Hello! My name Elaine Ducharme.

I am the director for the DeafBlind Community Access Network - DBCAN. This program provides services for DeafBlind individuals.

Did you know there is a DBCAN opportunity that enables DeafBlind individuals to become independent? DBCAN is looking to fill the Assistant Director position! The position is 30 hours per week with great benefits.

The responsibilities include:

1. Manage DBCAN Provider trainings.
2. Provide support with any issues and conflicts while making sure that Consumer and Provider questions and concerns are resolved.
3. Set up and prepare DBCAN Advisory Council meetings three times a year and write minutes.
4. Assist in monitoring program tracking; reviewing and advising service hours, and measuring service use.
5. Assist the Director by monitoring issues impacting program goals and improvements, as well as outreach to both new consumers and new providers.

Qualifications include:

1. A bachelor’s degree in human services, social work or a related field. ASL fluency preferred.
2. Strong interpersonal skills, excellent problem solving, and works well in teams.
3. Three years' experience with DeafBlind individuals and community as well as an understanding and sensitivity to DeafBlind culture.
4. Three years’ experience of problem conflict solving, identifying needs, providing support, and mediating.
5. Can communicate and sign comfortably with a variety of people, including those using tactile communication. Excellent English skills as well as competent computer skills required.

For more information, check out our website! https://www.deafinconline.org/jobs/job-opportunities

Apply today!

Hello everyone! 

My name is Robbie. Today I wanted to talk about different scams related to COVID-19. 

As we know, the COVID-19 vaccine is being disseminated throughout the US. However, there are scammers out there taking advantage of the situation. I’m going to tell you three way you can avoid being scammed:

1: You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. That’s a scam

2: You can’t pay to get early access to the vaccine. That’s a scam.

3: Nobody legit will call you about the vaccine and ask about you credit card information, bank account number, or social security number. That’s a scam. 

If someone contacts you asking for personal financial information, ignore them. It’s a scam. For more information, visit these two links:

Now I’d like to discuss COVID-19 contact tracing scams. If you have contracted COVID-19, your state health department may call you. However, scammers are pretending to be contract tracers as well. I’m going to tell you five important things you need to know to be able to identify a scammer. 

1: Real contact tracers won’t ask for money. That’s a scam.

2: Real contact tracers won’t ask for your bank account information. That’s a scam.

3: Legitimate contact tracers won’t ask for your social security number. That’s a scam.

4: Your immigration status doesn’t matter for contact tracing. If someone asks about this, it’s a scam. 

5: If you receive a text or email with a link, don’t click it. It is likely a scam. 

If you experience any of these scams, report them to your state. 

Now I will discuss stimulus check fraud. The FTC issued warning signs about possible scams related to the stimulus checks. 

1: The IRS will not text you regarding stimulus checks. That’s a scam. 

2: The IRS will not send you mail with a password on it. That’s a scam. 

3: The IRS will not send you an overpayment check. That’s a scam.

Other types of scams include economic impact payments. That’s a scam. Do not apply if you already filed your 2019 taxes. Stimulus checks will be sent automatically. If you have not yet received a direct deposit in your bank account, a physical check will come in the mail. For social security recipients, no action is needed. Watch out for overpayment from the IRS. They won’t ask you to send money back. The IRS will not contact you through phone, text, or email asking for your bank account information. If you are contacted in this way, it is a scam. 

Now I will discuss scams related to online dating. If an online love interest asks you for money, it is a scam. Scammers know that millions of people use online dating sites. Scammers set up online dating profiles and are hidden amongst the websites. Here are three signs of potential scammers:

1: If someone suddenly confesses their love for you, it may be a scam. 

2: If someone asks you for money, it is a scam. 

3: If someone claims to need money for an emergency, hospital bill, or travel, it is a scam. 

Romance scammers also ask their targets for money to: 

1: Pay for their plane ticket or other travel expenses.

2: Pay for surgery and other medical expenses. 

3: Pay customs fees to retrieve something.

4: Pay off gambling debts.

5: Pay for a visa or other official documents.

Please be careful of these online dating scammers. 

The FTC reported $201 million lost since 2015 due to scammers. Here are four tips on what you can do about scammers:

1: Slow down – scammers tend to rush their targets. If someone is rushing for you to give them money, it’s a scam. 

2: Never transfer money from your bank account, buy gift cards, or wire money to someone. You won’t get it back.

3: If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately and they will help you through the process. 

4: If you have experienced a scam, report this to the online dating site, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint, and the FBI at ic3.gov. 

Scammers ask people to pay them via wiring money as well as gift cards. For example, gift cards from Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, or Steam. Scammers will ask you to load money on these types of cards. Please avoid and report this. It is a scam. 

Now I will be discussing scams related to unemployment. Scammers have been sending forms to companies’ human recourses (HR) departments. HR provides information and contacts employee to let them know about the fraudulent claim. 

Sometimes employee gets mail from DUA on their unemployment benefits, with information on how to join the health connector, and a flyer for Mass Hires. This is a national scam. 

It is believed that the scammers have used stolen personal information from previous data breaches of large companies to file for the fraudulent benefits.

Now – DUA needs added identity verification measures that will temporarily delay the payment timeframe for many unemployment claims in Massachusetts. 

Some people who are filing for unemployment may be asked for additional identity information to verify their claim.

What to do if you receive notice that you are a victim of this scam:

Your HR or DUA says claim made in your name and you did not file – 

Important to report this right away. 

You must report this as well as your HR department. Let them know you were scammed. Run a credit check on yourself to make sure your finances are in order. 

If you discover that your finances have been tampered with, report it to these three companies:

1: Equifax

2: Experian

3: TransUnion

You can request your free credit report copy by contacting these 3 credit card companies. They will help you. 

That concludes this informative video related to scams and fraud. Please, be careful moving forward and be on the lookout. Have a good day!