The Red Phone was back on the case again this week prowling for truth where ever it may lay. However, the SBC workers’ strike caused some logistical problems at the Free Lance, and as a result, the Magenta Maurader’s phone line was temporarily demoted to serve as a mere-modem. Deplorable, but fear not your scarlet savior is back now and for those callers who couldn’t get through try, try again – Red Phone is listening now.
Hooked on phonics
A caller wants to know which county can’t spell right when it comes to road signs on Frazier or Frazer road in San Benito County.
“I want you to check on whether San Benito or Santa Clara County is the bad speller,” he said. “If you turn on to Frazer Lake Road off of Shore Road in San Benito County the street sign is spelled F-R-A-Z-E-R, but when you get to the end of the road it is spelled F-R-A-Z-I-E-R. Now, one of those counties has it spelled wrong and I’d like to know which one is right.”
It appears San Benito County spelled it wrong according to two businesses operating in our area. The Frazier Lake Airpark utilizes the Santa Clara spelling as does Frazier Lake Farms, both call Hollister home. A payphone at the airpark is listed on Frazier Lake Road as well. One county official at the planning department said he didn’t know which was correct only it has been spelled this way for a long time, he said. The secretary, though she had no answers either, said it’s not the first time the quandary has been raised. Arman Nazemi, Assistant Director of Public Works for San Benito County said the county makes its own signs and it’s possible a simple typo can explain the disparity. He promised to check county documents and if it is a mistake, the county will rectify it.
One born every second
Apparently the evil spammers of the Internet have already located Red Phone’s newly created e-mail, re******@fr***********.com, and the scams are running aplenty. Con artists posing as Nigerian royalty, presidents, sons of oil tycoons and even high-ranking military officials have offered the Crimson Crusader a chance to get rich quick. All it takes is for the Red Phone to hand over its bank account information – if it only had one.
“I am Mohammed Abacha, the eldest son of the late president of Nigeria, I was falsely accused of murder and as such was imprisoned, but thanks to God, I have been released for my innocence, well friend I need your assistance in transferring some of my money into your account, because the government is making plans to seize them, as they did to my fathers own,” read one of the more than 100 e-mails Red Phone received over the last few weeks.
According to the Better Business Bureau in Oakland, this scam has a long running history in the United States but savvy con artists have made some changes including fake Internet sites that add credibility to the scam as well as modifying the letter to make it from different countries or even basing the letter on actual events. Whatever the case, they warn to never give personal information across the Internet to unsolicited requests. If you have already responded to a plea or know someone who has, the BBB suggests calling the U.S. Secret Service at 202-406-5572 or e-mail at 41*****@us**.gov.
