Watch Your Step by Jim Breen Issues/Opinions Editor

Susan Shaver of Mutual 11 survived a recent scam attempt beginning with an e-mail message from Macintosh tech support that froze her computer.

She was instructed to call a number in upstate New York and when she did, she told “Jason,” who answered that she didn’t have a Mac.

“I told him it was a HP,” said Shaver. “When he offered to provide support for that product too, I became suspicious.”

At that point, she was instructed to press down a button and a window popped up and told her to type in a “fast support” website.

She did, but it led to another window that requested her name and allowed the scammer to enter a “code.”

But at the top of the window, another message popped up that told Shaver: “If you don’t know who you’re talking to, do not allow them access to your computer.”

That wasall the resident needed to realize that she was being scammed.

“I told him I wouldn’t be going any further and would take my computer to my tech support people at Staples,” she said.

When she did, Shaver was told that four other people fell victim to the scheme and it cost them between $300-$400 apiece to clear their computers of a virus.

She was fortunate. Her computer was cleared and no viruses were found.

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Last week, Mutual 8 resident Judy Jasmin picked up the following robocall:

“This your credit card company (name was never given). We are calling to offer you a lower interest rate on your card.  Please press

CalRTA

Division 56 of the California Association of Retired Teachers (CalRTA) will be inactive in July and August.

The board of directors will reconvene on Sept. 2 and the first luncheon is scheduled for Oct. 7.

LW Statistics

From June 1-8:

Fire

June 4, Mutual 2, 7:25 p.m. The Orange County Fire Authority and Security responded to smoke from burned food on a stove top.

Theft

June 3, Mutual 14, 4 p.m. Metal and wooden chimes were taken from a garden.

June 8, Clubhouse 6, 12:55 p.m. A cell phone was taken while the owner was playing table tennis.

June 8, Mutual 1, 4:45 p.m. A lawn chair and plant table were taken from a shareholder’s yard.

Vandalism

June 1, North Gate, 1:17 a.m. The Seal Beach Police Dept. reported graffiti on the exterior of the north-east perimeter wall.

Traffic

June 1, Mutual 12, 9:45 p.m. A driver who hit a parked car was arrested for driving under the influence and her car was impounded.

June 7, Mutual 1,12:45 p.m. A driver backing out of the parking lot next to Clubhouse 1 struck a FedEx truck.

Incidents

June 1, Mutual 15, 2:40 p.m. A purse left on a bench outside the Pharmacy was gone when the shareholder returned.

June 2, Mutual 2, 2:10 p.m. A camera was removed from the exterior eave of an apartment at the mutual president’s request.

June 6, Mutual 14, 10:40 p.m. Seal Beach police and Security responded to a report of noise. The shareholder was reminded of the 10 p.m. noise curfew.

Children a Priority

Children-A-Priority will meet at noon on Thursday, July 7, in Clubhouse 4. 

Guest speaker will be Brad Keeling from Orange County Teen Challenge one of the largest substance abuse recovery and prevention programs in California.

The organization is committed to helping those involved in addiction, alcohol, and gang violence. 

Teen Challenge gives back to local communities with outreaches, events and after-school programs. 

Evangelism and outreach to at-risk youth and families is at the heart of the organization’s ministry in Orange County.

Before the program, a hot catered lunch will be served at noon. 

To make reservations and for more information, call Maria Swift at 493-1924.

Senior Patriots for Peace

All residents are invited to participate in the Senior Patriots for Peace’s vigil from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, in front of the main entrance of Leisure World along Seal Beach Boulevard.

Members hold monthly vigils to call attention to the need for a return to peace with a renewed tolerance of others.

This month, the focus will be on the June 12 massacre in Orlando when 50 people lost their lives.

Those with concerns about an increase of hate and violence, a lack of tolerance toward others, and the widespread availability of assault weapons of war, are invited to join the vigil for any block of time.

Signs will be provided, or people can bring their own.

For more information, call Lucille Martin at 430-1047.