Beware of new ATM fraud device

The banking Spy-Ring reported that a team of organized criminals has devised another method to steal both ATM cards and the personal identification number (PIN). Using cleverly disguised equipment, a "skimmer" mounted to the front of the ATM card slot reads the card number and wirelessly transmits the information to the criminals who are waiting in a nearby car. At the same time, a wireless camera disguised like a leaflet holder is mounted in a position that gives it a view of the keypad where card ATM holders enter their PIN. With the information, the thieves could then copy the card numbers and use the PINs to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

No excuse for sudden tin can price rise

According to an Ear-Spy, unscrupulous retailers are capitalizing on the recent announcement of a tin can manufacturers’ group that they will increase their prices by five percent or 16 centavos per can. They should be reported to the Department of Trade and Industry. In fact, Congressman Joseph Santiago warned that canned goods in the shelves of supermarkets, groceries and the marketplace brought long before the announced Aug. 1 price increase by the tin can manufacturers’ group should not be increased. Abusive and opportunistic retailers who prematurely jack up the prices of their canned goods should be immediately reported to the DTI’s Consumer Protection Office at tel. no. 890-8907. So before you buy that local canned sardine or corned beef or meat loaf, better check for suspicious erasures or replacements on the tag price.

Bank dismisses drivers, creates executive positions to cut costs

A banking Eye-Spy revealed that a government bank tried to implement a cost-cutting measure by abolishing almost 300 permanent and contractual driver positions and decided to outsource service vehicle requirements. The drivers allegedly received their letters of termination a few months ago with the management reportedly bragging that it was given the go signal by the BSP, the DOLE, Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Imagine the elation of the dismissed drivers, therefore, when just recently, an official from the CSC reportedly wrote the bank president and CEO saying that the CSC did not give any clearance for the decision and that there was no close consultation regarding the issue. The letter understandably gave hope to the dismissed drivers, who were lamenting the fact that it was so easy for the bank to abolish their positions under the guise of cost-cutting and yet they were able to create additional executive positions with very generous compensations.

Fil-Am friends of GMA

A group calling itself FriendsUSA2000 or Families for Reforms, Innovations, Empowerment and No to Destabilizers of our Society expressed its solid-as-a-rock support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and gave 10 reasons why President GMA "must stay in power." The group, which claims some 2,000 Filipino-American families as members, said that GMA is the duly elected president and the call of former president Corazon Aquino for GMA to step down is unconstitutional. FriendsUSA even made an example of former US vice president Al Gore who filed an election fraud case against George Bush, but decided to accept the US Supreme Court ruling that said George Bush won. The group, headed by Diosdado Macaraeg, called the participants in the anti-GMA street protests "pera-llyists," and appealed to Susan Roces not to allow herself to be used by "dirty politicians." The group expressed admiration for former president Fidel Ramos and the AFP leadership for showing professionalism, but gave a cautionary note about any hidden agenda by Ramos and the military. EDSA People Power is like a contagious disease that must be treated, and the only way to stop it from spreading is for GMA to hold her ground and not resign, because Filipinos deserve better, the group asserted.

From the listening post: Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Thumb

Insiders disclosed that a banking tycoon – who also happens to be an ambassador – has no idea that the people working for him are just overpaid bureaucrats who spend most of their working hours doing nothing. In fact, a close relative reportedly goes to a lot of meetings but actually accomplishes nothing much, and often suffers from migraine. Next to her office is a Japanese partner who just twiddles his thumb savoring his easy life in the country. These two should be called Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Thumb, but insiders don’t think the corporate shareholders will find these monickers funny at all.

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