, please contact [email protected].
Please note that all ZOOM liturgies are password protected, which is why you must contact the above e-mail for the password to log in. We have had no incidents of hacking and we’d like to keep it that way, so for the protection of all that are in attendance, we will be keeping this policy and not posting any passcodes on Facebook.
Many people find the ZOOM liturgies to be much more enjoyable and prayerful than simply watching on television, because they are live, and they are with a community in real time. Please consider giving it a try.
Don’t forget to keep checking our parish Facebook pages and websites for the most up-to-date information! (Remember – you can view anything on Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account.) And lastly, remember to check out our YouTube Channel!
St. Bernadette Website
Our Lady of Good Hope Website
Our Lady of Good Hope Facebook Page
St. Bernadette Facebook Page
OLGH and St. Bernadette YouTube Channel
We’re doing our best to keep our communities connected and we thank you for all your support. Let us all continue to pray for one another during this difficult time.
Click on the following link to find:
The Bishops of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Doing Periodic Daily Reflections
The Bishops of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Doing Periodic Daily Reflections