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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.

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By Philip Hensley, Indiana State Police Master Trooper

A crash Monday along State Road 56 in Washington County took the life of an Austin man and seriously injured a second driver.

Around 7:31 a.m. Monday, 62-year-old James Fox of Austin was traveling east on State Road 56 near Elk Creek Road. Investigators believe Fox crossed into the westbound lanes and into the path of 46-year-old Jason Terrell of Bedford. Terrell was traveling west on State Road 56. Fox’s 2007 Chevrolet Silverado collided with Terrell’s 2013 GMC Sierra in a near head-on collision, which forced both vehicles out of the roadway.

Fox was pronounced dead at the scene by the Washington County Coroner’s Office. Terrell was extricated from his GMC and was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital for his injuries.

State Road 56 was closed for nearly four hours as the State Police Crash Reconstruction Team investigated the collision and the scene was cleared.

The family of the deceased has been notified, but the crash remains under investigation.

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, we know we will hear the ringing bell and see the Angle Trees of the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army raises funds to help those in need with their Red Kettle collections. They also sponsor the Angel Tree program, where individuals may choose a registered “angel” and purchase gifts of new clothing and toys for them. The gifts are distributed to the families in time to place them under the family’s Christmas tree.
If anybody needs assistance during the holidays or would like to sign up a child who lives in Washington County for the Angel Tree, they can call 812-883-1637.

The Red Kettle fundraising campaign will begin Saturday, Nov. 27, and runs through Tuesday, Dec. 24. The bell ringing hours are Friday – Saturday 10 a.m.—6 p.m. and Mondays -Thursdays 4-8 p.m. There are no Sunday shifts.

Ringers can be individuals, organizations, families, churches, school groups, 4-H groups or scout groups. To join in, please call Meredith Peters at 812-620-5835 as early as possible.

This year, as in years past, the red kettle will be set up at both doors at the Salem Walmart.

How the Red Kettle Campaign Began

General Booth founded the Salvation Army in 1865 on the east side of London. This area was filled with poverty, a lot of recent immigrants, drunkards, prostitutes and orphans. It was hard to say that there was a loving God out there when so many hungry and cold. So, the concept came up of soup, souls and salvation.

To accomplish that goal funds were needed. The kettle collection was started in San Francisco in 1891 after a Salvation Captain Joseph McFee promised to feed 1,000 destitute people near Fishman’s Wharf.

His idea was to set up an old lobster pot for collections, and he came up with the slogan “Keep the pot boiling.” He met his goal and collected enough money to feed the people.

The bell ringing began in 1900 with a teenaged volunteer in New York City named Amelia Kunkel. She was frustrated that so many bankers bypassed her and ignored her fundraising efforts. She went to Woolworth’s Department Store and bought a small bell for ten cents. The bell ringing became an established tradition for the Red Kettle program that continues today.

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By Philip Hensley, Indiana State Police Sellersburg District

A Knightstown woman was arrested Thursday evening on charges related to the alleged battery of a 4-year-old child in Salem.

On Wednesday, December 4, Master Trooper Detective Travis Baker, in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Child Services, began an investigation into the alleged battery of a 4-year-old child. The child had arrived at school on Monday, Dec. 2, in Salem with bruising on both arms, which the school reported to the Department of Child Services. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that the child was under the care of April Dean, 31, of Knightstown, while at a residence in Salem, from November 28 through December 1. This is the period of time in which the alleged incident is believed to have occurred.

Detective Baker met with Dean Thursday evening. After speaking with Dean, she was placed in custody and charged with Domestic Battery and Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Injury. She was lodged in the Washington County Jail.

The Indiana State Police encourages anyone who believes a child has been harmed or is in a potentially dangerous or harmful situation to report the circumstances to either the Indiana Department of Child Services or a law enforcement agency as soon as possible.

Arrested and Charges:
April Dean, 31, Knightstown, Indiana

Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Bodily Injury, Level 5 Felony
Domestic Battery, Level 6 Felony

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Christmas is here, and The Salvation Army of Southern Indiana needs your help to bring hope to Southern Indiana families throughout the Christmas season and beyond. A generous anonymous donor has provided a match donation to encourage giving and support for this Saturday, December 7. On Saturday, every $20 bill found in a red kettle in Clark, Floyd, Washington, Harrison, Crawford, and Scott counties will be matched up to $5,000.

"Daily we seek to help those in need in Southern Indiana. This can only be done as a community effort. We are still in great need of both volunteers to ring at the kettles and in increase of giving when you stop at them. On Saturday, your giving can be doubled," said Captain Strand of The Salvation Army. "We have seen the generosity of people in Southern Indiana and know together we can love those hurting in our communities beyond this Christmas season. We can bring lasting hope to many in Southern Indiana."

The $20 match will last at all red kettles serviced through The Salvation Army of Southern Indiana from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 7. Those interested in volunteering as bell ringers this season can go online at Registertoring.com or call (812) 944-1018.