Mobile telephones are  right up there with statistics now showing that people in their 20s now spend the equivalent of almost two days a week on them!

I concede Facebook can provide many nice moments, but the damage it can do - again, especially to our young people - is a real worry.

But the thing which worries me the most is the prospect of getting caught up in scams and losing everything - often without knowing it.

Scammers have always been around, but in the past, they were fairly obvious.

In this technological age however, it’s hard to work out what is genuine and what is not.

A phone scam too is generally easy to detect.

The biggest worry I have with calls is actually being able to say ‘No.”

Most calls seem to offer unbelievable value - and more often than not, I end up listening to them and in a couple of instances, have said Yes.

Much to my chagrin.

But I digress.

The scams really are getting better and better, more professional looking, and claiming many scalps.

We have highlighted some in the past, but this latest one is a beauty which people should be warned about.

A local resident said he received an email complete with his correct Telstra account number and other details.

The message said he had overpaid his account and was due for a refund.

But to get the money, of course, he would need to log in and provide his banking details.

The amount to be refunded was $202.40.

He smelled a rat, as he has a set monthly amount that he pays.

He queried it with the local Telstra staff who said others had also raised the matter.

And always for the very same amount, $202.40.

“What is most concerning is that they had my correct account details,” our resident said.

“I have no doubt there are people who would not even query such a message, especially if everything being sent to them is seemingly accurate.

“So can you please warn them - these scammers are getting better and better.

“This is not a huge amount, but if they catch out many thousands, it will net them quite a tidy sum.”

So there you go, be warned.

Or better still, throw the bloody computer out!

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BELL RINGER!

I provided some mis-information in From My Desk last week in telling the story of Cliff Cowell, our local bell ringer.

(You might recall the pictures of Cliff ringing the bell at St George’s Anglican Church - he actually sounded the same bell after the end of World War 2).

Well, I didn’t exactly get it right, although I had no reason to query the information I had.

“Great photos - story a little inaccurate,” Cliff told me.

“I turn 78 next Thursday (yesterday), so 8 years old when war ended (78 is bad enough without 81)

“I have rung the bell again to celebrate 50 years after the war ended, but not every year.”

You don’t look a day over 50, Cliff!

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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

“I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is two weeks.”