Scammy texts offering “refunds” for Amazon purchases

Scammy texts offering "refunds" for Amazon purchases By BCP Staff Scammers are pretending to be Amazon again. This time, they're sending texts claiming there's a problem with something you bought. They offer a refund if you click a link — but it's a scam. Here's how the scam works so you can avoid it. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/07/scammy-texts-offering-refunds-amazon-purchases?utm_source=govdelivery

    

Scammy texts offering “refunds” for Amazon purchases

News of Interest: Amazon implementation raises security issues

"There’s an eyebrow-raising technology buried inside millions of Amazon Echo smart speakers and Ring security cameras. They have the ability to make a new kind of wireless network called Sidewalk that shares a slice of your home Internet connection with your neighbors’ devices.

And on Tuesday, Amazon is switching Sidewalk on — for everyone.

I’m digging into my settings to turn it off. Sidewalk raises more red flags than a marching band parade: Is it secure enough to be activated in so many homes? Are we helping Amazon build a vast network that can be used for more surveillance? And why didn’t Amazon ask us to opt-in before activating a capability lying dormant in our devices?

I recommend you opt out of Sidewalk, too, until we get much better answers to these questions."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/07/amazon-sidewalk-network/

The Guardian: "What if the most important election of the year is happening right now in Alabama?"

 

"This month, 5,800 Amazon warehouse employees in Bessemer, Alabama, will be voting on whether or not to unionize with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in what could turn out to be the most important election of the year.

While the Bessemer fulfillment center itself is a drop in the bucket when compared to Amazon’s roughly 500 facilities around the country, this could be the ballot heard around the world. If successful, this election would mark the first unionized Amazon facility in the US.

Over the past 26 years, Jeff Bezos has built himself a private empire. Amazon is now the second largest employer in the US, after Walmart, and the fifth largest in the world. The more than 800,000 Amazon employees across the country represent a population between the size of Maine and Montana. Globally, the company employs more than 1 million workers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/11/amazon-bessemer-alabama-union-election

A perfect time to sign up to support Encore Music Education Foundation

It's PRIME DAY this weekend! 

What a perfect time to sign up to support Encore Music Education Foundation, Inc. with the click of a button. During COVID-19, ensuring students have access to enriching quality music lessons and classes online is a priority for EMEF. This can be made possible through your generous donations! 

See below for instructions on how to help.

Amazon donates .5% of eligible purchases through Amazon Smile to charitable organizations. Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile, choose us as your organization, and start generating donations!

• Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
• Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into ‘Settings’
• Tap ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process

A perfect time to sign up to support Encore Music Education Foundation

Follow Encore on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/301316673235715/posts/3709982115702470/?extid=0&d=n

Encore Music Education Foundation

Franklin Food Pantry has updated their Amazon wish list

"We've updated our Amazon Wish list and would appreciate any item you could donate it from it. Thank you!"

https://amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SIL7UR08ZZUC?ref_=wl_share… #donate #giving

For information on the Franklin Food Pantry visit them online at

https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Franklin Food Pantry has updated their Amazon wish list

“We live in the hub of the robotics universe”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The site of a long-vacant drug manufacturing plant on Otis Street is getting a new life.

Amazon.com Inc. announced plans on Wednesday to construct a $40 million Amazon Robotics Innovation Hub at the former AstraZeneca site at 50 Otis St. and bring 200 new jobs to town. The 35,000-square-foot facility will be in addition to the Amazon Robotics facility in North Reading that will together serve as the e-commerce giant’s epicenter of robotics innovation.

“We are going to completely re-do that site,” said Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics chief technologist, in a phone interview with the Daily News. “I can guarantee it’s going to be a world-class, state-of-the-art facility.”

The innovation hub will feature corporate offices, research and development labs and manufacturing space. The new location will allow Amazon Robotics to grow its engineering, manufacturing, support and test teams in the state. Crews will design, build, program and ship robots all under the same roof that will improve delivery speeds for customers around the world, said Brady."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191106/amazon-to-build-robotics-innovation-hub-at-former-astrazeneca-site-in-westborough

This is good news. There are robotics groups in local schools. There is also the robotics group that has moved into the Red Brick School to utilize that facility for their robotics activities.

For more info about 4H Alarm Robotics 2079 visit their page   https://www.alarmrobotics.com/

"The Alarm 2079 robotics team is a competitive high school robotics team"

Franklin Author Book Sale Specials

Franklin author Susan K Hamilton has some book sale specials announced that I found via the Twitter stream. We had shared the release of Shadow King in November 2018.

Franklin Author: Susan K. Hamilton fantasy genre novelist

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/11/franklin-author-susan-k-hamilton.html

"The ESCAPE! Anthology released yesterday and is currently in the Top 50 on Amazon for both Short Stories and Anthologies. Special $2.99 price until Jan. 6! Grab your copy today, you'll be glad you did!#shortstories #anthologies #amreading #books"

The ESCAPE! Anthology released yesterday & is currently in the Top 50 on Amazon for both Short Stories & Anthologies. Special $2.99 price until Jan. 6! Grab your copy today, you'll be glad you did!#shortstories #anthologies #amreading #books #indieauthorshttps://t.co/DU449JXSNV pic.twitter.com/wSXXCXVy4H

— Susan K. Hamilton (@RealSKHamilton) January 2, 2019

"Buy the Amazon Kindle version of Shadow King for just $0.99 through 12/12/19!
Grab a copy today!"

Buy the Amazon Kindle version of Shadow King for just $0.99 through 12/12/19!
Grab a copy today! https://t.co/FgvS5Z7On6 …#booksonsale #ShadowKing #amwriting #kindledeals #kindlebooks pic.twitter.com/mrH8IJamkZ

— Susan K. Hamilton (@RealSKHamilton) January 2, 2019

SUSAN K. HAMILTON

Support Franklin area non-profits with Smile Amazon!

Did you know that you can support the SAFE Coalition (or the Franklin Food Pantry, or the Random Smile Project, or HMEA, etc....) with anything and everything you buy on Amazon every day of the year? 

All you have to do is click on Smile.Amazon.com, place your order, and indicate that you want to support the SAFE Coalition (or the Franklin Food Pantry, or the Random Smile Project, orHMEA, etc....).

It really is only a little amount that ends up going for each purchase but as we all know, every little bit counts!

Support Franklin non-profits with Smile Amazon!

FTC: Get-rich scheme sold to wannabe Amazon sellers

Get-rich scheme sold to wannabe Amazon sellers by Robert Anguizola Attorney, Division of Marketing Practices, FTC "Get started selling on Amazon and make $5,000 - $10,000 in the next 30 days… even if you've never sold anything online before." That's one of the pitches the promoters of a large get-rich scheme used to lure people into a bogus business opportunity. Read more This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

Support SAFE Coalition by using Amazon Smile

The SAFE Coalition provides a pathway to support, education, treatment options, and coping mechanisms for those affected by Substance Use Disorder. They seek to empower those affected, including their families and friends, with the tools necessary to succeed on their journey to recovery.

Whenever you do your shopping with Amazon, please use the link below and place it on your bookmarks and help us raise funds to battle Substance Use Disorder. 

Every time you shop with Amazon, you are supporting our efforts. 

And PLEASE: Share this with your friends!!!

Support the Safe Coalition by shopping at AmazonSmile.

SAFE Coalition

• For more about Amazon Smile

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_g1rp_lgwd_saas#products


The SAFE Coalition also recently annouced the introduction of a hotline. If you or someone you know needs help for substance use disorder, please call 

SAFE Coalition hotline

Welcome to AmazonSmile!

If you shop at Amazon, you can use Amazon Smile and donate to your favorite charity with each purchase. How easy is that?

I chose the Franklin Food Pantry. You can select from any 501(c)3 organization listed.

Your Account | Today's Deals | All Departments Dear Stephen Sherlock, Amazon will now donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases when you shop at AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com). We will reach out to Franklin Food Pantry Incorporated to ensure it is ready to accept donations from Amazon. Please see http://smile.amazon.com/about for program details. ©2014 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Amazon, and the AmazonSmile logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-5210.

Please consider shopping with amazon smile to support your favorite charity!