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Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Family Wakes to Find Their Car Destroyed with a Live Bear Trapped Inside
A bear broke into a family's SUV on May, 1 in Butte County, Calif. The bear became trapped inside, destroying the car in an attempt to escape The family is now raising money to buy a new vehicle because "not having a car is going to hurt us"A family is in the market for a new car after their's was destroyed... in a bear wreck. On the evening of Thursday, May 1, a Butte County, Calif. resident woke to the sound of a car horn. When they went to investigate, they found a bear rummaging inside their 2010 Subaru Forester. 'I was pretty sure there's a bear in my car right now,' Amanda Wells told her husband, Geno, according to Action News Now. When Geno went outside to confirm that there was, in fact, a bear in their car, it was the safety of the animal, rather than the damage to their vehicle, that became their concern. Footage taken from inside the family's home even shows the bear opening the car door with its paw in its search for snacks. 'I wasn't frightened because we were inside,' Amanda told the outlet. 'I was more worried about the bear — he looked exhausted and overheated. We were afraid he might die in there.' After over an hour with no sign that the bear would be able to escape on its own, Geno got his pellet gun and fired at the SUV's window. When the window broke, the bear crawled out safely and returned to the woods. While the hungry creature managed to escape unharmed, the same couldn't be said for the family's Subaru. In addition to the windshield and windows being broken, the dashboard has been ripped out. "Funds had been pretty tight so we weren't able to make our insurance payment and it got canceled so we unfortunately have no way to get reimbursement for the totaled car," Amanda shared on the GoFundMe page she started to help raise money to purchase a new vehicle. Wells described the car as "my daily vehicle to get to work and transport our kids," adding that "me not having a car is going to hurt us." The fundraiser has raised $2,750 of the $3,000 goal so far. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
One California woman thought she was protecting her money — but ended up wiring $54,000 to a scammer instead
One California woman thought she was protecting her money — but ended up wiring $54,000 to a scammer instead One California woman thought she was protecting her money — but ended up wiring $54,000 to a scammer instead. Now she's sharing her story as a cautionary tale to help others A woman in Chico, California, thought she was protecting her bank account from hackers. Instead, she wired $54,000 straight into the hands of scammers impersonating her bank. It all started when her Facebook business page was taken down — and quickly escalated into a sophisticated fraud involving spoofed phone numbers, false urgency and a scammer who knew just what to say. Don't miss Now she's warning others not to trust caller ID — and to never wire money to someone you don't know. She shared her story with Action News Now. Here's what happened to her and how to avoid the same mistakes. Scammers fake caller IDs with spoofed numbers The woman said her trouble started when her Facebook business page was suddenly taken down. She found what appeared to be a customer service number — a red flag, as Facebook does not offer phone support — and called for help. The person who answered said her page was hacked and now her bank account was at risk — and said they'd call Golden 1 Credit Union on the woman's behalf to help protect her. Read more: Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Shortly after, someone who claimed to work for Golden 1's fraud department and who identified himself as 'Patrick' called her. The caller ID made it look like he was with the credit union. In fact, the scammers had spoofed the phone number with a false description so that 'Golden 1' would show up on the caller ID. 'Patrick' claimed someone was trying to withdraw $54,000 from her account. He said she needed to wire $54,000 to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) account. She followed his instructions. That's when she got a real call from a woman who legitimately worked for Golden 1's fraud unit. 'I said, 'Is there someone who works there named Patrick?' And she said, 'No,'' the woman recalled. 'And that's when the whole thing unfolded that I had been defrauded of $54,000.' The scammers actually "helped" her recover her Facebook business page, likely as a way to build trust. But as for the money? She told reporters she doesn't expect to get it back. The FBI, FTC and financial institutions involved in the transfer are now investigating the wire transfers. How to avoid sophisticated scams The scammers were sophisticated and deliberate. They built both a sense of trust and urgency. Here's how to protect yourself from increasingly convincing scams. Don't trust caller ID Scammers can spoof phone numbers, emails and websites to make them appear real. Don't assume they are. Research the real contact information to confirm they're legitimate. Never wire money to protect your funds No legitimate financial institution, government agency, law enforcement organization or fraud department will ask you to wire money to safeguard your account. Most accounts are already protected under federal regulations and your bank can often stop suspicious withdrawals before they're processed. Know how organizations handle phone support Facebook does not offer live phone support so if you are urged to call a number for Facebook help, it's likely a scam. Be equally suspicious of phone calls from the FBI or FTC. Those organizations are unlikely to call you. Don't give out personal information on incoming calls Even if the call seems legitimate, hang up and call back using a number you've looked up yourself — like the one on the back of your debit card. Remember, incoming numbers and caller ID information can be manipulated. Still suspicious? Visit your bank in person If you're worried about your bank account, visit a branch and talk to a real person. A bank employee can help protect your finances and is likely familiar with common types of bank fraud. Ask a trusted family or friend for help Scammers often try to isolate their victims and tell them not to talk to anyone else. That should always be a red flag. If you suspect you're being scammed, speak with a loved one. They can help you spot scams and provide a second opinion. If you are scammed, file a report at and the Internet Crime Complaint Center website, Alerting your bank immediately may improve your chances of recovering funds. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
