SCAM WARNING

Dear Readers: Recently, we have been getting letters from readers who say they get emails and text messages telling them that the bank has frozen their account due a number of things. Some are told there has been suspicious activity in their account or that the IRS requested that their account be frozen, and all sorts of other silly reasons. The scammers provide a phone number, and if you call that phone number, they say they’ll straighten out the problem, but first they need your bank account number, Social Security number and other personal information. Do NOT respond if this happens to you. Call your bank, but look up your bank’s phone number. Do NOT use the number the scammer provides. Always safeguard your personal financial information. -- Heloise

HEAVY DELIVERY

Dear Heloise: My neighbor called me and asked me to help her move a very heavy box from her porch to her bedroom. She had bought a bed that needed to be assembled, and the delivery guy just dumped the box on her steps rather than bring it to her door. He didn’t even ring the doorbell to let her know she had a delivery.

When I went to her house, I could see that the two of us could not carry the box inside. It was just too heavy. She was worried because rain was on it’s way and would ruin her new wooden bed. I opened the box, and we took out the parts one or two at a time, and before you know it, we had the entire bed inside and ready to be assembled.

The point is that if something is too heavy to move, get friends to help you or open the box and remove the parts one at a time. Use sliders if you have to, but remember, every problem has a solution. -- Carrie M., Miami, Florida