The losers who stole their utility trailer full of camping gear are NOT.
The crime happened this past memorial weekend in Maury County.
Boy Scout Troop 154 out of Columbia conducts meetings at the Zion Christian Academy, and that is where the troop stored its utility trailer full of tents and Coleman stoves and camping gear that boys purchased themselves through a myriad of fund raisers.
Scout Masters tell Messed Up the highly identifiable trailer is worth about $2,000. The tents and equipment inside are worth an estimated $5,000.
Scouting officials say the troop does not have insurance. So scout organizers are working with the school where the trailer was stolen and the church that sponsors them to see if those policies might cover them.
In the meantime the boys are without their equipment.
Eli Anderson is an Eagle Scout who has this to say:
“I was shocked. I remember when I first started, we didn’t have that trailer. I remember all the fund raiser to pay for it. For someone to take it away that is not right man. It’s not right.”
Anderson mentions pop corn fundraisers and mum sales at the local garden center.
Eagle Scout Wes Hutton takes pride in the fact the boys bought the equipment through their own hard earned efforts.
“We are a family. That trailer was everything we earned. We worked for the money we earned.”
The 17 year old says all the boys look forward to the camping get-a-ways.
Dr. Jamie Hutton is troop 154 assistant scout master.
“The principal at the school saw the trailer on Friday. By Monday morning, Columbia Power and Water found our stuff at the Hampshire water pumping station. We picked it up. They (thieves) threw out troop flags and an American flag and food stuff. The rest they kept.”
Hutton says there were 16 eureka green tents. Six smaller back pack tents. And one master tent that the Eagle Scouts and senior patrol scouts used. Dr. Hutton says the thieves got Coleman stoves and lanterns and water jugs and pots and pans.”
“It’s priceless in terms of the memories and camp outs. The trailer is valued at $2,000 everything all together is $8,000 to $10,000, of money spent.”
Maury County Sheriff Deputies are working the theft. An investigator tells me,
since the first of the year, the county has seen about 30 stolen trailers like the one belonging to the Boy Scouts.
Larry Cleghorn is the Scout Master. He writes:
“The trailer had been parked at Zion Presbyterian church property, which is their sponsoring organization. The trailer was locked up both in the back and with a lock on the trailer hitch. The trailer tongue lock was found hammered off in Zion’s parking lot. The troop would appreciate any help finding their gear and their trailer.”
If you have any information contact the Maury County sheriff’s Department.
The watchdog agency says it was recently victimized by con artists employing a “phishing” scam that has potentially affected tens of thousands of people from the Middle Tennessee business community.
The really messed up part is the scammers are preying on businesses using the good name of the BBB, the very agency that targets such scams.
BBB spokeswoman Kathleen Calligan says it started in mid-April, when she said hundreds of thousands of emails started arriving in the inboxes of business people.
The emails indicated that a client or customer of that business had filed a complaint with the BBB.
To find out more about the nature of the complaint, the email urges the recipient to click on the link.
Calligan says that is all this email wants people to do.
“Everyone is familiar with phishing emails, they are scam emails and consumers are savvy. If they don’t ID the sender they delete the email. We have been doing a lot of education, getting people to ask, is this real from your bank or credit union? But what if you are a business? What if you get an email from the BBB that says click on this link, you have a customer complaint. All businesses that get an email like this from the BBB are concerned. This email identified itself from the BBB. Unfortunately, a lot of companies clicked on the link and found out the hard way, the link was sending a virus to their computer, or maybe nothing happened, but [the link] sent in a hidden Trojan bot that will cause problems later.”
Calligan says lawyers, architects and service companies that are in good standing with the BBB all received the emails.
I called one of the lawyers on the list. The recipient says he can’t remember if he clicked on the link or not, though he did report the email to the BBB.
Calligan says do not click on the link and contact your IT department immediately.
“If it is a customer email we have a customer ID number for you, and we’ll have a contact number asking you to call us or email us. You will not be asked to click on a link.”
Calligan says so far only a few complaints have been registered of computers acting sluggishly after the link was activated, but Calligan says the concern is the virus that attaches to address books and financial programs is lying dormant.
“It will send more phishing emails to everyone from your address book and it will look like it comes from you. The major concern is it embeds itself and monitors your key strokes and attaches to your online banking.”
Calligan says identity theft is still the number one fraud in America.
“The ID of a consumer or business is highly coveted by con artists. Clicking on the link gives them access to everything in your email account and your address book. The bigger worry, is it’s a virus or it might be malicious, malware that will attach and lay dormant and when you do online banking they have your password and account number and then they have you.”
When we bought our house in Murfreesboro, we were told we got an upgrade on the cabinet, hardwood floor in the kitchen and stainless steel appliance, all but the refrigerator, which we had to buy at $1,500.00. We tried a magnet on it with the construction manager standing there and none of us knew why it didn’t stick. We took up the hardwood to put down tile and the vibrating machine did not touch the stove, but the vibrations busted the front of the stove and it was plastic. I have a stainless steel top cart in there and a magnet will stick to it. I think a lot of people are getting rooked by this builder. We have a home owners association, but what can they do? I’m not sure that the people here know that the appliances are fake stainless steel. Our number is XXX-XXX-XXXX. If you come here, give me time to straighten up the kitchen.
My housemate works midnights and our hours are different. We don’t do things at the times other people do them.
On the weekend of February 6th, a desk top computer was stolen from a Vanderbilt University Professor’s locked office.
That computer had the names, birthdates and social security numbers of 7,000 students, both past and present.
Vanderbilt University officials say the University is doing all it can to protect the sensitive information of these individuals.
In an email sent to victims, university officials wrote: “to help safeguard you from misuse of your personal information, Vanderbilt has arranged for you to receive 12 months of identity protection under the Debix Identity Protection Network at no cost to you.”
The email goes on to say that victims will receive credit alerts and up 1 million dollars in identity theft insurance.
Greg Pipes will graduate with a Vanderbilt Psychology degree in a few weeks. The 21 year old is one of the victims who received this email.
“I was concerned and a little scared at first. I have checked, it (credit) is fine right now. I hope it will stay that way. Vandy has provided protection, they have handled it well so far, which is about all I can ask for. A million dollars insurance: that is satisfactory in my book.”
Vanderbilt authorities would not say what building was broken into nor would they comment on what professor’s computer was taken. Officials tell us they have no suspects at this time.
The good news is that, according to officials, nobody’s personal information has been compromised so far.
For more than 2 years, the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General’s office have been investigating a tombstone business and its operator.
The allegation: The owner, Marcus Jones, took orders from grieving families and never delivered the products promised.
On February 12th, the Attorney General’s office took the aggressive measure of banning Marcus Donnell Jones of Jones Memorial and Half Off Stones from doing business in Tennessee.
In addition the state leveled fines, court costs, and restitution that total close to 300,000 dollars.
In July 2008, Messed Up cameras spent days tracking down Mr. Jones.
We got involved after a Nebraska TV reporter told us the story of baby Nate. The one year old died and was buried. His parents ordered a Headstone from Jones Memorials. The Nebraska family paid thousands of dollars, but never got the child’s headstone.
Here is what Mr. Jones tells us on the front lawn of his North Nashville house:
“My business is like anyone else’s business. If I had anything to say to each one of those families, it is this: I have given it everything I got. To pick up materials, to go five hours away to get materials. To cut costs. To bring them good prices. Unfortunately, the economy has taken a bite out of my finances like everyone else’s. I have material on site that is there and ready to be carved. A lot of lettering that needs to be done, but personally, physically, emotionally, and financially, I am beat.”
“What would you say to a family like this? What would you say to Nate of Nebraska?,” Andy asked.
“Well not only to Nate in Nebraska, I am not going to make this about an infant’s headstone. I have plenty of families. I got people deceased for forty years, and some for two months. The point is, no business wants to close. If I could stay open I would. But right now, I can’t afford to stay open. I will say, I am sorry to many families. If there was a magic wand I could wave to make sure the work was done over night, I would, but unfortunately, there isn’t.”
We wanted to get an updated response from Mr. Jones. We called a number we had for him. A man answered and told us that this was his new number and he didn’t know anyone named Marcus Jones.
As part of his February 12th 2010 press release, State Attorney General Bob Cooper said this:
“We hope these judgments will serve as a reminder to businesses to practice good ethics and to be honest with their customers. We also encourage consumers to do a little research on the reputation of the companies by checking with such organizations as the Division of Consumer Affairs and the BBB before they purchase from a company.”
We have brand new developments to the auto burglary story you saw exclusively on That Is Messed Up.
On January 18th we told you Franklin police were investigating a rash of car burglaries.
Franklin Police have now posted the following surveillance photo of two men who could be connected.
This image was taken at Walmart, and the men in the photo used a credit card that was stolen during that rash of car burglaries.
Franklin police released the following statement.
Franklin, TN – Detectives investigating a rash of recent auto burglaries have a new lead and are asking for help from the public to identify two suspects. The men pictured here used a credit card taken during an auto burglary that occurred in the Franklin Green Subdivision. The credit card was used at Franklin’s Walmart a short time after the early morning break-in on 01/14/2010. The suspects were seen driving away from store in a small grey 4-door vehicle.
Information about the identity of these suspects or the recent rash of auto burglaries in Franklin is worth cash by simply calling Crime Stoppers at (615) 794-4000. Information can also be provided by texting 615FPD, along with your tip to 847411. All tips are guaranteed 100% anonymous. Police want your information, not your name.
We encourage you to call if you believe you could be of help to this investigation.
Franklin Police tell Messed Up, there has been a rash of car break ins around the city.
According to Sgt. Charles Warner, 9 happened one night at 3 Gillespie Drive Apartment Complexes where valuables were left in plain view. Police say thieves broke out many windows to get to the items.
On 1/13/10 bandits strike again, this time at McKay’s Mill subdivision on the East Side of town. Police say 9 more cars are hit. Investigators say the valuables were left in plain site, and none of the cars was locked.
Charles Warner says: “These burglars simply looked and said hey there is a GPS and here is a lap top in the back seat and they just tried the door and they get what is inside. What is messed up? Each one of these was preventable.
Warner says simple things like parking in well lit areas, and removing valuables, and locking doors can make a huge difference to a criminal who is looking for opportunity.
“Thieves don’t want to work hard at anything including stealing your stuff. If you are less of a Target, you reduce the chances of them breaking into your car. They might move on and break into another car, but at least it is not yours.”
Tis also the season for Messed Up miscreants to steal from you!
With Christmas Around the corner, delivery trucks from UPS, FedEx and the United Postal Service are criss crossing through Middle Tennessee neighborhoods. By and Large, the shipping company’s primary job is to get the package from Point A to Point B. What happens after that is often your problem.
Brentwood Police tell Messed Up, that as of 12/16/09 they have received 15 reports of Christmas packages stolen off the front stoop. And that is just the number of people who have contacted the police.
Messed Up spoke with a woman who never even reported her incidents to authorities.
Katy Smith tells Messed Up that twice this holiday season, bandits have run up to her porch and stolen a total of 5 packages left by delivery men.
Smith tells me that she verified the theft with tracking numbers from the company which reportedly told her to call the merchant that shipped the product.
Smith tells me that 3 of the 5 merchants reshipped the item that very day.
What a crazy waste, I tell the Brentwood Accountant.
Smith tells me that merchants tell her they are getting more of these complaints this year.
“It is a new fad this year,” she tells me in the warm glow of her Christmas Tree. “Thieves stealing packages from the front door, and following the delivery trucks. That is what they are seeing more and more than ever before.”
Smith is so frustrated, she has taken the day off and placed an empty package on her front porch. She is standing near a window waiting for a bad guy to approach so she can catch him red-handed.
“I put a package out here, by the door, and taped it up. One that was delivered a few days ago. I retaped it and put it here, hopefully I can get a license plate from someone who comes back looking for Christmas Goodies.”
“So you are trolling for Christmas bad guys?”
“Yes.”
“Not on the recommendation of Messed Up or the police, I should add.”
“I know, I know.”
“That tells me you are that mad.”
“My husband is upset and I am upset. It’s been a rough year.”
Smith says no package thief has come back since we shoot this story.
She also tells me that she and her husband are leery of ordering on line.
I contact the BBB which gives me these tips.
1) Make sure you know your shipping date so you can determine if packages are missing.
2) Ask your delivery man to leave a package with a trusted neighbor
3) Ask the deliver person to reschedule drop off when you will be home.
Brentwood Police suggest;
4) Have the package delivered to your work at a time you know you will be there.
I called FedEx spokesman Jim McCluskey who gives me this advice:
“Unfortunately these things happen. That is the society we live in
And our commitment ends when we deliver the package. But we have couriers who are knowledgeable about the residential community where they deliver in and our couriers have good relationships with customers, and repeat deliveries.”
McCluskey suggests:
1) Our couriers will place packages in a secured location or where-ever the customer may request it be placed.
2) If you have a question. Let us know and we’ll guide you. Call us at 1 800 GOFEDEX or go on line to FEDEX.COM for Christmas tips.
3) FedEx has a signature release option where the customer wants package signed for, then the courier won’t drop off till someone at residence signs for it.
4) If we attempt to make a delivery, if not given authorization, we leave a door tag, or we’ll make another attempt or contact them. We will work with customer to accommodate them.
5) We will hold it till it is ready to pick it up. We can hold it at any world service center or local retail operation, but arrange this before it is shipped.
The Better Business Bureau calls it one of the biggest crimes currently hitting Middle Tennessee.
It’s one of the oldest scams on the books, just dressed up to trick people into parting with their hard earned cash.
It’s essentially a counterfeit check scheme that has some red flags that you need to be aware of.
Kathleen Calligan who runs the BBB of Middle Tennessee shows me counterfeit checks on her desk that total almost ½ a million dollars.
Calligan says by Christmas she expects the number of checks to double.
Here’s how it works. A company you recognize contacts you about a product or service you are either selling or associated with.
The scammer agree to purchase it, and then sends a check, which is more than the agreed upon amount.
When citizens inquire about the amount of the check, the scammer assures the citizen that everything is all right.
“They say it was a mistake, the bookkeeper misunderstood,” Calligan says, sitting behind a desk stacked with fraudulent activity. “OK, you say. I’ll send you the check back. NO NO NO. The person will say no. please don’t send the check back. We don’t want to slow down the purchase. Just deposit our check in your account and you send to me by money gram or certified check the difference. Think about this. You have deposited a check for 55-hundred dollars in your account for an item that is 35-hundred dollars and what you do is, you are taking $2,000 out of your checking account and getting a very valid very legal transfer of a check and sending it to a con artist. That is the scam.”
Here’s how it works. Calligan says this scam is dressed up to fool you in a couple of ways.
First, they send you check using established delivery systems like UPS or Fed Ex. Calligan says the scam artists steal these numbers as well.
Secondly, she says; the checks are written on authentic looking accounts that might even be recognizable as company’s the citizen does business with.
Calligan says the key to not being ripped off is to slow down and think about what is happening.
Ask yourself, why is a company sending me a check for $5,000 when you are selling a boat on Craig’s List for $3,000 dollars?
If you have questions check with your bank before you send one penny anywhere.
Calligan says chances are, the only place your money is going is to a mail drop and then out of the country. and you’ll be left holding the bag.
Thanksgiving is still two weeks away, but all ready the hard core Christmas yard decorators are out there setting up lights and inflatable reindeer.
One Antioch man was right in the thick of it, laying out his massive holiday celebration that includes 30,000 lights.
Then thieves stole the trailer containing much of his decorations and lighting equipment.
Rob Robinson says he left his home for just a few hours on November 6th. When he returned his cherry red utility trailer was gone. Robinson says someone pulled into his driveway, hooked up to the trailer full of extension cords and lights and decorations and drove away.
No his yard is filled with deflated Santa Claus Helicopters and lights that won’t illuminate.
The 38 year old says if the crooks would only bring back the merchandise, he won’t prosecute.
The chances of that are unlikely, so Messed Up viewers can help.
The key is spotting a bright red utility trailer with silver wheels. If you see one, call the authorities.
Let’s put the Grinch who stole Mr. Robinson’s Christmas behind bars.
by
Boy Scouts are trustworthy, loyal and courteous. 
In the meantime the boys are without their equipment.
Dr. Jamie Hutton is troop 154 assistant scout master. 
“Everyone is familiar with phishing emails, they are scam emails and consumers are savvy. If they don’t ID the sender they delete the email. We have been doing a lot of education, getting people to ask, is this real from your bank or credit union? But what if you are a business? What if you get an email from the BBB that says click on this link, you have a customer complaint. All businesses that get an email like this from the BBB are concerned. This email identified itself from the BBB. Unfortunately, a lot of companies clicked on the link and found out the hard way, the link was sending a virus to their computer, or maybe nothing happened, but [the link] sent in a hidden Trojan bot that will cause problems later.”
Calligan says so far only a few complaints have been registered of computers acting sluggishly after the link was activated, but Calligan says the concern is the virus that attaches to address books and financial programs is lying dormant.
Rob Robinson says he left his home for just a few hours on November 6th. When he returned his cherry red utility trailer was gone. Robinson says someone pulled into his driveway, hooked up to the trailer full of extension cords and lights and decorations and drove away.
