The Coronavirus Scams Epidemic

05/12/20 • 43 min

As if the coronavirus pandemic were not bad enough, it has spawned another epidemic. Testing and treatment scams, product delivery scams, tax identity theft, and a multitude of new and creative ways to get people to divulge private information or click on sites that load malware, ransomware, and other dangerous software onto their devices are on the rise.
As our guest, Steve Weisman says, “Things aren’t as bad as you think, they are far worse.” But don’t despair. Steve joins Torchlight’s Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, and Eldercare Illuminated host, Lenore Tracey, and for a discussion of what to beware of and how to avoid the clever ways these thieves seek to undermine our digital security. Steve alerts us to attacks and identity theft based on use of websites and apps targeted at students, younger children, seniors, and employees; he offers some surprising insights about how criminals are exploiting the tools and applications we use every day.
Steve has helpful strategies to share for all of us — adults and kids of all ages. Check out his website, Scamicide.com, for regular updates on new scams and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
About Our Guest:
Steve Weisman, JD is an attorney admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, college professor at Bentley University, and nationally recognized expert on scams, identity theft and cybersecurity. He appears regularly in the media to share his knowledge and ideas for staying one step ahead of the bad guys.
You can find Steve’s books on retirement planning and digital security on Amazon. Learn more about identity theft attacks based on use of Facebook, iPad, iPhone, Android, cloud apps, iPod, and other new technologies — and shows you how to protect yourself, or how to fix the damage if you've already been attacked!

Previous Episode

Helping Kids Overcome Procrastination

You probably know the drill. It begins the moment you ask your child to do something. "Please pick up your shoes." "Start your homework." "Feed the dog." But instead of being met with the eager cooperation that parents everywhere dream of, you’re met with the same familiar response. "Hang on." "I’ll do it later." "In a minute." Of course, in kid-speak a “minute” rarely turns out to be just a minute. And occasionally, it seems (to parents, at least) like code for "I don’t want to do that at all."
And so your child or teen may wait until the last possible minute to complete the requested task (often with much nagging or pleading involved), leaving one or both of you frustrated or upset. Procrastination has struck again! How can you help foster a more positive (and productive) outcome for you and your child? Join Exceptional Parenting Podcast host Stefanie Boucher for a timely discussion with public speaker, coach, and executive functioning expert Leslie Josel about the most common reasons why children, and many adults, put off doing the inevitable (note: it’s not always what you might think) and how we, as parents, can use some simple techniques to help them build the skills they need to get things done.
About Our Guest:
Leslie Josel is a respected resource on ADHD and Executive Functioning in students. She launched Order Out of Chaos® in 2004 after her son was diagnosed with ADHD, executive dysfunction and other learning differences, and is the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management. In addition to authoring What’s the Deal with Teens and Time Management: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teen Succeed (2015), her work and writing are regularly featured in ADDitude Magazine and Family Circle. Leslie is also a public speaker; she conducts workshops in the U.S. and internationally.

Next Episode

Should You Send Your Child Back to School During the Pandemic?

Are you struggling to decide whether your child should attend school in-person or remotely this fall? Join Exceptional Parenting Podcast host Stefanie Boucher and Eldercare Illuminated podcast host Lenore Tracey for an in-depth discussion about the considerations parents are facing for the 2020-21 school year. In this episode, we’ll provide:
•An overview of the most common learning and attendance models taking shape right now
•Practical suggestions about how to make the “best” decision for your family
•How to let go of stress or guilt, no matter which path you take
•Tips for how to make in-person learning safer for your child
About Our Guests:
Stefanie Boucher is Torchlight’s Senior Content Developer and host of the Exceptional Parenting Podcast. A writer and editor, she has spent nearly two decades producing multi-media content for children, parents, students and teachers while raising children in the midst of a fast-pace culture that won't stop moving. In her current role, she offers families practical strategies for modern parenting, including how to balance health and well-being with the allure and necessity of modern technology and life.
Lenore Tracey is the Eldercare Practice Leader at Torchlight. For more than a decade, Lenore has been consulting and writing about caregiving issues, care for the caregiver, and family dynamics. She has contributed her expertise to long-term care content and website development for several government projects making eldercare information accessible to caregivers and individuals planning for their own futures. Lenore brings to her work deep personal experience as both a long-distance and local caregiver for elderly loved ones with Alzheimer's and other complex medical issues. She is a graduate of Tufts University.
Outside Resources:
School Decision-Making Tool for Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community/schools-childcare/back-to-school-decision-checklist.pdf
Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports:
https://www.pbis.org/utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Q & A:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions#39