HAL BOOKBINDER PRACTICING SAFE COMPUTING #53 - "Avoiding COVID-19 Scams"

 “Avoiding COVID-19 Scams” 

BY

HAL BOOKBINDER

Originally published in the April 2020 issue of Venturing into our Past (JGSCV) 

Cyber criminals see COVID-19 (coronavirus) as an opportunity to steal your identity, take your money and install viruses on your computer. They believe in Rahm Emanuel’s maxim to “never let a serious crisis go to waste.” They count on folks acting emotionally, rather than thinking clearly, when such a crisis hits. Some of the reported scams include:

*Emails that appear to come from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) alerting you to “New confirmed cases in your City” and asking you to click on a link to see cases so that you can avoid exposure. You are then asked for personal information, or even asked to log in to what looks like your email page. Your information goes directly to cyber criminals. 

* Emails that appear to be from the World Health Organization (WHO) which warn about the dangers of COVID-19 and ask that you click on a link to review the key steps you need to take to protect yourself. While you are reading the list of precautions, a virus designed to steal your personal information is being installed on your computer. 

* Cybersecurity firm Check Point announced on March 5th that over 4,000 coronavirus-related domains, containing words like “corona” or “COVID”, have been registered since the beginning of 2020. Of those, 120 were considered malicious and another 200 were suspicious. Many will likely be used by scammers. Do not trust sites just because the name sounds legitimate. 

* Televangelist Jim Bakker has been ordered by the New York Attorney General to stop advertising “Silver Solution” as a COVID-19 treatment. Shas, the Israeli ultra-religious party has been fined for giving out charms to protect from COVID-19. Undoubtedly, the Internet will be filled with “cures” and “preventions” that are worthless, and worse. 

* Amazon said recently that it has barred the sale of over one million products that falsely claim to cure or provide protection against COVID-19. The company has also removed third-party merchants that had engaged in price gouging on items such as surgical masks. These sites may gauge, misuse your personal information and provide nothing of value for your money. 

Be on your guard. Do not click on email links unless you are certain that the source is legitimate. If not certain, but believe the information may be of value, close the email and type the website, like http://www.cdc.gov/or http://www.who.int/. Do not click on the purported link in the email as it may be to a mock site that may look real while actually set up to scam you or to infect your computer.

 Follow CDC guidelines (http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html) and do not let fear impact your practice of safe computing. 

© 2015-2020 by JGSCV and by Hal Bookbinder, permission to copy granted with appropriate attribution. 

You can reach Hal at hal.bookbinder@ucla.edu

ZOOM MEETING - Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Please join Sunday Zoom Meeting - Note the link is new replacing the previous one we sent - Register now!

LEARN ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

Gary Palgon, 

Past president of the JGSG (the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia) and a popular presenter will hold a workshop to help us all break through our Brick Walls.

Gary started tracing his family tree in 1980, but began the journey of digging for records in Belarus in 1994. He has worked with a variety of Special Interest Groups with JewishGen and published more than a dozen family tree books.

If you would like to submit a research problem, please send an outline of the problem with information including

• the question
• what you already know, and the source of that information
• resources that you have already checked to look for the answer
• Send it to JewishGenealogy@JGSG.org
• Please be considerate of privacy concerns. Any information that you send may be presented publicly at our May 31st Meeting. 

When: Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Where: Access the webinar here:// 

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pd-CurTosGtdR64fIawjkQosiyg5HYa3q

  We thank the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia for initiating this event and allowing our participation

 

THE BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY

Recommended Genealogy Resource

Brigham Young University Family History Library and Special Collections

https://fh.lib.byu.edu/

CLASSES AND WEBINARS:

https://fh.lib.byu.edu/classes-and-webinars/

FULL WEBINAR LIBRARY:

https://fh.lib.byu.edu/classes-and-webinars/online-webinars/webinar-recording-index/

You will find information about YouTube video links on the Brigham Young University Family History Library site with the following topics:

BYU FHL Webinars

YouTube Videos

Family History Basic Tutorials

MyHeritage Free Military Records May 20 - 26

In honor of Memorial Day, we’re offering free access to all military records on MyHeritage from May 20–26, 2020. 

Search all military records on MyHeritage 

Many of us may have a relative or ancestor who served in the military. We invite you to pay tribute to these heroes and honor their legacy by learning more about them through military records. 

The MyHeritage collection consists of 57 million records and includes draft, enlistment, and service records, pension records, and other military documents from North America and around the world, dating back to the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century. 

Please use and share this https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZTcyxrOtB0w

If you can embed the video in your communications, feel free to do so using the following code:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZTcyxrOtB0w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

We’re also hosting 2 Facebook Live events about military records in the coming days: 

Searching Military Records on MyHeritage

Tune in TODAY, May 20 at 1 P.M. EDT as Thomas MacEntee shares how to leverage MyHeritage’s vast collection of military records to learn more about your family history. 

Breaking Through Brick Walls with Military Records

On May 24 at 1 P.M EDT, join Kate Eakman, senior researcher at Legacy Family Tree, who will show you how to use military records to break through brick walls in your genealogy research. 

Make sure you follow us on Facebook to tune in live. You can also watch the recorded sessions later on, and check out the full list of our online events in May and June.

 

Please let your audiences know so they too can take advantage of these important genealogical resources. 

You can read more about the free military records on our blog.

 

 

Daniel Horowitz
Genealogy Expert

                          

MyHeritage (USA) Inc.,
2975 Executive Parkway,
Lehi, Utah

DICK EASTMAN GENEALOGY NEWSLETTER Sponsored by MyHeritage

I am recommending Dick Eastman's newsletter as an excellent source for genealogy news.

Subscriptions are free.

For a free subscription click this link:

https://app.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=948986

RUTH GRUBER FILM SPONSORED BY THE SOUSA MENDES FOUNDATION

Virtual Film and Discussion: Ahead of Time, The Extraordinary Journey of Ruth Gruber

June 7 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

http://sousamendesfoundation.org/event/virtual-film-and-discussion-ahead-of-time-the-extraordinary-journey-of-ruth-gruber/

A DUTCH WOMAN WHO SAVED INNOCENT LIVES MOVIE EVENT SPONSORED BY THE SOUSA MENDES FOUNDATION

Virtual Film and Discussion: Truus’ Children, the story of a Dutch superwoman who saved innocent lives

May 31 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

TO REGISTER:

http://sousamendesfoundation.org/event/film-and-discussion-saving-the-children-the-story-of-truus/

SOUSA MENDES FOUNDATION PROGRAM MAY 22 - 24

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

http://sousamendesfoundation.org/event/virtual-film-and-discussion-disobedience-the-sousa-mendes-story-2/

FROM JAN MEISELS ALLEN: Ancestry.com VIRTUAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE OF HEROES WITH FREE ACCESS TO MILITARY RECORDS

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <janmallen@att.net>
To: IAJGS Leadership Forum <leadership@iajgs.org>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Tue, 12 May 2020 23:55:19 -0700
Subject: [IAJGS Leadership] Ancestry Announces Hosting a Virtual Memorial Day Parade of Heroes to Commemorate 75th anniversary of End of World War ll; Free Access Ancestry and Fold3

Ancestry has announced in honor of the 75^th anniversary of the end of World War ll they will host a Virtual Memorial Day “Parade of Heroes”.  This will stream online Monday May 25^th  11AM ET (8 AM PT) on Ancestry’s Facebook Page. Via Watch party. It will be  hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford. The “Parade of Heroes” will bring to life stories that honor those lost, through interviews with veterans of all ages and the lost veterans’ families, including a special feature reflecting on World War II.

To watch the stream see: 
https://www.facebook.com/AncestryUS/

You do not have to be a Facebook subscriber to access the site.

After live stream will be available at www,ancestry.com/WWII

Free Access

There will be free access May 21-May 25 on https://www.fold3.com/with more than 550 million military records. You will have to register with your name, email and password.

Starting now through June 1, there will be free access to 500 million records and images from the National Archives and Records Administration on Ancestry including all 36 million of the nation’s World War ll young man’s draft cards . Go to:

https://www.ancestry.com/cs/nara  Registration including your name, email and password is required.

To see the list of featured categories covered under this free access offer see:

https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/nara_no_census/

To read more see: https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/

I have no affiliation with Ancestry and am posting this solely for the information of the reader.

Jan Meisels Allen

Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee

_________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
https://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/listinfo/leadership--2

FROM JAN MEISELS ALLEN: THE GENEALOGIST FREE RECORD SETS FOR BEGINNERS FOR FREE FOR THREE MONTHS

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <janmallen@att.net>
To: IAJGS Leadership Forum <leadership@iajgs.org>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Fri, 15 May 2020 16:16:37 -0700
Subject: [IAJGS Leadership] (UK) The Genealogist Offering Two Record Sets for Beginners for Free for Three Months

The Genealogist  is offering two of their record sets for beginners for FREE for three months with no credit card details, no subscriptions no catches! 

The two record sets are the Census for England and Wales 1891, 1901, 1911; and

Birth, Marriage and Death records index for England and Wales 1837-2005.

You need to sign-up. Once they have your email address they will send you a link to access this service.

Go to: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/account/signup You will need to provide your name., email and password.

To read more see: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/first-steps

During this offer you may also view and download several issues of their journal, Discover Your Ancestors.

After the free access time period, if you try to search their site you will be invited to subscribe.

I have no affiliation with The Genealogist and am posting this solely for the information of the reader.

Jan Meisels Allen

Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee

_________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
https://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/listinfo/leadership--2

FROM JAN MEISELS ALLEN: Spain Gives Sephardic Jews Extra Time for Citizenship Status

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <janmallen@att.net>
To: IAJGS Leadership Forum <leadership@iajgs.org>
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Sun, 17 May 2020 12:30:13 -0700
Subject: [IAJGS Leadership] Spain Gives Sephardic Jews Extra Time for Citizenship Status

 

Spain’s government announces on May 14 that it will extend the deadline for descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from the country more than 500 years ago. They must have launched the process of acquiring Spanish citizenship but could not complete it due to the pandemic.  The extension is for one year until September 2021 and only applies to those who had presented their preliminary request for citizenship before October 2019 deadline.

Applicants must sit for a mandatory test on their knowledge of Spain’s Constitution and culture that had been cancelled because of the pandemic and give them more time to travel to Spain for a required appearance before a notary.

In Oct. 2019, the ministry said that more than 132,000 people who claim Sephardic origins had requested Spanish citizenship since the law offering them the opportunity took effect in 2015.

Thank you to Randy Herschaft, Associated Press for sharing the article with us.

To read more see: https://apnews.com/fea1414177b3715728196ac1e967a4b6?fbclid=IwAR19g8Ub6vLmo65VqZBop0prqSYZM2uh-o08VOAQCQKPnGNabmvtNTHTzkU

Jan Meisels Allen

Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee

FROM JAN MEISELS ALLEN: New World War II Databases Free and in Russian

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <janmallen@att.net>
To: IAJGS Leadership Forum <leadership@iajgs.org>
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Sat, 16 May 2020 23:35:41 -0700
Subject: [IAJGS Leadership] (Russia, Belarus) New World War ll Databases Free and in Russian

Vera Miller of Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family has informed us about three new online databases honoring the 75^th anniversary of World War ll. As all are free and in Russian you may need to use Google translate or Steve Morse’s website for transliterating English to Russian in one step: https://stevemorse.org/russian/eng2rus.html

The databases are:

soldier photos of men and women who served in the Soviet Army

St. Petersburg Archives has a database of over 67,000 civilian recipients of “Fort Defense of Leningrad” medals. The database is searchable by last name, year of birth or place of employment. There are downloadable scans of award documents for each recipient.

https://medal.spbarchives.ru/

"It (the medal) was awarded to active participants in the heroic defense of the city on the Neva - all those who, despite hunger and cold, shelling and bombing, stood by the machine, extinguished incendiary bombs, nursed the wounded, dug trenches, supported the urban economy, taught and cared for children, holding thereby personal victory in the battle for Leningrad," says the website.

The Soviet government gave the award to 1.47 million recipients (according to Wikipedia) so the database is a work in progress.

Another database is Explosion of Partisan based on documents from the Central Headquarters of the Partisan Movement at the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command.  http://rgaspi.info/k-75-letiyu-pobedy/nagrady-partizan/

Information on more than 8,500 people awarded for their involvement in the war's partisan movement are detailed in the database, which also is a work on progress.

This database can be easily searched by surname. Information provided on award recipients can include full name, birth year, place for call of service, place of residence, partisan group name, award presented, presenter of award and file location of record.

Requests to obtain scans of records can be sent to rgaspi@inbox.ru It is highly recommended to write in Russian.

So far, most WWII databases from Russia have focused on soldiers of the Soviet Army.

The other database comes from the Republic of Belarus- A BOOK OF MEMORY  (https://www.mil.by/base/index.php)

an effort by the Office to Perpetuate the Memory of Defenders of the Fatherland and Victims of Wars of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

The database provides information on people who died in Belarus during WWII and those who came from Belarus and died elsewhere during WWII. Users can find the following information in the database: full name, year of birth, place of birth, place of call of duty, place of service, position, date of death, cause of death, burial number and place of burial.

Those seeking information on their relatives or ancestors from Belarus will need to look page by page or know their full name- first, patronymic (name derived from father's first name such as Ivanovich) and surname.

Some people on this database can be found on MEMORY OF THE PEOPLE  (https://pamyat-naroda.ru/heroes/?adv_search=y)

but others are only found on A Book of Memory. (See above)

There are ~2 million photos posted to Dear Memory  (https://foto.pamyat-naroda.ru/) of men and women who served in the Soviet Army during World War ll. The photos on Dear Memory can also be found on Memory of the People (see above). To read how to search Dear Memory see: https://lostrussianfamily.wordpress.com/2018/06/03/millions-of-records-added-to-wwii-database/

To read more see:

https://lostrussianfamily.wordpress.com/2020/05/16/new-wwii-databases-reveal-amazing-information-honoring-75th-anniversary-of-victory/

Jan Meisels Allen

Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee

THE GENETIC DETECTIVE NEW PREMIERE DATE - June 2 at 10:00 P.M.

NEW PREMIERE DATE.

The Genetic Detective with Cece Moore will debut June 2, 2020

10:00 - 11:00 EDT

https://thednadetectives.com/

ABC News Series - THE GENETIC DETECTIVE 

ABC News released the following announcement:

From ABC News comes “THE GENETIC DETECTIVE” debuting TUESDAY, MAY 19 (10:00 – 11:00 p.m. EDT). The all-new series follows investigative genetic genealogist CeCe Moore as she uses her unique research skills to transform the face of crime solving. By working with police departments and crime scene DNA, Moore is able to trace the path of a violent criminal’s family tree to reveal their identity and help bring them to justice. “The Genetic Detective” is a co-production with ABC News and XCON Productions. Carrie Cook and Marc Dorian serve as co-executive producers for ABC News. Christine Connor is executive producer and Christopher K. Dillon is co-executive producer for XCon Productions. CeCe Moore is producer.

ZOOM Meeting: LEARN ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY WITH THE JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF GEORGIA

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami

Learn about your Family History

Gary Palgon

Past president of the JGSG (the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia) and a popular presenter will hold a workshop to help us all break through our Brick Walls.

Gary started tracing his family tree in 1980, but began the journey of digging for records in Belarus in 1994. He has worked with a variety of Special Interest Groups with JewishGen and published more than a dozen family tree books.

If you would like to submit a research problem, please send an outline of the problem with information including

• the question
• what you already know, and the source of that information
• resources that you have already checked to look for the answer
• Send it to JewishGenealogy@JGSG.org
• Please be considerate of privacy concerns. Any information that you send may be presented publicly at our May 31st Meeting. 

When: Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Where: Access the webinar by copying and pasting the following link to your browser at 2:00 PM on May 31^st and get back a link to register:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pd-CurTosGtdR64fIawjkQosiyg5HYa3q

We thank the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia for initiating this event and allowing our participation