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1. Misleading Social Media Ads: As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see products advertised. Always research before you buy. BBB Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised.

2. Social Media Gift Exchanges: Each holiday season this scheme pops back up. Newer versions of this scam revolve around exchanging bottles of wine or bourbon; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. In all these versions, participants unwittingly share their personal information, along with those of their family members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping gifts or money to unknown individuals. It's also an illegal pyramid scheme. Stick to buying your friends gifts from trustworthy businesses, and check BBB.org before you buy.

3. Holiday Apps: Apple's App Store and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish lists. Review privacy policies to see what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee. Free apps can also contain malware.

4. Fake Toll Collection Texts: watch out for fake road toll collection texts, which have been on the rise this year. In this con, scammers impersonate a state road tollway collection service and text you saying you owe a road toll fee and provide a link to click to make your payment. If you receive at text, don’t click the link. Instead, if you think you may owe road tolls, verify your outstanding balance with the legitimate agency.

5. Free Gift Cards: Scammers have been known to send bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and promise gift cards to reward their loyal customers. They may also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize. If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do not open it. Instead, mark it as spam or junk and delete it. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links.

6. Temporary Holiday Jobs: Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday employers because of the increase in online orders that need to be delivered before Christmas. Job seekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information from job applicants.

7. Imposter Scams: Impostor scams can take many forms, especially during the holiday season when you may be purchasing and returning gifts. When shopping online, be on the lookout for fake, look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making dead-end purchases, and sharing private information. If you’re reaching out to a business on social media for customer support, watch out for fake social media accounts pretending to be a customer service representative for a business. When in doubt, go to the business’s website and find their official social media handles, or use the information on the site to reach out.

8. Fake Charities: Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today. Verify a charity at BBB's Give.org or on the Canada Revenue Agency website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.

9. Fake Shipping Notifications: More consumers making online purchases during the holidays leads to an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers use this surge to send phishing emails and texts about package deliveries with links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device. Never click a link in a text or email that you’re not expecting. If you want to track a package, find the original email or text confirmation you received directly from the store and use that link.

10. Advent Calendars: In past years, BBB received reports to Scam Tracker about advent calendar ads on social media not delivering as promised. Some were not received, and others received inferior products or incomplete orders. Consumers should research before they buy, read reviews and look up the company on BBB.org before purchasing. BBB also has a shopper's guide to help you purchase that niche advent calendar.

11. Holiday Wish List Items: Low-priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. The same applies to popular toys. This year, the Ms.Rachel Speak & Sing Doll, Barbies, Bluey toys, and brain teasers and puzzles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when considering purchasing popular toys from resellers on Facebook Marketplace and other platforms.

12. Puppy Scams: Many families may be considering adding a furry friend to their household this year. However, be on the lookout for scams. Many would-be pet owners turn to the internet to find their future cat or dog, but experts say a shocking 80% of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake. Be sure to see the pet in person before making a purchase.

Members of the Salem High School Class of 1964 gathered recently. They had dinner together at the Salem Lions Club on October 24.

Those attending included Mike and Connier Pruitt, Raymond and Tina Lee, Ronnie and Sandy Morris, Isaac Smith, Tom Jackson, Vivian Wilson and Debbie Hall.

Also, Ronnie Ransom, Phillip and Patty Lytle, Pat Horner, Max Bedwell, June Rudder, Lew and Aliene Reyman and Sally and Marvin Hattabaugh.

The next meeting for the class will be Saturday, December 14, 5 p.m., at the Lions Club, North Shelby St., Salem.

All classmates are invited to attend.

December 8, 1821 Alexander Ralston publishes his map of Indianapolis, a one-mile square with four diagonal streets and a circle in the middle.

December 8, 1983 President Ronald Reagan gave a speech about education at the Indiana Convention Center.

December 9, 1963 Studebaker announced its closing in South Bend. The company had begun more than 100 years earlier with the production of wheelbarrows. They became the world's largest maker of wagons and carriages and evolved into a major manufacturer of cars and trucks.

December 12, 1958 Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to a crowd of 4,000 in Indianapolis at Cadle Tabernacle. He said, "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

December 14, 1909 Workers placed the last of 3.2 million ten-pound bricks on the 2 1/2 mile oval track at the Indianapolis Speedway. It has been called "The Brickyard" ever since.

Our Where in Indiana? from last week was taken in Indianapolis of Lockerbie Street.

Where in Indiana?

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Indiana Statehouse Tour Office

Indiana Department of Administration

Guided Tours of the Indiana Statehouse are offered Monday through Saturday. For more information, contact us.

(317) 233-5293
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Indiana Quick Quiz

1. In what year were the 36-inch strip of the original bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway preserved as the start/finish line?

2. What is the name of the 36-inch strip of bricks at the start/finish line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

3. In what year did the tradition of the winning team kissing the bricks start?

4. Who is the first driver to kiss the bricks?

Answers Below

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Answers

1. 1961

2. The yard of bricks

3. 1996

4. NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett

The true measure of a person's worth is not in their achievements, but in how they treat others.

-James Whitcomb Riley

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Indiana Capitol Tour Office
http://www.in.gov/idoa/2371.htm

By: Madelyn Moore

As the trees are left bare and the cold stings no matter the layers of clothes one wears, a feeling of melancholy may begin to set in. This frustrating feeling that cannot be controlled, and seems unexplainable to most people, may have more solvability than realized.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 20% of people endure some form of seasonal depression. This gloom may range in severity, but it makes an impact worth taking a moment to better understand.

“It’s normal to feel a little down during the colder months. You may be stuck inside, and it gets dark early,” said the Cleveland Clinic, “but full SAD [Seasonal Affective Disorder] goes beyond this.”

Ellen Kelley, a clinical social worker, explained more about this sadness that seems to blow in along with the cold, and how its impact can be lessened.

“Seasonal depression, often called SAD, is a depression that happens during the winter months when there is less sunlight,” Kelley said. “Symptoms include mood changes, loss of interest in activities and withdrawal from normal life.”

Kelley explained it is more likely to affect people living in the northern half of the United States and those already diagnosed with other mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or other depression disorders. In addition, it is more common in women.

SAD has been an issue for people during the cold months for an unmeasurable amount of time; although, it seems more common now due to more recognition.

Treatment includes therapy, antidepressants and self-care, which Kelley elaborated on and said, “Exercise, getting outside when possible, and a daily 30-minute walk can help.”

The research that Kelley studied shows that exercise can be equally effective as treatment for depression as medication is.

“Vitamin D can prevent depression but check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or supplement,” said Kelley.

Treatment resistant SAD can also benefit from light therapy. Overall, there are many ways to lessen the impact of the disorder.

December 3, 1968 Brendan Fraser, American actor (Encino Man; The Mummy films; Gods and Monsters), born in Indianapolis.

December 5, 1895 Elbert Frank Cox, African-American mathematician (first African-American to receive PhD in Mathematics) born in Evansville.

December 5, 1679 Robert LaSalle reaches the portage between St. Joseph and Kankakee Rivers. He is considered the first explorer to reach Indiana.

December 6, 1924 "Limberlost" author Gene Stratton Porter dies in Los Angeles when her limousine is struck by a streetcar. Her novels, poetry and nature books capture her love of outdoor Indiana.

December 7, 1956 Larry Bird, American Basketball HOF forward, coach, executive (3x NBA Championship; NBA Finals MVP 1984, 86; 3 x NBA MVP; 12 x NBA All Star; Boston Celtics), born in West Baden.

Our Where in Indiana? from last week was taken in Winchester at Mrs. Wick's Restaurant & Pie Shop.