Best Posts in Forum: Off-Topic Forum

Pat you could teach her to turn that corn into bourbon. It might be more palatable.
Sugar is considered a spice in the Philippines.

 

It did John, I had a stroke, Not as bad as a very good friend of mine but enough to Finish My Career and Forced Retirement 1 year early, sometimes it is pointless dwelling on things because in my case I never saw it coming

 

On February 2nd 1946 a baby came into the world and today he is EIGHTY!

He offers us, in frequent postings here, a set of Spiritual values that we appreciate and are thankful for.

He is called John Boy (@john boy) and I am sure we all hope he has a Very Special Day today on this his 80th Birthday.

 

A few of you here are raising a child, and for some of you here, like me, the second time around. There is huge difference with different issues between now and then.
For me, raising children in California in the 70's and 80's had challenges like drugs, having to travel for work and not be around to enforce discipline, job moves so different schools for the kids, teaching them to drive, and do your homework - not so much television.
Now days, social media seems to have the biggest impact. That means more gadgets, chat rooms, peer pressure, girls growing faster than boys, and less focus on school and school work being harder and more homework than before, among other interferences.
Most filipinas want children and some are not completely satisfied is a relationship if it is just her and the old man (sorry but true) For the foreigner, it is a huge responsibility and commitment to become a father (again for most). Both parties need to evaluate the consequences.

 

Hello Guys,

Proud to say we just released our new rnb music video in Filipino and English, all video shot in Dumaguete and its area, artist name is Aika Zabala , very smooth voice, you can watch it here



Ingat guys and stay safe

 

I have been reading past threads on a huge variety of scams within the country - and on that subject it would be possible to write a very large book!

I am writing more on banking-type scams and I think almost everyone is now aware of phishing emails - but I was surprised recently to read of crooks taking over sims. So, for those not aware, I decided to write this and also to recap on some of the (probably more well known) scams. Perhaps everyone is aware but if only one member learns something new then it will have been worth me again interrupting my very busy schedule ( ) to write about the subject. I am sure I have not covered everything so hope others might chip in.

Sim Card Swaps:
Basically, crooks use the fact that mobile phone service companies will move (port) a phone number to a new sim card if the original card is lost or there is an upgrade. The crooks gather personal details about the victim, by phishing, buying them from other criminals, collecting information foolishly posted on social media* or by directly socially engineering the victim (the psychological manipulation of the victim into performing actions or divulging confidential information). *I knew someone who put clothes into her washing machine with all her bank/store cards in the pockets. She told everyone about her mistake by posting on FB and included photos of all the cards!

The crooks then uses these details when contacting the victim's mobile telephone provider. They use social engineering techniques to convince the phone company to port the victim's phone number to the crook's OWN sim. This is done, for example, by impersonating the victim using personal details to appear authentic and claiming that they have lost their phone. BUT, in many cases SIM numbers are changed directly by telecom company employees bribed by the crooks.

Once this happens the victim's phone will lose connection to the network and the crook will now receive all the SMS and voice calls intended for the victim, thus allowing the crook to receive OTPs sent via text or telephone calls supposedly to the victim. This enables crooks to access victims' bank accounts, social media accounts, etc. that rely on text messages or telephone calls. Once they have access to accounts they can also change passwords and thus totally isolate a victims from their accounts, whilst removing all the cash.

So, apart from the essential awareness not to disclose information, if a sim appears not working then suspect a sim-swap as a possibility and contact banks and the sim provider asap.

Just a few more points for those not fully aware:
Phishing/Smishing/Vishing is where an email/text/phone call is received (perhaps all three to appear really genuine) and as it seems to come from the victim's bank, it looks valid. It may warn that the bank account has been compromised and gives a phone number or link to follow. The phone call or link will actually be going to a crook who then asks details of passwords/pins and so gains access to the victim's accounts. What some people do not realise is that if a crook randomly sends out 10,000 phishing emails from Bank X, those who do not use Bank X will ignore them as a scam or mistake BUT those who use Bank X will assume it must be legit ('or how else would they KNOW I use that bank?'). Email addresses can be stolen, generated or given out by the victim innocently (so if chatting online to that beautiful Russian lady - who in reality has a beard (two ways to look at that statement!) - then don't give her an email address used for banking).

SO:
1. NEVER follow a link in an email if it has any risk (e.g. is to do with banking). INSTEAD, input your bank online address in your browser from information you know is valid OR visit the bank in person.
2. If you do follow what seems an innocent link, do not give any information (even name and dob). This does not apply, of course, to things you are very familiar with and secure about - but still use extreme caution.
3. The same applies to texts or phone calls but in the case of replying to a phone call DO NOT call the person back on any number they give you and do not call them back IMMEDIATELY (even if using a phone number you know is valid) as they can keep their line open and when you phone back it is the crooks you will be connected to and not Bank X (or whatever).

In summary: Disregard any information provided to you and GO BACK TO SOURCE - using the phone numbers you 100% know are your bank's or make a personal visit to the bank.

Even if this does not apply to you (because you are already aware), please think about helping your SO become aware as, unfortunately and with no disrespect, Filipinos are very gullible.

This site gives more information: https://www.scamproof.ph/

 

It has been on my mind a while the question: When is a posting from a moderator done wearing the moderator's hat and when just as an individual member of the Forum with an opinion?

This has become more relevant as I found two of my posts on the thread "looking to move to Duma" deleted with no notification or reason given. When I repeated them, one (the one connected with a moderator, the person who deleted my posts) was very swiftly moved to off-topic. That one was in reply to a moderator's comment (which I considered trollin') and he is the moderator who deleted the posts! But, interestingly, his off-topic trollin' post remained

This has now led to me being threatened with 'actions' for daring to question this. I believe in fairness, so you never find me crawling into the 'hole' allocated to me by those with power. Never have and never will. I am not bothered by negative ratings, mockery, threats - or anything. And that's in colour!

The moderator had the option as an individual to give a rating or a written reply to my postings - but chose instead, using moderating powers no ordinary member has, to delete them.

I SUGGEST if it is time for moderators to have a 'Moderator profile' separate from their personal one. This means they can comment as moderators, which I accept they have the right to do, or separately in a personal capacity. This prevents any misunderstanding of which 'hat' they are wearing. I have no grudge against moderation as such as I understand and accept that without it any Forum would run amok.

 

Pandemics, communists, friends passing away, critics, I am taking my mind back to when I was a happy kid, albeit a poor one.
- my first crush, 6th grade
- learning baseball, basketball, football, soccer at the Boys Club
- paper route to earn money for a bicycle, levi’s, hot chocolate floats during the winters
- picking apples, peaches, cherries, strawberries from neighbourhood yards
- learning math and geography and history
- watching Annette mature
AND THEN TURNED 18 AND SUDDENLY WASN’T FUN ANY MORE