mechanical shark stopped working several times, and filming on the water led to a lot of equipment damage. Despite this, the movie went on to gross nearly $500 million, and — perhaps more significantly — it began a trend that still stands today: the summer blockbuster. ‘Dirty Harry’ While the ‘50s and ‘60s glorified almost impossibly good heroes, the ‘70s glorified the antihero. These troubled protagonists arose in a broken system, and instead of playing by the rules, they would go outside the law to do what they thought was right. Not many characters represent this better than Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan. Whether or not audiences agree with Clint Eastwood’s character’s actions, the movie still resonates today and paved the way for all the rule breakers to come. company like Microsoft or Apple. Then, they’ll tell the victim there is a problem with their phone or computer and that if they cooperate with the “tech support” representative, they can sort it out with no problem. They may also ask you to install a piece of software on your device or provide credit card information to “validate your software.” The fact is that well-known tech companies will never send unsolicited emails to ask for your personal or financial information, and they definitely won’t ask you to install some shady software on your computer. If you ever receive a call out of the blue from “Microsoft,” hang up the phone immediately. The first step to stopping these criminals in their tracks is to be aware of their tactics. With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be able to defend yourself and your bank account effectively.
Advanced Fee Fraud The most common con in 2017 and 2018 was the classic “You’ve won a sweepstakes!” scam. Victims are told they’ve won some exorbitant amount of money, but they must pay a fee to receive the prize. After the “fee” is paid, victims receive a fake check in the mail, but by the time it bounces, the scammers are gone and they’ve taken the money. If you ever receive a contract from an unknown entity out of nowhere, you should start seeing red flags. Unless you remember entering a contest, there is no chance you’ve won something. And it’s vital to understand that it is never safe to give out financial information over
Scamming older adults has become big business. According to the American Journal for Public Health, an estimated 5 percent of seniors are hoodwinked by criminals every year, and that statistic is thought to be a steep underestimate since so many scams go unreported. To stem the tide of seniors unknowingly giving $36 billion to scammers annually, it’s important for retirees and their loved ones to get savvy on the subject. Here are the two of the most common scams older folks fall prey to — and how to avoid them.
the phone or via email. Computer Software Service Fraud
This type of scam is slightly more sophisticated. First, a hacker will call a victim and claim to be a member of a tech support team or an employee from a trusted
Rebels and Visionaries
The 1970s were turbulent, and it showed in the decade’s most popular films. Gone were the grand set pieces and unrelenting optimism that marked the films of previous decades. As the ‘70s kicked off with the U.S. deep into the Vietnam War and the hippie youth movement, movies began to reflect the disillusionment and rebelliousness of the time. Directors rebelled against studios for creative control, and some established themselves as legends in the process. They might not have been optimistic, and their production might have been a little rocky, but some ‘70s films have become beloved classics today. Here are a few of them and why they are significant. ‘The Godfather,’ Part One You would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t seen or at least heard of “The Godfather” movies. Francis Ford
Coppola’s gritty adaptation of Mario Puzo’s book by the same name is constantly in the top 10 on best film lists everywhere. But what you might not know is how much Paramount fought against what the movie would become. Coppola’s decisions to keep the film faithful to the time period and location in the book cost the studio money, and he was in constant danger of being fired if the movie bombed. The movie experienced unparalleled success at the box office, though, and was one example of how success came from studios ceding more creative control to directors. ‘Jaws’ Just like the fishermen needed a bigger boat, audiences in the ‘70s found they should have had bigger expectations for rookie director Steven Spielberg. Another movie marred by production mishaps, this movie seemed dead in the water, quite literally. The
2
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online