This week, a consumer from Lecompton Kansas reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska. South Dakota, the Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa that she had become a victim of a fake tech support phone call. She was recently contacted by a man with an accent who claimed that he was an engineer from her Internet service provider and needed access to her computer to fix error messages and viruses that he had detected.
Since the consumer had seen error messages, she typed a URL address which allowed the caller remote access to her computer. He proceeded to show her what was wrong on the monitor. Then he offered a two-year package that would fix all of her problems for $199.00. The consumer agreed to pay for this service and completed an online application giving her name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and her bank card information. As part of the application, she also gave permission to take money out of her bank account.

Two days later, she was contacted by another man who also had an accent. He informed her that the package she had purchased was not compatible with her computer, and in order to get the money refunded to her account, she needed to wire $248 through Western Union to Uday Shanker in Gumta, India. After the wire transfer had been completed, she received another call asking for the 10-digit number on the receipt and was promised that her money would be returned. It has not, and she lost almost $500.

The woman reported to the BBB that her bank card statement had a charge of $225.49 for the “$199.00 package” from a company listed as “Technosys Global Servic Chelmsford ON CA”. A BBB investigation found that the actual name of the company is Technosys Global Services. The USA phone number listed on its website, https://technpsysglobalservicess.net/, is 209-330-3606. The BBB called this number and found that it had either been changed or disconnected.

BBB president and CEO Jim Hegarty stated, “This scam is very well executed. The scammer probably placed a virus on her computer before he called her. That is why he could show her what was wrong on her monitor. It is a mistake to give control of your computer to a third party unless you can confirm that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support company that you have contacted for help.”

Another consumer from Fairbury NE reported having a similar problem with a company called Optimize Pro. Instead of receiving a phone call, she got a “pop-up” on her monitor that claimed there were viruses on her computer. She clicked on the message, called the number provided and paid $54.95 by credit card for a program that the company installed on her PC “to remove the viruses”. Then she paid an additional $287.00 for a two-year tech support service contract and “enrolment in our automatic renewal service.”

A BBB investigation revealed that Optimize Pro is using several business names and websites to hide their actual location and found various warnings on the Internet indicating their software is malware. These kinds of viruses can change browser settings and reside in the background, blocking access to legitimate anti-virus programs. They can also be difficult to detect.

BBB advises:
* If you receive an unsolicited call (also known as a cold call) or see a “pop-up” on your computer monitor offering tech support, check with the BBB at bbb.org to make sure that the company is reputable.

* Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone claiming to be from tech support, unless you initiated the call and are certain who you are dealing with.

* Take down the information about the company’s phone number or website and report it to your BBB, local authorities or the FTC (www.ftc.gov)
If you did allow a caller to access your computer:

* Change the passwords for your computer, email and online banking/credit card accounts.

* Be sure to run a virus scan.

* If you suspect that your computer is infected by a virus, check with the BBB at bbb.org to find BBB Accredited IT firms that will make sure no programs are running in the background that your virus scan did not detect.

* Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report if you shared personal and banking information with the scammer.

The Kansas Historical Society announced that the inmate case files for notorious murderers Richard Eugene “Dick” Hickock and Perry Edward Smith have been added to Kansas Memory, the Historical Society’s online archives of photographs, manuscripts, and government records.

Hickock and Smith were convicted of the 1959 murders of Herb and Bonnie Clutter, their daughter, Nancy, and son, Kenyon, at the family’s home in Holcomb. The men were on death row at the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing before their execution by hanging in 1965. The murders inspired the non-fiction novel In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

The case files contain correspondence with prison officials and family members, clemency petitions, newspaper articles, and legal documents. Items of particular interest include last meal requests, fingerprints, and execution witness lists. Hickock’s file is available at kansasmemory.org/item/208963 and Smith’s file at kansasmemory.org/item/208964.

The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency that also operates the Kansas Museum of History, State Archives, Kansas State Capitol Tour Center, and 16 state historic sites across Kansas.

(AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and GOP leaders in the Kansas Legislature are promoting a new tax plan as pro-growth economicpolicy.

Brownback had a Statehouse news conference Saturday with Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita and House Speaker Ray Merrick of Stilwell to tout the plan. It sets the sales tax at 6.15 percent in July.

They said the legislation keeps Kansas on a path of eliminating personal income taxes.

The measure follows massive income tax reductions enacted last year with further cuts in income tax rates. But it also revises other income tax laws to raise new revenues.

The revenues would close projected shortfalls following last year’s aggressive tax cutting.

The sales tax is now 6.3 percent but set by law to drop to 5.7 percent in July.

 

AP) — The Kansas House has approved a proposed state budget for each of the next two years, but Senate leaders aren’t sure the plan can pass their chamber.

The House’s vote Saturday was 63-51. The measure emerged from negotiations between the two chambers on spending for the two fiscal years beginning in July.

Senators expected to vote Saturday night.

The bill sets a budget of $14.5 billion for the next fiscal year, an increase of 1.5 percent. However, the budget for the fiscal year beginning in July 2014 would be $14.2 billion.

Some lawmakers objected to cuts for prisons and higher education. Also, some legislators want to delay having long-term, in-home services for the developmentally disabled administered by private health insurance companies, as other medical services for the needy are now.

 

(AP) — The Kansas Senate has approved a measure that could delay or block new, multi-state standards for math and reading in public schools.

The measure, approved 24-12 Saturday, would create an 11-member legislative panel to review decisions by the State Board of Education on adopting and implementing any uniform education standards. The bill is aimed at Common Core standards developed by multiple states and adopted by the state board in 2010.

The bill goes to the House to consider.

Critics of the Common Core standards contend they endanger state control of education and will be costly. Supporters believe they’ll improve student performance.

But the measure also would prevent the board from implementing new science and history standards. The board approved history guidelines in April and is considering new, multi-state science guidelines.

 

(AP) — Authorities say more than 100 people were injured during a burst of severe storms and tornadoes on Friday night.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Saturday that Oklahoma City-area hospitals treated 104 people. More than half of those were people who had been cut or pierced.

Nine people died during the storm, which struck the Oklahoma City area during rush hour, trapping many people in their cars along Interstate 40.

The National Weather Service reported Friday evening that “several” tornadoes rolled across the prairie. The official number of tornadoes has not yet been determined.

 

   Release from Saline County Sheriffs Office

On May 31st 2013 at about 9:30 PM the Saline County Sheriff’s Office arrested 62 year old Lewis Grider of Salina.

Lewis Grider was booked into the Saline County Jail on the charge of Involuntary Manslaughter in connection to the hit and run accident that occurred in the 3500 block of W. Crawford on May 31st 2013 at about 849 AM.

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public that called with information that assisted the Sheriff’s Office with locating the suspect and the vehicle.

Additional charges may be filed in this case.

Any additional information reference this case will only be release by the Saline County Attorney’s Office.

 

 

Saturday 7:45 a.m.  Authorities have made an arrest in connection with Friday’s fatal hit and run bike accident in Salina. According to Saline County dispatch, officers made the arrest overnight and a suspect is being held on charges of involuntary manslaughter.  Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.

 

5PM  On May 31st, 2013 between 8:00 AM-8:46 AM there was a fatality accident that occurred in the 3500 blk of West Crawford (between Halstead Road and Burma

Road on West Crawford).

A bike rider, Gail Lynne Kline, 49 YOA from Delphos, KS was struck while riding her bike West bound on West Crawford.

Gail was found lying in the North ditch by a passerby.

Gail was participating in a sanctioned bike ride named Kandango Ride.

Evidence was found at the scene suggests the suspect vehicle is a 2000-2002 Chevy or GMC van (1500, 2500, 3500 series).

Cause of death has not been determined yet. Autopsy is being performed at a later time.

The sheriff’s office is asking the public for their assistance in locating the suspect vehicle or suspect in this case.

If you have any information we ask you to call either the Saline County Sheriff’s Office (785-826-6500) or Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, or text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.

2000 -2002 Chevy or GMC Van 1500, 2500,3500 (Above picture is not the suspect vehicle just a reference) Possible damage to the right front turn signal lens and will be missing an antenna. It may possibly have additional damage to the right front area. Color is unknown.

 

 

10:45 a.m.  The Saline County Sheriffs Office is investigating a hit and run fatality accident, where a bike rider was killed on W. Crawford about a half mile east of Burma Road.

It was an unknown type vehicle perhaps a truck or SUV that struck the female bike rider as she was westbound on Crawford.

It is believed the hit and run happened about 8:15am.

The woman was taken to Salina Regional Health Center where she died.

She is not from Saline County.

If you have any information that could lead to finding the vehicle and driver involved in the hit and run, please call the Saline County Sheriffs Office at 826-6500.