James L. Paris's Blog, page 229
October 22, 2014
$25 Unlimited Talk, Text, And Data - Cell Phone Deal
Republic Wireless is probably one of those cell phone companies you have never heard of. They are really growing in popularity among those looking for a bargain cell phone. What makes them unique is that their phones use both the Sprint Network and WiFi (when available). They even have a $5 WiFi only phone plan.
There is quite a lot of buzz right now about their 3G plus WiFi unlimited text, data, and calling plan for just $25. You do have to buy one of their phones, which start at $99. There are no contracts, and you can switch between plans at any time. Be sure and check their coverage map to be sure this will be a good fit for you based on your location.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
How To Protect Yourself From Counterfeit Money
The problem of counterfeit money is on the rise. Of course, with today's computer technology and color printers, the process has become much easier for criminals. In 2013 the Secret Service recovered more than $150 million dollars in fake bills.
What Happens If You Get Caught Passing Counterfeit Money?
It can really happen to anyone. How many of us take the time to check the money we receive from our bank or our change when we make a purchase? Being caught with fake money in your possession is no fun. First, you will likely face questioning by law enforcement. Secondly, the money will be confiscated and you will not be given a replacement.
There is a little known provision in many homeowner's policies related to losses stemming from counterfeit money. Check your policy, you may have protection for as much as $1,000 and usually there is no deductible. Be sure and make a police report and get a copy for your insurance company (even if you have just a renter's policy you may still have this coverage).
How To Protect Yourself
The biggest risk is a scenario where you would be receiving a large amount of cash. This would be common when selling a large ticket item to an individual. Consider the scenario of selling a car on Craigslist. Maybe it is a late model vehicle and you are pricing it at $2,500. It would be very common for this kind of a transaction to come together as a 'cash deal.'
Experts say that counterfeit scammers go into high gear around the holidays. Many people sell big ticket items to raise cash for Christmas and become targets of criminals with stacks of fake cash to pass. Unless you want to become an expert on counterfeit money, buy one of those special pens, etc... your best option is to meet your buyer at your bank. Tell them that you want to make the deposit of the cash directly into your account. Rest assured that the teller will check your stack of bills before finalizing your deposit. If there is a problem, you will know right away and can call off the deal.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
Vincent Price - His Biggest Financial Horror Story
I thought it might be timely to share an interesting story about legendary horror actor Vincent Price. Price may be best known in pop culture for his participation in the Michael Jackson's Thriller recording and video. He was offered the option of $20,000 or a percentage of the royalties (Source: Songfacts.com). Price took the cash and forfeited any future financial participation. Little did he know that he would have earned millions as Thriller would become the bestselling album of all time.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
October 21, 2014
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Russ Baker - Bush Family Of Secrets And JFK Assassination
http://www.christianmoney.com On this episode Jim welcomes special guest Russ Baker, author of Family Of Secrets. Baker shares the history of the Bush family going back more than 100 years. Their intriguing connections to the financial and political elite and how it led to the election of two Bush family members to the presidency. Baker also weighs in on the JFK assassination and more. Russ Baker website http://www.whowhatwhy.com
How Close Are We To The Mark Of The Beast?
http://www.christianmoney.com On this episode Jim discusses Apple Pay and recent comments by the president about the government moving to 'chip and pin' security - are these a set up for the coming Mark Of The Beast? Who is the new Ebola Czar and why doesn't he have any medical background? Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to welcome gays, but not everyone agrees. Gas prices are falling to the lowest levels we have seen in years, but why? Beware of a new rental car scam that might make the cost of one toll more than $20.
October 20, 2014
Dead Pastor Embezzled Millions. After Coming Back From The Dead He Becomes A Cage Fighter.
It may be one of the most bizarre stories of white collar crime I have ever read. His name is Aubrey Price and he will be sentenced next week for bank, wire, and securities fraud. It is a familiar theme, a pastor that has figured out how to beat the stock market. Price, a former pastor turned investment guru in 2009, raised $50 million dollars from investors. The story seems simple enough. He was unable to generate the returns he promised, and rather than admit to the poor results, he cooked the books. Investors were led to believe that they were doing well, all the while Price was losing money hand over fist in the financial markets.
Price remarkably changes his appearance after faking his death
Price doubled down when he used investor funds to buy a flailing Georgia bank. He then illegally used the bank's capital to cover his trading losses, and things got exponentially worse. When his financial house of cards began to collapse, he went on the lam leaving behind his wife and four children. The letter he left seemed to double as both an explanation and a suicide note.
Faking His Own Death
In June of 2012 (after detailing his plans to commit suicide in his letter) he took the ferry from Key West to Fort Meyers. There was video of Price getting on the ferry, but no sign of him ever getting off. No body was ever recovered, so he was presumed to have committed suicide by jumping overboard (a Florida court declared him to be legally dead six months later). He may have gotten the idea from the similarly faked suicide of Olivia Newton John's boyfriend, Patrick McDermott.
After he went on the lam, he became a cage fighter, made additional income smuggling drugs from Venezuela, and growing marijuana. He used software to create fake ID's and went by the names Jason, Diesel, Gator, and Javier. Price's capture was uneventful when he was pulled over on I-95 in Brunswick, Georgia last New Year's Eve during a routine traffic stop.
He faces up to 30 years in prison and restitution of more than $50 million dollars.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
October 17, 2014
Ebola Panic On Carnival Cruise Ship
The Carnival Cruise ship 'Magic' is in a panic. Why? It was just announced that one of the passengers is a healthcare worker from the same hospital that treated the now deceased Ebola patient Thomas Duncan. Yep, the same hospital that already has two nurses that have tested positive for Ebola. Can someone please help me understand what I am missing here? Early reports were that the unnamed Carnival passenger had direct contact with Duncan, but later reports now say that she worked in the lab and only performed tests on Ebola virus samples. Well, either way - I am with the folks panicking on the ship. Can you think of a better place to spread a disease than a cruise ship?
The reporters I have heard commenting on the situation have a bemused tone in their delivery. The implication is that why would anyone panic when this particular healthcare worker has not YET tested positive for Ebola! What?
Both Mexico and Belize have denied entry to the ship and it is now returning to Galveston, TX. The only rational thinking here appears to be on the part of two borderline third world countries.
Passengers will receive a $200 credit and a 50 percent discount toward a future cruise. Just speculating here, but I bet you can find a REALLY, REALLY, GOOD DEAL on a cruise on that same ship over the next few weeks.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
FBI Focuses On Parents Of Christian Mortgage Scammers
John and Julieanne Dimitrion are on the FBI's most wanted while collar criminals list. The couple claimed to be Christians and were active members of their church in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Our original story on the Dimitrions will provide you more of a background. They have been on the run for more than four years, after pleading guilty to a massive mortgage fraud scheme and failing to appear at their sentencing hearing.
New Developments In The Case
Hawaii News Now is reporting that the parents recently admitted to the FBI that they have been in constant contact with the couple. The article said that the parents stay in touch via an online video chat service and disposable cell phones. It was further reported that the conversations are as frequent as weekly between the Dimitrions and their parents. The FBI describes the parents as 'uncooperative.'
I Know That Parents Love Their Children, But...
The victims of the Dimitrions are outraged that the couple has not yet been brought to justice. The FBI says that they received assistance from the Sovereign Citizens in getting off the island in 2010. Most while collar criminals come out of dysfunctional family situations, so maybe I may have some unrealistic expectations here. I don't know precisely where the line is for criminal aiding and abetting of a fugitive, but these recent developments sure do raise some serious questions.
In my view, parents or not, if they are helping this couple to elude authorities they should be punished to the full extent of the law. In our justice system, families of criminals are not held accountable for their crimes. They are generally not even publicly shunned for the conduct of their adult children. Maybe these secret communications using disposable cell phones do not constitute a crime, but for me they confirm the notion that the 'apple does not fall far from the tree.' I also find it very hard to believe (with the newly discovered frequent communication) that the parents really don't know where their fugitive children are hiding.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
Rental Car Companies Cash In With New Toll Scam
More and more states are going to electronic toll booths and this has created a real problem for travelers. Of course, if you are visiting an area it is easy enough to simply go through the cash lane and pay your toll. But that option is disappearing in many places. The major rental car companies have decided to use this as a way to cash in. A number of state attorneys general are investigating so called administrative toll fees, and the class action lawsuits are already being filed.
$22 To Go Over A Bridge?
My wife and I went to a wedding this summer in San Francisco. There was a toll to go over the Golden Gate bridge, but it was electronic. There was no one to pay the toll to. So, it was charged to the license plate of our rental car. We had opted not to pay for the expensive daily transponder fee that the rental car company offered (we thought we could just pay our tolls in cash). We would owe a $7 toll and an administrative fee (to the rental car company) of about $15 on top of that. Wow, $22 just to drive over a bridge! I was not at all happy about this.
We stopped at the toll office on the other side of the bridge and they gave us the 411 on how to pay the bill online and prevent it from ever being sent to the rental car folks. It is well worth investigating before your trip what toll challenges you may face. As expensive as the transponders are to rent, they are far less costly than the administrative fees assessed against you when the rental car's license plate is billed for the toll.
Many areas are now providing visitors with the option of buying refillable toll cards and transponders at convenient locations such as grocery stores and gas stations.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
