Scouts should be told about scams

I was recently asked to speak in front of Cub Scout Pack 888 Den 11. My mission: Help these boys accomplish another achievement by answering three questions: Where do I get my articles? How do you write the articles? Where do the articles go after I write them?

The boys who attended – Jordan Acre, Matthew Terry and Jacob Lawson – are working toward advancing to the next level. Although I was asked to help them, they really helped me. These boys were obviously interested in how I do my job and what I had to say about the newspaper business.

I have to say I was very impressed. Not only did they listen intently to what I had to say, they asked good questions at the end.

I had no idea what scouts had to accomplish in different areas, including whittling, building bird houses, cycling, camping and saving money. Although I never would have thought about it, it’s never to early to learn the value of saving money.

There are other things I did not know:

The Cub Scout program has two basic features, Rank Advancement, and the Academics and Sports program.

The first badge all Cub Scouts earn, regardless of age, is the Bobcat Badge. After earning the Bobcat Badge, they proceed to work on advancement specific to their age level. As part of these requirements, they must learn the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout Motto.

The Webelos Program is a two-year program for fourth- and fifth-grade boys. In both years, they work toward earning Webelos Activity Badges in 20 different areas, arranged in five groups.

I think, as time passes, people hear the names Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts and they don’t actually register what these organizations do to enhance children’s lives with structure. It’s good to actually see what these programs are doing first-hand. From what I’ve seen, they’re doing a good job.

Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe the scouts could add how to identify possible scammers into their activities. I had a discussion with a gentleman worried about scammers and the different tactics they try in order to get money from honest people. I expressed to him my concerns about the number of e-mail’s I receive that look questionable and how many people fall for them.

I receive ones concerning my bank account. It always states that someone has been trying to access my account and that I need to e-mail them back and give them information that will secure my account. I’m sure this information would include all my personal information as well as my bank information.

The first clue that led me to believe this might not be on the up and up is the fact I don’t have an account with that bank. However, there must be others who received the e-mail and do have an account with that particular bank and maybe they might give up valuable information.

I also receive messages, although slightly more unbelievable, from people who want to do good things or need my help. One was from a Mrs. Hajar Karam, a citizen of Kuwait but currently residing in the United Kingdom. To make a long story short, as soon as she hears back from me, she will give me directions on how to get $8.5 million deposited into my account.

Without a doubt, the information she will eventually need is my account information. Once she has that, will I get my $8.5 million or a overdraft statement from my bank?

I’m not sure if either of these are scams but I’m not going to risk any of my hard-earned money trying to find out. Maybe we should start showing these scams to our children and telling them the worst-case scenario about responding.

Lisa Hobbs is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191.