img-0059

A 17-year-old boy died by suicide hours after being scammed

The FBI says it’s part of a troubling increase in ‘sextortion’ cases Ryan Last received a message on a school night in February from someone he believed to be a girl. Within hours, the 17-year-old, straight-A student and Boy Scout had died by suicide. “Somebody reached out to him pretending to be a girl, and they started a conversation,” his mother, Pauline Stuart, told CNN, fighting back tears as she described what happened to her son days after she and Ryan had finished visiting several colleges he was considering attending after graduating high school. The online conversation quickly grew intimate, and then turned criminal. The scammer — posing as a young girl — sent Ryan a nude photo and then asked Ryan to share an explicit image of himself in return. Immediately after Ryan shared an intimate photo of his own, the cybercriminal demanded $5,000, threatening to make the photo public and send it to Ryan’s family and friends. The San Jose, California, the teen told the cybercriminal he could not pay the full amount, and the demand was ultimately lowered to a fraction of the original figure — $150. But after paying the scammers from his college savings, Stuart said, “They kept demanding more and more and putting lots of continued pressure on him.” At the time, Stuart knew none of what her son was experiencing. She learned the details after law enforcement investigators reconstructed the events leading up to his death. She had said goodnight to Ryan at 10 p.m. and described him as her usually a happy son. By 2 a.m., he had been scammed and taken his life. Ryan left behind a suicide note describing how embarrassed he was for himself and the family. “He really, truly thought in that time that there wasn’t a way to get by if those pictures were actually posted online,” Pauline said. “His note showed he was absolutely terrified. No child should have to be that scared.” Law enforcement calls the scam “sextortion,” and investigators have seen an explosion in complaints from victims leading the FBI to ramp up a campaign to warn parents from coast to coast. The bureau says there were over 18,000 sextortion-related complaints in 2021, with losses in excess of $13 million. The FBI says the use of child pornography by criminals to lure suspects also constitutes a serious crime. The investigation into Last’s case is ongoing, Stuart and the FBI tell CNN. “To be a criminal that specifically targets children — it’s one of the deeper violations of trust I think in society,” says FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dan Costin, who leads a team of investigators working to counter crimes against children. According to Costin, many of the sextortion scams reported to the FBI are determined to be from criminals on the African continent and in Southeast Asia. Federal investigators are working with their law enforcement counterparts around the world, Costin said, to help identify and arrest perpetrators who are targeting kids online. One challenge for the FBI: many victims of sextortion do not report the incidents to law enforcement. “The embarrassment piece of this is probably one of the bigger hurdles that the victims have to overcome,” said Costin. “It can be a lot, especially at that moment.” But investigators urge victims to quickly contact law enforcement, either online or at their local FBI field office. Medical experts say there’s a key reason why young males are especially vulnerable to sextortion-related scams. “Teen brains are still developing,” said Dr. Scott Hadland, chief of adolescent medicine at Mass General in Boston. “So when something catastrophic happens, like a personal picture is released to people online, it’s hard for them to look past that moment and understand that in the big scheme of things they’ll be able to get through this.” Hadland said there are steps parents can take to help safeguard their kids from online harm. “The most important thing that a parent should do with their teen is trying to understand what they’re doing online,” she said. “You want to know when they’re going online, who they’re interacting with, what platforms they’re using. Are they being approached by people that they don’t know, are they experiencing pressure to share information or photos?” Hadland said it’s also critical that parents specifically warn teens of scams like sextortion, without shaming them. “You want to make it clear that they can talk to you if they have done something, or they feel like they’ve made a mistake,” he said. Ryan’s mom agrees. “You need to talk to your kids because we need to make them aware of it,” Stuart said. Still grieving the loss of her son, she is channeling her family’s pain into action and honoring Ryan by speaking out and telling his story. She hopes that doing so will help save lives. “How could these people look at themselves in the mirror knowing that $150 is more important than a child’s life?” she says. “There’s no other word but ‘evil’ for me that they care much more about money than a child’s life. I don’t want anybody else to go through what we did.” Read more at cnn.com
>>Read more
Liability and safety tips for dog owners

Most dogs are friendly, loving members of the family, but even normally docile dogs may bite when they are frightened or when protecting their puppies, owners or food. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs annually, resulting in an estimated 800,000 injuries that require medical attention. More than 50 percent of dog bites occur on the dog owner’s property, and they account for one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims. Dog owner liability Dog owners are liable for any injuries their pets cause in the following instances: if the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause that kind of injury; if a state statute makes the owner liable, whether or not the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause that kind of injury; or if the injury was caused by unreasonable carelessness on the part of the owner. There are three kinds of law that impose liability on owners: Dog-bite statute – The dog owner is automatically liable for any injury or property damage the dog causes, even without provocation. “One-bite” rule – In some states, the owner is not held liable for the first bite the dog inflicts. Once an animal has demonstrated vicious behavior, such as biting or otherwise displaying a “vicious propensity”, the owner can be held liable. Some states have moved away from the one-bite rule and hold owners responsible for any injury, regardless of whether the animal has previously bitten someone. Negligence laws – The dog owner is liable if the injury occurred because the dog owner was unreasonably careless (negligent) in controlling the dog. In most states, dog owners are not liable to trespassers who are injured by a dog. However, a dog owner who is legally responsible for an injury to a person or property may be also responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage. Protect yourself—and your assets Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability. Most policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage. If the claim exceeds the limit, the dog owner is personally responsible for all damages above that amount, including legal expenses. Most insurance companies will insure homeowners with dogs. However, once a dog has bitten someone, it poses an increased risk. In such a case, the insurance company may charge a higher premium or exclude the dog from coverage altogether. Some companies will require dog owners to sign liability waivers for dog bites. Some will cover a pet if the owner takes the dog to classes aimed at modifying its behavior. A single lawsuit—even if won—can end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. And the greater a person’s assets, the more potentially is at risk. The personal liability coverage available through a standard homeowners or automobile policy simply may not be enough, so you may want to consider purchasing a personal excess liability policy. Also known as an umbrella liability policy, it protects you against personal liabilities—such as dog bites—that could impact a substantial portion of your assets. The amount of umbrella liability coverage usually ranges from $1 million to $10 million, and covers broad types of liability. Most insurance companies have required minimum amounts of underlying coverage—typically at least $250,000 of protection from your auto policy and $300,000 of protection from your homeowners policy. If you own a boat, then you must also have boat insurance with a specified minimum amount of coverage. Personal excess liability insurance is relatively inexpensive. The first $1 million of coverage costs about $150 to $300 per year, the second million about $75, and subsequent increments of $1 million cost about $50 per year. Be a responsible dog owner Ultimately, the responsibility for properly training and controlling a dog rests with the owner. The most dangerous dogs are those that fall victims to human shortcomings such as poor training, irresponsible ownership and breeding practices that foster viciousness or neglect and abuse. To reduce the chances of a dog biting, the following steps are recommended by the CDC when getting a dog: Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household and neighborhood. Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home of with an infant or toddler. Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate in households with children. Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog and, if so, delay acquiring a dog. Never leave infants or young children alone with any dog. Have your dog spayed or neutered. Studies show that dogs are three times more likely to bite if they are NOT neutered. Socialize your dog so that it knows how to act with other people and animals. Discourage children from disturbing a dog that is eating or sleeping. Play non-aggressive games with your dog, such as “go fetch.” Playing aggressive games like “tug-of-war” can encourage inappropriate behavior. Avoid exposing your dog to new situations in which you are unsure of its response. Never approach a strange dog and always avoid eye contact with a dog that appears threatening. Immediately seek professional advice from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.
>>Read more
Brainwashed citizens are sent to die in the war unleashed by Putin in Ukraine, and the children of the Russian elite live in luxury in NATO countries

Russian Elites and their Hypocritical Avoidance of War Effort: A Look at the Children of Political Leaders Russian propagandists have repeatedly highlighted the Ukrainian elites’ alleged avoidance of the war effort. However, they fail to acknowledge that many political leaders in Ukraine are too young to have conscription-age children or do not have adult sons. As a result, there are vague stories about the children of local deputies and low-level officials, many of whom are already under scrutiny for defeatist attitudes by the NABU and the SBU. In the end, this propaganda case is akin to the Russian proverb about “a log in your own eye” because it is actually the children of the higher echelons of Russian power and high-ranking military who successfully avoid the war all over the world. Some of them do not even acknowledge the war and sanction, as they attend elite Western educational institutions. The phrase “the fish rots from the head” is well demonstrated by the example of Dmitry Kozak, a compatriot, and graduate of Vinnytsia Polytechnic University, who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government. Despite building a reputation as a tough and inflexible politician during his time as the envoy to the North Caucasus in the 2000s, his patriotism is clearly ostentatious. In 2018, Kozak safely sent his daughter Varvara to study in Britain for a modest 100,000 pounds a year. The war does not concern her because the children of high officials do not die in the war; instead, the Russian government mobilizes and sends to die simple citizens. The son of another Russian politician, Alexander, is even developing a restaurant business in Moscow and traveling to exotic countries. It is ironic that Dmitry Kozak himself claimed loudly to the media in 2014 that none of his children were studying abroad, when in fact, there was a short period when the older children had finished, and the younger ones had not yet enrolled. Dmitry Peskov, a hereditary diplomat who has been in charge of the Kremlin’s information agenda for many years, also prefers to keep his loved ones abroad. His first wife and two children have been living in England for a long time, while his second wife and daughter Liza, famous for her supposedly anti-Russian statements, live in a huge apartment in an elite district of Paris, purchased quietly in 2016 after the imposition of sanctions in response to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and Donbas. Despite Liza’s cute Internet antics, his ex-wives’ Western assets, and his children’s education in Western schools, none of these factors affect Mr. Peskov’s career as Putin’s right-hand man in charge of the Kremlin’s information policy. In the Russian military staff, family is more important to the generals than their careers or victory in an unjust war. For instance, on September 23, 2022, the son of Major General Kharitonov Igor Petrovich, a leader of the Russian military intelligence service, and formerly a well-known Russian patriot, left Russia in an emergency situation. Anton Kharitonov had arranged for the non-profit foundation Eurasia Heritage to receive funding from unaccountable secret funds. The FSB of Russia had become insistently interested in money-laundering schemes through the structures set up by the Russian GRU, in which Kharitonov Jr. also worked. However, his “justified” departure deprived the Chekists of their main suspect. We should acknowledge the family of the military spy and their situation. Major General Kharitonov Igor’s son, who departed for Armenia, has received extensive training from his father. He employs anonymous SIM cards and secure messengers while successfully concealing his location and maintaining contact with his family and accomplices in the embezzlement. Given that Anton was actively involved in his father’s affairs, it is reasonable to assume that he is aware of the GRU’s activities to some extent. He may possess information that could be of interest to the intelligence agencies of Ukraine. Nonetheless, his father’s gold-digging tendencies prioritize his son’s safety above all else, rather than safeguarding state secrets. We can only hope that it is just a matter of time before Kharitonov Jr. reaches out to the CIA, the SBU, or the British secret services. However, even high-ranking officers of the General Staff can find themselves in comical situations that do not affect their careers. For instance, for several years, Admiral Alexander Stasev, one of the leaders of the Russian military intelligence service, demonstrated unusual tolerance by supporting his son Alexander, an LGBT activist, through various controversies. Thanks to Stasev Sr., his son was not detained during rallies in defense of journalist Ivan Golunov in St. Petersburg in 2019, as sons of generals are not supposed to be treated roughly. However, Stasev Jr. thanked his father by appearing on Hornet, a gay dating website, and fleeing to Serbia with his blessing. While it is commendable that Stasev Sr. supported his son’s desire to be an activist and journalist, the younger Stasev tells his Belgrade acquaintances about his father’s “deal” to keep him from publishing articles under his own name. Unfortunately, many LGBT people, Russian oppositionists, and pro-Ukrainian activists in the Serbian capital know about Stasev Jr., but this has not prevented his father from reporting weekly to the Russian Minister of Defense. Perhaps, the young Kharitonov and Stasev are under the protection of the all-powerful Russian military intelligence service. In addition to learning the basics of conspiratorial communication from their parents, the fathers’ younger colleagues keep an eye on them. The choice of Armenia and Serbia, despite being less comfortable places to live, may be due to the fact that the “grouse,” capable of protecting high-ranking generals’ children, feel comfortable there. However, is it possible to provide such protection without authorization from the top leadership of the GRU? Apparently, for the current head of the military intelligence service, it is possible, as personal friendships and commercial interests in Russia outweigh the interests of the state. The characters and their families described above represent Russia’s military-political elite. They have connections and will not be fired or >>Read more
>>Read more
Securing your home against burglary

Make your home safer—and get insurance discounts, too Burglars won’t find your home an easy target if it’s well lit and features security measures that slow them down. Don’t let your home be an easy mark for theft and vandalism. Protect yourself and your belongings—and save on insurance premiums—by employing commonsense safety precautions. Check your home for security weaknesses and correct them Research shows that if it takes a thief more than four or five minutes to break into a home, he or she will go elsewhere. Take the time to “case” your house or apartment just as a burglar would and consider these steps to make it more crime-resistant, especially at points of easiest entry. Install simple security devices. Padlocks, door and window locks, grates, bars and bolts can increase the amount of time it takes to break into your home. Make sure the elements you already have in place are working properly. Invest in a burglar alarm. The most effective ones also ring at an outside service. Invest in security cameras. Cover key entry points and mount out of easy reach to deter tampering, these tell burglars that someone is watching. Trade a bit of privacy for added security. Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows and think carefully before installing a high, wooden fence around your back yard. High fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy, but can also be an asset to a burglar. Shine a light. Force any would-be burglar out of the shadows. Exterior lights and motion detectors, mounted out of easy reach, can reduce the darkness shielding a would-be burglar. Keep valuables out of easy sight. If your valuable paintings, silver collection or home entertainment system are easy to see from outside the house, consider rearranging your furnishings to make your home less inviting to criminals. Home entry point security To help foil break-ins, strengthen the barriers at your home’s entry points. Of course, don’t sacrifice personal safety in this effort—whatever security features you install, make sure that you are able to easily escape in case of a fire or other emergency. Doors — Doors should be strong. Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood, and at least one-and-three-quarters inches thick. Doorframes must be made of equally strong material, and each door must fit its frame securely. Even the most efficient lock, if it is placed in a weak door, will not keep out a determined burglar. A peephole or a wide-angle viewer in the door is safer for identifying visitors than a door chain. Sliding glass doors present a special problem because they are easy to open but, if you have these doors, you can find special locks for them. Locks — Deadbolt locks are best. They usually are locked with a key from the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. The cylinder (where the key is inserted) should be pick-resistant. Ask your hardware dealer for a reputable brand or buy your locks from a reliable locksmith. Windows — Key locks are available for all types of windows. Double-hung windows can be secured simply by “pinning” the upper and lower frames together with a nail, which can be removed from the inside. For windows at street level or on fire escapes, consider installing metal accordion gates. Home security habits Don’t inadvertently invite crime into your home—make these safety behaviors non-optional. Establish a routine to make certain that doors and windows are locked and alarm systems are turned on. Avoid giving information to unidentified telephone callers and announcing your personal plans online or in public notices (such as giving your address when advertising items for sale). Join with your neighbors to keep a close watch on what’s happening in your area—working together as a community is a good way to prevent crime. Notify the police and/or your neighborhood watch if you see suspicious strangers in your area. Don’t carry house keys on a key ring bearing your home address or leave house keys with your car in a commercial parking lot or with an attendant. Don’t hide your keys in “secret” places outside your home—burglars know where to look. Home security tips for when you’re away To prevent burglars and vandals when you’re away for vacation or business, it’s critical to make your home looked occupied and have friends and neighbors look out for suspicious activity. Some hints: Leave blinds open in their usual position. Notify dependable neighbors when you plan to be away; consider notifying police, as well. Arrange to have your lawn mowed in summer and your walk and driveway shoveled in winter. Stop newspaper deliveries and ask a neighbor to pick-up “throw-away” newspapers and circulars. Have mail and packages picked up by neighbors; alternately, have them forwarded or held by the post office. Lower the sound of your telephone ringer and answering machine so they can’t be heard outside. Use automatic timers to turn lights and a radio on and off in various parts of the house at appropriate times. Insurance benefits of home security measures Devices that make a home safer—such as dead-bolt locks, window grates and bars, smoke, fire or burglar alarm systems, and some security camera systems—make sense for your homeowners insurance bottom line, too. Most insurance companies provide discounts for qualifying security devices; check with your insurance professional for specifics.
>>Read more
Ukrainian widow confronts Russian soldier accused of killing her husband

In the very first days of this invasion, a 62-year-old unarmed civilian was shot dead on a village street outside his Ukrainian home. His name was Oleksandr Shelipov. Three months later and the captured Russian soldier accused of killing him is in Kyiv being tried for a war crime. Standing up in court to confront the 21-year-old defendant on Thursday was Kateryna Shelipova, the widow of the man killed. Did he repent his crime, she asked? The Russian tank commander, Vadim Shishimarin, replied that he admitted his guilt and asked for her forgiveness. “But I understand you won’t be able to forgive me,” he added. Kateryna Shelipova hadn’t finished. “Tell me please, why did you [Russians] come here? To protect us?” she asked, citing Vladimir Putin’s justification for the invasion of Ukraine. “Protect us from whom? Did you protect me from my husband, whom you killed?” The soldier had no answer to that. This landmark trial marks the first time a Russian serviceman has been put on the stand for war crimes since the invasion of Ukraine was launched in February. And perhaps such raw encounters are what such trials are about, at least in part. Forcing a soldier – who ignored all the rules of war – to face up to exactly what he has done and the suffering he has caused. Sgt Shishimarin has pleaded guilty and Ukrainian prosecutors are asking for him to be sentenced to life imprisonment. On Wednesday, Ms. Shelipova told me she actually felt sorry for the soldier, but she could not forgive him for this crime. She heard the shots that killed her husband, then saw Sgt Shishimarin through her gate – holding his weapon. Five minutes later she says she saw her husband’s body: “He was dead with a shot in his head. I started screaming very loudly.” “The loss of my husband is everything to me,” Ms. Shelipova said, adding: “He was my protector.” ‘It killed him’ Recalling the events of 28 February, Vadim Shishimarin said he and a small group of other Russian soldiers had become separated from their unit and hijacked a car in order to return to it. “As we were driving, we saw a man. He was talking on the phone,” the defendant said. He claimed that he hadn’t wanted to fire the fatal shots, that he was following orders – threatened by another soldier if he refused to do as he was told. “He said I would be putting us in danger if I didn’t. I shot him at short range. It killed him,” the 21-year-old tank commander told the court. Interestingly, his defense lawyer – appointed by the state – told me that no Russian official has been in touch with him, including from its defense ministry. There is no Russian embassy in Kyiv these days, so no contact from there either. President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman yesterday told the BBC that the Kremlin has “no information” about this case. All in all, it feels rather like the young soldier has been abandoned to his fate by the commanders who sent him to war and continue to deny that their forces commit crimes here. We also heard from a second Russian soldier who witnessed the killing in February and later surrendered to Ukrainian forces. Ivan Maltsev, another slight and young-looking 21-year-old, told the court how the Russian soldiers spotted Oleksandr Shelipov while they were driving the stolen car. Mr. Maltysev claimed that Vadim Shishimarin was then ordered to shoot the victim because he was on the phone. “Vadim didn’t do it. So the soldier, whose name I don’t know, turned round in the car and shouted that Vadim had to carry out the order, or we would be informed. “At this point, we were almost alongside the civilian and, under pressure, Vadim fired. He fired three or four rounds.” Ukraine has so far identified more than 11,000 possible war crimes committed by Russia. Moscow has denied its troops have targeted civilians, but investigators have been collecting evidence of possible war crimes to bring before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. This trial is Ukraine’s chance to prove, beyond doubt, that a Russian soldier killed a civilian with no regard for the rules of war. Its prosecutors know they are in the spotlight, proceeding so quickly, and in the middle of a war. That is why they are keen to be as transparent and thorough as possible – so that this is not seen as a show trial, but as part of a vital quest for justice. Read more at bbc.com
>>Read more