Letters | Scams targeting ‘lifeline’ users

Scams targeting ‘lifeline’ users

Editor,
Using bait and switch tactics. Just like the old border town businesses. Taking advantage of the elderly by getting them qualified for the lifeline phone.

Then after a year to reapply. Where their situation is a fixed income and used to having a phone. And to say they are no longer qualified and to buy into a plan $35-plus tax minimum a month. Then when the battery charger or battery is no longer working. They don’t advise where to order a new one. Or they tell them to buy a new phone $150-$500 recommending the higher end.

How do I know of these tactics? Because of my experiences. I had to buy a new phone because of the battery.

The phone I bought black out after it said to restart. I took it in to have it reset. The clerk advised to buy a new one instead $180. I informed her I have my old one and to just transfer the sim card. I had bought new battery for the old one. And it works. I had the clerk transfer the sim card. And it wasn’t working. She advised that’s all she can do. She can’t set it up it’s against their policy.

Right now, my phone is out/off. Why do they call it a “lifeline”? What I don’t understand is, it’s the phone I received from them, with the lifeline application.

Ernest Jones
Chinle, Ariz.

Searching for adooneé, relatives

Editor,
I was directed to you in hopes that you may be able to help me find out what Clan I come from. I’m part Navajo through my great grandmother, Santos Hernandez. The information I have on her is very limited. She was born around 1908-ish in Arizona. She had siblings – one whose name was Augustine and another by the name of Esteban. She died April 18, 1944, in Los Angeles, California.

One of her children is my grandfather. and his daughter is my mother.

Again, I know this is very limited scattered information but still worth a shot to try and see.

I was born in Tampa, Florida. I was moved to Upstate NY when I was 3 years old and have been here ever since. All of the family on my mom’s side is from Los Angeles. My great grandma is from Arizona and her husband, my great grandfather, is from Mexico. When they met, I only assume they moved to California.

Thanks so much!

Francisco Kehn
Upstate New York, N.Y.

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