Barney Fife would be proud!  Two off-duty officers from different police departments wounded each other in a gunfight...

 ...in the middle of a road in an Atlanta suburb, proving that the truth (especially in the south) really is stranger than fiction.

Barack Obama: Too light to be considered black? From the “people are idiots and are running out of stuff to talk about” department comes this silly story about the shade of a man who could become our next president...

Crimes & Punishment/Part I:  Hey dude!  Wanna score some killer dope??? If you're looking to sell high-grade marijuana, Craigslist may not be the place to do it. A man learned that the hard way when the "buyer" who contacted him turned out to be an undercover officer...

Crimes & Punishment/Part II: But officer, at least you can’t charge me for false advertising! Maryland police searching a downtown home found a man hiding 15 plastic bags of crack cocaine in his buttocks...

IRS-related Scams/Part I: The bad guys are always on call 24/7, and this latest scam making the rounds and riding the coattails of the legitimate news story regarding the economic stimulus package Washington's trying to pass that'll put tax rebate checks into the hands of almost 70 million taxpayers. 

The scammer-side of the story is a reminder that you’ve got to use your head and never give up your personal digits.  From Social Security Numbers to bank account numbers–never give out any sensitive information to anyone contacting you, whether it be by phone, mail or e-mail.  Remember, the scammers have no conscience and no fear and they’re job is to be convincing.  Dover’s Rule?  No exceptions!  Do not let someone convince you to part with this info unless and until you’ve had a chance to confirm the validity of the inquiry...even if they give you phone number to call them back on, in the spirit of verifying their authenticity.

IRS-related Scams/Part II: As silly and far-fetched as this scam sounds, it’s actually happened!  Make sure that when you make your check out to the, make it payable to Internal Revenue Service and not IRS.  Why?  The bad guys have been known to pilfer envelopes addressed to the IRS from mailboxes, fish out checks made to ‘IRS’ and then doctor the payable name from IRS to “MRS. ______ ______.”  It’s actually happened, so you’ve been warned!

IRS-related Scams/Part III: Just as I was about to post this blog entry, I received an e-mail that I’m supposed to be stupid enough/gullible enough to believe originated from our pals at the IRS.

I wish I could actually meet the pinheads who create this crap–and I use the word crap for a reason:  Just look at the screen-shot of the actual e-mail that I’ve pasted in for you...I’ll point out the silly signs that this is phishing garbage:

1.  The IRS doesn’t send e-mail like this!   And check out that really cheesy low-resolution "IRS e-file" logo! (Punks!!!)

2.  Look at their e-mail address!  The IRS’ real address is irs.gov

3.  Look who it’s addressed to: If this is a specific e-mail with specific information about my supposed refund of $680.40, doncha think they’d at least have my name in the header/address to info?

4.  I love the “NOTE: For security reasons...” hype.  I’m shaking already.

5.  Do you think the IRS ever sends any sort of correspondence with a closing salutation of “Regards”?

6.  And finally, my favorite–these people must really have you-know-what for brains: Look at the very bottom of the letter: Since when would the IRS have to “copyright protect” a form or letter?  TOTAL amateurs!  You’ve gotta love it.

Didja like what you just read? E-mail it to someone in need...

---