Greg's Corner

Updates from September, 2017 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Greg Collier 8:58 am on September 5, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: gasoline, Hurricane Harvey ( 3 )   

  Stop buying gas you don’t need 

  

  Whenever a natural disaster like a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast, it’s almost a guarantee that some of the oil refineries will be knocked off-line. Hurricane Harvey was no different, flooding several refineries and closing them down. This has caused a run on gas stations in Texas in such cities as Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Gas stations in these areas have run out of gas, but it’s a man-made crisis born out of fear.

  The runs on gas stations have become so prevalent in Texas that not only has fighting broken out between customers, but some people were also filling up illegal containers like trash cans in order to hoard gas. It was these runs on the gas stations that caused the outlets to run out of gas because they’re not designed to distribute that much gas when everyone in the area is looking to fill up their tanks, or whatever other container they might have.

  If people had just gassed their cars like they normally would, there wouldn’t have been shortages. The gas is out there, but these runs are disrupting the delivery schedule to gas stations. Just think of all the gas that must have been wasted by people waiting hours in line to top off their tanks. Instead of reacting to fear, we should be conserving gas instead. While the supplies are being replenished, think about limiting your driving to only essential matters or not running your air conditioner as much when you drive.

  In times of crisis we need to think more about everyone else than just ourselves.

   

  Leave a ReplyCancel reply
• 

  Greg Collier 8:58 am on September 1, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: disaster relief ( 7 ), Hurricane Harvey ( 3 ), job scam ( 95 )   

  Disaster relief jobs may be a scam 

  

  A few days ago, we told you about some scams to avoid in the wake of Hurricane Harvey which has devastated the city of Houston. It’s come to our attention we missed one scam that could also have calamitous effects on people. On certain websites, there have been postings for disaster relief job that may not be legitimate jobs.

  This is reminiscent of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill from 2010 where fake jobs were being offered to help clean up the coastal Gulf region. It’s just a different twist on the usual job scam where the ad poster will ask you for money for either training or a background check for a job that doesn’t exist. No legitimate employer will ask you for money in advance.

  In order to protect yourself, make sure that any disaster relief work has either a contracted company behind. You should be able to check through the Better Business Bureau or the state government to see who has legitimate job offers for hurricane clean up.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 8:55 am on August 31, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Onliner, security ( 46 ), spam   

  Time to change your password again after massive spam list discovered 

  

  Cybersecurity experts have discovered a record-breaking spam operation which has compromised a number of email accounts. This spam attack, dubbed Onliner, has harvested over 700 million email addresses. A great number of these email accounts had their passwords divulged as well. Even the operator of Have I Been Pwned, whose website can tell you if your email has been exposed, had his email address listed in this latest leak.

  Speaking of HIBP, it is recommended that you go to their site to see if your email has been harvested in this leak or any previous leak or hack. The only information you have to submit is your email address. HIBP is considered a trusted site in tech circles so you won’t be exposing any sensitive information to them. If your email address is on their list for the Onliner leak, change your email password immediately.

  Thankfully, the only thing the email addresses seem to have been used for, was for sending spam to other email accounts. So far there have been no reports of the email accounts being used for anything nefarious like identity theft or financial chicanery.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 9:00 am on August 30, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Amazon ( 114 ), retail ( 49 ), Whole Foods ( 7 )   

  Amazon springs new prices on Whole Food customers 

  

  In our weekly update of Amazon trying to take over the world, Amazon finally took the reins of Whole Foods this past Monday. In doing so, Amazon dropped prices substantially almost across the board. They did this without any warning or any marketing building up to the launch. In terms of advertising, this was a brilliant move by Amazon considering the word spread like wildfire through both traditional and social media.

  Along with the price cuts, Amazon also supplied the Whole Foods stores with discounted Amazon Echoes and Dots, their line of voice activated smart speakers. Amazon is also said to be offering additional savings to members of their Amazon Prime service as well.

  Reaction by consumers has been mixed. People that already shop at Whole Foods are appreciative of the price drops and people who were on the fringe of shopping there are willing to now give it a try. Many people are still priced out of Whole Foods as the store is trying to shake its derogative nickname of Whole Paycheck.

  While not giving it the national reach of WalMart, it’s another domino falling in Amazon’s plan to control retail space. However, Amazon will be offering Whole Food products on their website where they already dominate. While WalMart and other national chains shouldn’t be shaking in their boots just yet, Amazon is slowing taking pieces out of their market share.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 9:01 am on August 29, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity ( 18 ), Hurricane Harvey ( 3 ), Scams ( 1,668 )   

  Beware of scams in the wake of Hurricane Harvey 

  

  Natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey often bring out the best in humanity with many people donating time, money, resources and even blood to help the victims who have been ravaged by the storm. Unfortunately, it also brings out the worst in humanity with people trying to not only scam the victims of the storm, but those who are willing to open their hearts and wallets to the victims.

  Victims of the storm need to be aware of fake contractors offering to repair their homes. A lot of people will approach storm damaged homes claiming to be contractors, however, almost anyone can claim to be one. Avoid paying contractors up front in full and try to stick with with people you know or people who have been recommended to you. Displaced storm victims also have to be aware of rental scams as well. As usual, don’t ever wire money to a prospective landlord and don’t trust anyone who won’t let you see the property first before renting.

  Lastly, for those of you wanting to donate to relief funds for the victims, be careful for a number of scams looking to take advantage of you. Stick with known charities like the Red Cross. The City of Houston also has its own relief fund you can donate directly too.

  Being a smarter consumer not only helps the victims of the hurricane but will also help keep these scams from propagating in the future.

  Disaster relief jobs may be a scam | Greg's Corner is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
• 

  Greg Collier 8:54 am on August 28, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: lawsuit ( 48 ), real estate ( 140 ), Zestimates ( 2 ), zillow ( 17 )   

  Zillow has Zestimate lawsuit thrown out 

  

  Back in May, we posted how real estate site Zillow was being sued over their ‘Zestimate’ feature. The lawsuit claimed Zillow’s estimates were undervaluing the homes which were being sold on Zillow and that Zestimates were a de facto appraisal. In Illinois, where the suit was filed, all real estate appraisers have to be licensed in the state.

  Zillow can breathe a zigh of relief for now, as the lawsuit has been dismissed by a U.S. District Judge in Chicago. The judge ruled the portmanteau of Zillow and estimate, creating Zestimate, clearly shows consumers it is an estimate and not an appraisal and Zestimates were just a starting point for people looking to buy a home. The judge also ruled Zillow did not violate Illinois’ Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act.

  The plaintiffs will no doubt try to file an amended lawsuit since they still claim Zestimates are affecting property values negatively.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 8:57 am on August 25, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: eBay ( 16 ), Facebook Marketplace ( 68 )   

  Is Facebook Marketplace looking to take a bite out of eBay? 

  

  In Facebook’s further attempts to be all things to all people, they are looking to expand their Marketplace feature to include not just private sellers but businesses as well. This would put Marketplace not only at odds with sites like craigslist, but now would pit them against Amazon and eBay as well. Both of the aforementioned online retail titans have allowed businesses of all sorts to sell their wares through their websites for years now.

  The main difference between Marketplace and eBay is Marketplace does not offer a payment service to use like how eBay relies on PayPal. Sellers and buyers are still expected to work out the financial dealings on their own. As we’ve pointed out in the past, since Marketplace doesn’t moderate their ads well, if at all. This could still lead not only to fraudulent transactions but could also lead to other dangerous incidents such as robbery and the like.

  However, it appears Facebook is only halfheartedly behind Marketplace, not as a disruptor in the online retail space, but more as a way to keep users from wandering out of Facebook’s walled garden. As nice as a garden may look, if you try to prevent users from going elsewhere then it’s just a well-groomed prison.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 8:56 am on August 24, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Backpage ( 70 ), California ( 21 ), Carl Ferrer ( 15 ), Human trafficking ( 101 ), Jim Larkin ( 11 ), Michael Lacey ( 10 )   

  Court gives go ahead to prosecute Backpage heads 

  

  Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer

  For the better part of a year, the state of California has been trying to prosecute the CEO and founders of Backpage on prostitution and money laundering charges. Attorneys for Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer and Backpage founders Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin have repeatedly claimed the three men are protected by the First Amendment. After their first arrest, the three men did have pimping charges against them dismissed, however, the state came back and charged them with money laundering in addition to pimping.

  After their second arrest, the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations would gather evidence the committee says shows Backpage knowingly edited their ads to hide any references to underage girls being advertised on their site for sex. Another crushing blow to Backpage was when the Washington Post uncovered documentation which claimed Backpage was copying and soliciting ads for their adult sections. Backpage’s facade of free speech was now crumbling.

  Yesterday, the Sacramento County Superior Court overruled defense dismissal motions, meaning prosecution against Ferrer, Larkin and Lacy can proceed. The trio is looking at 25 counts each of money laundering and conspiracy to use Backpage to profit from sex trafficking. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has promised to prosecute this case vigorously.

  “Today’s victory doesn’t exact justice just yet against those who would prey on vulnerable young women and men. But it brings us a step closer.”

  If it can be proven Backpage knowingly edited their ads to allow underage girls to be trafficked on their site, it negates their protection under the Communications Decency Act. The CDA states that websites aren’t responsible for the content posted by users, however, if the Backpage was editing the ads, that makes Backpage the content creators themselves, which not only opens them up for further prosecution but lawsuits from their victims as well.

  Hopefully, this ruling by the Sacramento County Superior Court is a sign of things to come where the victim’s of Backpage sex trafficking can finally receive the justice they deserve.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 8:53 am on August 23, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Avocado, Facebook Marketplace ( 68 ), New Zealand   

  A new criminal enterprise is being run on Facebook Marketplace 

  

  A new scourge of the criminal underworld has been showing up on Facebook Marketplace in New Zealand. It’s the product of a crime wave that is fueling a black market that could have potentially disastrous results by anyone who buys this product. I am of course speaking of the avocado.

  Avocados have become so popular in the Kiwi nation some people have taken to stealing the crops from farmers and selling the stolen fruit on roadside stands. However, law enforcement have taken to shutting down these illegal stands. So the avocado rustlers have taken to Facebook Marketplace to sell their ill-gotten gains. The problem is, some of the avocados are either unripe or still have insecticide sprayed on them which could be hazardous to anyone who tries to eat them.

  To be fair, while we may be poking a little fun at the situation, it does show that Facebook Marketplace is still largely unmoderated, relying more on community policing. Craigslist has shown in the past community policing does not work in the long run and is more prone to abuse than any actual policing.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 8:57 am on August 22, 2017 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Amazon ( 114 ), blimps, retail ( 49 ), walmart ( 25 )   

  You won’t believe WalMart’s new weapon against Amazon 

  

  Yes, the headline sounds a lot like clickbait, but you really won’t believe it. While Amazon is taking to the streets with its expansion by buying Whole Foods and other properties, WalMart is possibly planning to take to the skies. The American retail giant from Bentonville, Arkansas, has filed a patent for a floating distribution center, aka a blimp.

  
  Relevant content starts at 17:41

  If the patent filing is to be believed, the plan seems to be for WalMart to have unmanned floating dirigibles with a fleet of drones to deliver items to the home. This is supposed to be another solution to the problem of the ‘last mile’, the most expensive part of home delivery. However, is this actually a feasible solution, or is WalMart just filing a patent in hopes the law and technology will catch up to their dream?

  In the short-term this sounds more like a daydream than anything. The FAA, like most government agencies, are slow to catch up to new technologies. At present, it doesn’t seem likely that the FAA would allow a fleet of unmanned blimps to litter the skies releasing delivery drones in their wake. Not to mention, what if one of these unmanned blimps were to be involved with some kind of air incident? While it may not be WalMart’s fault, it could be a potential PR disaster if anyone were to be hurt by one of these blimps.

  While it takes bold strategies to overcome your business competitors, on the surface this seems like nothing more than a fantasy.