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In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 148,000 reports of fraud involving prizes, sweepstakes, and lotteries, up 27 percent from the year before. These scams swindled the unwary out of $255 million.
The initial contact may be a phone call, email, social media notification, or mailer saying you’ve won some big contest. But there’s a catch: The scammers claim you must pay a fee or taxes to get your prize, and they ask for your bank account information, tell you to send money via a wire transfer, or suggest you purchase gift cards and give them the card numbers. According to the FTC, here are some of the things scammers will do to try to trick you into thinking you really won a prize:
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News
COOKING DEMO
COOKING DEMO
SRT Awards College Scholarships
SRT Awards College Scholarships
MINOT, N.D. – SRT is pleased to announce the 2022 winners of five college scholarships. Of more than 100 applications submitted by outstanding area students, four winners were awarded the SRT Scholarship for $1,500 each. The SRT $2,500 Technical Scholarship winner was also selected.
The $1,500 SRT Scholarship recipients are:
- Jersey Johnson – Minot High School
- Madison Moberg – MLS Mohall High School
- Jadyn Sandy – Velva High School
- Niah Wollenzien – TGU Towner High School
The winner of the $2,500 SRT Technical Scholarship is Dylan McDonald of Glenburn Public School, who will be attending the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and will major in engineering or computer science.
“SRT awards scholarships to recognize our area students’ exceptional achievements and support their promising college goals,” said Cassidy Hjelmstad, SRT CEO/General Manager. “As always, we received many impressive applications. It’s been an honor to see how much this scholarship program impacts area youth and we are happy to play a small role in their success.”
Applicants for the SRT Scholarship Program were judged on their scholastic performance and achievements, as well as volunteerism and community involvement. Students were required to write an essay discussing how technology has impacted their experience as a student, whether positively or negatively, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SRT Technical Scholarship also required students to submit their volunteerism and community involvement, scholastic performance, and an essay describing how they can use their education and technology to reach rural and underserved populations. Additionally, a letter of recommendation from a community member or educator was required. This scholarship is unique in that it can be awarded to a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate student currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year college.
SRT congratulates the winners and wishes all seniors the best in their future endeavors.
SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative. Established in 1951, SRT employs nearly 200 people and serves more than 48,000 customers across north central North Dakota. SRT is committed to bringing the benefits of fiber to rural and urban communities alike and earned the distinction as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider in 2017. Services include internet, TV, phone, and security/surveillance systems for home and business.
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CRAFTY IDEAS
CRAFTY IDEAS
April Tech Tip: What to do with Your Old Technology Devices
April Tech Tip: What to do with Your Old Technology Devices
Technology is rapidly evolving and the desire to keep up with the latest tech trends is strong. But what should you do with your old devices? Here are a few options that are much more beneficial alternatives to simply tossing the device:
- Recycle or trade-in: Best Buy is the nation’s largest tech recycling retailer and offers a recycling and trade-in program. Their online trade-in calculator will let you know if your old device has residual value and offer credit for recycling it. If your device does not have a residual value, they will still accept it and recycle it properly. Not all Best Buy stores have recycling programs but do offer an online trade-in option.
- Donate them: If you have a working cell phone or laptop that you are looking to donate, it is great to check with local shelters to see if someone could use it. Access to technology helps immensely with job searching, education, and communication with loved ones.
- Return to the manufacturer: Some manufacturers of technology products offer buy-back and recycling programs for their items. Sony, Samsung, Dell, LG, and Xerox are all examples of companies who provide recycling programs for their products. A full list of companies and recycling locations is available at Electronics Donation and Recycling | US EPA.
When looking to recycle or donate old technology, always remember to wipe your device of any personal data. Factory resetting the device is also recommended.
