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"For the twelfth successive year, identity theft topped the consumer complaint database of the Federal Trade Commission with the largest number of complaints, perhaps owing to the rampant use (and misuse) of online services such as social networking and e-commerce websites.   From the 1.8 million complaints the FTC got in 2011, almost 300,000 are about identity theft. The information of FTC has included complaints filed to them or from other states and federal consumer protection groups.   Most of the complaints of identity theft are coming from consumers saying that their personal details are used in government documents without their knowledge, with scammers aiming to collect benefits. Last year, government-related identity theft was 27% of the total complaints in that category, increasing by 11% since 2009. Accounting for the 14% of identity theft complaints is credit card fraud, with the rest consisting of complaints of bank, utilities and phone fraud.   More than half of all the complaints last year were related to fraud and taxpayers reportedly paid a total of over USD 1.5 billion in fraudulent schemes, with the average amount paid being USD 537. Moreover, 43% of the victims acknowledged that scammers reached them through email messages.   The top three states that have the most per capita rate of fraud reported are Colorado, Delaware and Maryland as first, second and third, respectively.   Generally, FTC discovered that people are either more willing to file complaints or they simply have more complaints now. The total amount of complaints they have received has increased by over 20% - from 1.5 million to 1.8 million in 2011 - that includes both identity theft and fraud complaints.   The following is the complete list of FTC's top 10 consumer complaints for the year 2011:   1. Identity theft 2. Debt collection 3. Lotteries, sweepstakes, prizes 4. Catalog sales, shop-at-home, 5. Lenders and Banks 6. Internet services 7. Auto-re

Source : http://www.springhillcare.com/news/2012/february/5million-landmark-care-centre-opens-its.html   A new £5million specialist care centre has opened its doors in Accrington with a Mayoral seal of approval. The groundbreaking care centre, at Springhill Care Home, Fairfield Street, is a three storey, 24,000 sq ft development which includes 46 beds over five separate facilities. It is a separate, dedicated service from the rest of the home with its own entrance, reception areas and specially trained staff designed to provide specialist facilities and care for people with dementia and promotion of mental wellness. The official opening saw members of staff joined by senior healthcare dignitaries and the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Colette McCormack, who referred to the facility's "bright, modern look." The new care centre brings the number of beds at Springhill Care Home to 110, and is made up of self contained community living suites of between eight and ten beds each. Each spacious bedroom has private en-suite facilities, including 'wet room' style accessible shower areas. Each of the five suites of bedrooms have been created with access to dedicated therapy rooms, lounge, dining and lifestyle kitchen areas for residents  In addition to the care centre, a new extension to the home will also add two, eight-bed facilities for younger adults with complex healthcare requirements including physical disability, brain-injury, neurological and degenerative conditions. The centre helps to meet changing demands, with the number of people over 85 in the UK predicted to double in the next 20 years. There are expected to be more than a million people with dementia by 2021. Top photo on the right - Ken Nolan with Martin Green CEO of English Community Care Association (ECCA) Photo's of the specialist care facility at Springhill. 8th February 2012, 12:43

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Source : http://www.buildingdesign.co.uk/mech/fulton/fulton-6.htm http://springhillgrouphome.multiply.com/journal/item/56/Fulton_-_Steam_Thermal_Fluid_Boilers Fulton - Steam & Thermal Fluid Boilers Electric - Steam & Thermal Fluid Boilers - Packaged Plant Rooms Fulton Ltd specialises in the design and manufacture of steam, hot water, thermal fluid boilers, packaged plant rooms and skid-mounted systems for industrial, commercial and medical applications. It is part of the Fulton Group of Companies, which as well as in the UK, has manufacturing plants in the USA, China, and operates on five continents, reinforcing Fulton's reputation as a worldwide leader in the development of heat transfer products. Fulton Ltd has over 60 years of experience globally, with over 45 years in the UK. The company's standard range of products is backed up by bespoke turnkey capabilities. Fulton take responsibility for the turnkey package from concept, to commissioning on site and back it up with excellent aftersales support. Range of Products * Electric steam boilers: 14 kg/h - 2393 kg/h * Fuel fired steam boilers: 96 kg/h - 10400 kg/h * Thermal fluid heaters: 22kW - 5.9MW * Full range of ancillary equipment Customised Skid-Mounted Systems & Prefabricated Plant Rooms Fulton offer a complete service for the design, manufacture, assembly and commissioning of prefabricated skid-mounted systems and packaged boiler plant rooms. All steam and hot water boilers in the Fulton range can be incorporated onto skids or into plant rooms, bespoke plant rooms are designed to customer specifications. A typical plant room package will include: boiler blowdown separator, feed water and condensate return tank, water treatment and control system with interconnecting mechanical and electrical services. These systems are especially beneficial for projects where on-site work is difficult or limited by time, where access is remote or restricted,

Source : http://www.buildingdesign.co.uk/mech/fulton/fulton-6.htm http://www.facebook.com/notes/springhill-group-home-loans-news-center/fulton-steam-thermal-fluid-boilers/300565980012171 Fulton - Steam & Thermal Fluid Boilers Electric - Steam & Thermal Fluid Boilers - Packaged Plant Rooms Fulton Ltd specialises in the design and manufacture of steam, hot water, thermal fluid boilers, packaged plant rooms and skid-mounted systems for industrial, commercial and medical applications. It is part of the Fulton Group of Companies, which as well as in the UK, has manufacturing plants in the USA, China, and operates on five continents, reinforcing Fulton's reputation as a worldwide leader in the development of heat transfer products. Fulton Ltd has over 60 years of experience globally, with over 45 years in the UK. The company's standard range of products is backed up by bespoke turnkey capabilities. Fulton take responsibility for the turnkey package from concept, to commissioning on site and back it up with excellent aftersales support. Range of Products * Electric steam boilers: 14 kg/h - 2393 kg/h * Fuel fired steam boilers: 96 kg/h - 10400 kg/h * Thermal fluid heaters: 22kW - 5.9MW * Full range of ancillary equipment Customised Skid-Mounted Systems & Prefabricated Plant Rooms Fulton offer a complete service for the design, manufacture, assembly and commissioning of prefabricated skid-mounted systems and packaged boiler plant rooms. All steam and hot water boilers in the Fulton range can be incorporated onto skids or into plant rooms, bespoke plant rooms are designed to customer specifications. A typical plant room package will include: boiler blowdown separator, feed water and condensate return tank, water treatment and control system with interconnecting mechanical and electrical services. These systems are especially beneficial for projects where on-site work is difficult or limited by time, where acc

Source : http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/ http://springhillgrouphome.multiply.com/journal/item/59/Springhill_Group_Home_Top_10_Fraud_Schemes Springhill Group Home: Top 10 Fraud Schemes http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/2012/03/springhill-group-home-top-10-fraud-schemes/ For the twelfth successive year, identity theft topped the consumer complaint database of the Federal Trade Commission with the largest number of complaints, perhaps owing to the rampant use (and misuse) of online services such as social networking and e-commerce websites. From the 1.8 million complaints the FTC got in 2011, almost 300,000 are about identity theft. The information of FTC has included complaints filed to them or from other states and federal consumer protection groups. Most of the complaints of identity theft are coming from consumers saying that their personal details are used in government documents without their knowledge, with scammers aiming to collect benefits. Last year, government-related identity theft was 27% of the total complaints in that category, increasing by 11% since 2009. Accounting for the 14% of identity theft complaints is credit card fraud, with the rest consisting of complaints of bank, utilities and phone fraud. More than half of all the complaints last year were related to fraud and taxpayers reportedly paid a total of over USD 1.5 billion in fraudulent schemes, with the average amount paid being USD 537. Moreover, 43% of the victims acknowledged that scammers reached them through email messages. The top three states that have the most per capita rate of fraud reported are Colorado, Delaware and Maryland as first, second and third, respectively. Generally, FTC discovered that people are either more willing to file complaints or they simply have more complaints now. The total amount of complaints they have received has increased by over 20% -- from 1.5 million to 1.8 million in 2011 -- that includes both identity theft and fraud compl

South Korea Group of Springhill | edublogs.org May 22, '12 12:35 AM by SpringHill for everyone http://tonybricks96.edublogs.org/ http://tonybricks96.edublogs.org/2012/05/21/scrap-n-test-china-tells-n-korea/ China has been quietly and gently pressuring North Korea to scrap plans for a third nuclear test, said two sources with knowledge of closed-door discussions between the countries, but there is no indication how Pyongyang will react. If North Korea goes ahead with the test, China would consider taking some retaliatory steps, but they would not be substantive, a source with ties to Pyongyang and Beijing said. North Korea has almost completed preparations for the test, Reuters had reported in late April, a step that would further isolate the impoverished state after last month's failed rocket launch that the United States says was a ballistic missile test. "China is unhappy … and urged North Korea not to conduct a nuclear test near Changbai Mountain," said the source, who declined to be identified. China feared a radiation leak and damage to the environment from a blast, the source added. "China also complained about the environmental damage to the area after the first two tests." When North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, it caused environmental damage to the mountain straddling the border with China. North Korea ceded part of the mountain to China in 1963. It was unclear if the secretive North Korean government, typically unwilling to bow to outside pressure, would defer or drop the plans. China is the closest thing to an ally that North Korea has. "The impact on China's northeast would be huge," the source said of a third test. Chinese officials have discussed whether threats of diplomatic action would be effective, but any action might be restricted to some economic measures to signal China's displeasure and would not affect vital food aid for North Korea, the source said. A Western diplomat, who also asked n

Mortgage fraud is crime in which the intent is to materially misrepresent or omit information on a mortgage loan application to obtain a loan or to obtain a larger loan than would have been obtained had the lender or borrower known the truth. In United States federal courts, mortgage fraud is prosecuted as wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, with penalties of up to thirty years imprisonment.As the incidence of mortgage fraud has risen over the past few years, states have also begun to enact their own penalties for mortgage fraud. Mortgage fraud is not to be confused with predatory mortgage lending, which occurs when a consumer is misled or deceived by agents of the lender. However, predatory lending practices often co-exist with mortgage fraud. Types Occupancy fraud: This occurs where the borrower wishes to obtain a mortgage to acquire an investment property, but states on the loan application that the borrower will occupy the property as the primary residence or as a second home. If undetected, the borrower typically obtains a lower interest rate than was warranted. Because lenders typically charge a higher interest rate for non-owner-occupied properties, which historically have higher delinquency rates, the lender receives insufficient return on capital and is over-exposed to loss relative to what was expected in the transaction. In addition, lenders allow larger loans on owner-occupied homes compared to loans for investment properties. When occupancy fraud occurs, it is likely that taxes on gains are not paid, resulting in additional fraud. It is considered fraud because the borrower has materially misprepresented the risk to the lender to obtain more favorable loan terms. Income fraud: This occurs when a borrower overstates his/her income to qualify for a mortgage or for a larger loan amount. This was most often seen with so-called "stated income" mortgage loans (popularly referred to as "liar loans"), where the borrower, or a l

Mortgage fraud is crime in which the intent is to materially misrepresent or omit information on a mortgage loan application to obtain a loan or to obtain a larger loan than would have been obtained had the lender or borrower known the truth. In United States federal courts, mortgage fraud is prosecuted as wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, with penalties of up to thirty years imprisonment.As the incidence of mortgage fraud has risen over the past few years, states have also begun to enact their own penalties for mortgage fraud. Mortgage fraud is not to be confused with predatory mortgage lending, which occurs when a consumer is misled or deceived by agents of the lender. However, predatory lending practices often co-exist with mortgage fraud. Types Occupancy fraud: This occurs where the borrower wishes to obtain a mortgage to acquire an investment property, but states on the loan application that the borrower will occupy the property as the primary residence or as a second home. If undetected, the borrower typically obtains a lower interest rate than was warranted. Because lenders typically charge a higher interest rate for non-owner-occupied properties, which historically have higher delinquency rates, the lender receives insufficient return on capital and is over-exposed to loss relative to what was expected in the transaction. In addition, lenders allow larger loans on owner-occupied homes compared to loans for investment properties. When occupancy fraud occurs, it is likely that taxes on gains are not paid, resulting in additional fraud. It is considered fraud because the borrower has materially misprepresented the risk to the lender to obtain more favorable loan terms. Income fraud: This occurs when a borrower overstates his/her income to qualify for a mortgage or for a larger loan amount. This was most often seen with so-called "stated income" mortgage loans (popularly referred to as "liar loans"), where the borrower, or a l

The insurance fraud in Changwon uncovered by the Financial Supervisory Service is both shocking and disturbing. It involved as many as 1,361 people, mostly residents of the South Gyeongsang Province city, who either posed as fake patients or exaggerated their illnesses. Collectively, they claimed 9.5 billion won from 33 insurance companies between 2007 and 2011. At the center of the scam ― the largest ever in terms of the number of people involved ― were three unconscionable hospitals in the city, which recruited fake patients systematically in cahoots with insurance brokers and solicitors. They did this to increase revenue and ease their financial distress. The main ploy used by the hospitals was to share a patient, meaning they would arrange for a patient to check in the three hospitals alternately for a different disease. For this, they faked his illnesses and prepared false documents. For close cooperation, they shared patient information among themselves. This scheme helped patients pocket more insurance money. They all purchased multiple private health insurance policies before hospitalization. On average they received some 7 million won per person. In one example, a man in his 50s was hospitalized for a total of 564 days over three years, collecting 95 million won in insurance. The Changwon case followed a similar one that took place in Taebaek last November, involving more than 400 people in the declining mining town in Gangwon Province. They got a total of 14 billion won in insurance payments. As with the Changwon scam, three financially distressed hospitals in the city played a central role. The two cases suggest that insurance fraud is a fairly common occurrence in Korea. According to the FSS, the number of insurance-related crimes has surged in recent years. Last year alone, more than 70,000 people were caught for insurance scams, with the amount of false claims they filed reaching 423 billion won. Yet the figure represented just the tip of the

Electric - Steam & Thermal Fluid Boilers - Packaged Plant Rooms Fulton Ltd specialises in the design and manufacture of steam, hot water, thermal fluid boilers, packaged plant rooms and skid-mounted systems for industrial, commercial and medical applications. It is part of the Fulton Group of Companies, which as well as in the UK, has manufacturing plants in the USA, China, and operates on five continents, reinforcing Fulton's reputation as a worldwide leader in the development of heat transfer products. Fulton Ltd has over 60 years of experience globally, with over 45 years in the UK. The company's standard range of products is backed up by bespoke turnkey capabilities. Fulton take responsibility for the turnkey package from concept, to commissioning on site and back it up with excellent aftersales support. Range of Products Electric steam boilers: 14 kg/h - 2393 kg/h Fuel fired steam boilers: 96 kg/h - 10400 kg/h Thermal fluid heaters: 22kW - 5.9MW Full range of ancillary equipment Customised Skid-Mounted Systems & Prefabricated Plant Rooms Fulton offer a complete service for the design, manufacture, assembly and commissioning of prefabricated skid-mounted systems and packaged boiler plant rooms. All steam and hot water boilers in the Fulton range can be incorporated onto skids or into plant rooms, bespoke plant rooms are designed to customer specifications. A typical plant room package will include: boiler blowdown separator, feed water and condensate return tank, water treatment and control system with interconnecting mechanical and electrical services. These systems are especially beneficial for projects where on-site work is difficult or limited by time, where access is remote or restricted, or where security is an important consideration. Services Manufacture Fabrication Repair of boilers, ancillaries & pipework Commission Water treatment & chemical supply Training Steam plant operation & routines Steam system awareness & monitoring Wate

Electric - Steam & Thermal Fluid Boilers - Packaged Plant Rooms Fulton Ltd specialises in the design and manufacture of steam, hot water, thermal fluid boilers, packaged plant rooms and skid-mounted systems for industrial, commercial and medical applications. It is part of the Fulton Group of Companies, which as well as in the UK, has manufacturing plants in the USA, China, and operates on five continents, reinforcing Fulton's reputation as a worldwide leader in the development of heat transfer products. Fulton Ltd has over 60 years of experience globally, with over 45 years in the UK. The company's standard range of products is backed up by bespoke turnkey capabilities. Fulton take responsibility for the turnkey package from concept, to commissioning on site and back it up with excellent aftersales support. Range of Products Electric steam boilers: 14 kg/h - 2393 kg/h Fuel fired steam boilers: 96 kg/h - 10400 kg/h Thermal fluid heaters: 22kW - 5.9MW Full range of ancillary equipment Customised Skid-Mounted Systems & Prefabricated Plant Rooms Fulton offer a complete service for the design, manufacture, assembly and commissioning of prefabricated skid-mounted systems and packaged boiler plant rooms. All steam and hot water boilers in the Fulton range can be incorporated onto skids or into plant rooms, bespoke plant rooms are designed to customer specifications. A typical plant room package will include: boiler blowdown separator, feed water and condensate return tank, water treatment and control system with interconnecting mechanical and electrical services. These systems are especially beneficial for projects where on-site work is difficult or limited by time, where access is remote or restricted, or where security is an important consideration. Services Manufacture Fabrication Repair of boilers, ancillaries & pipework Commission Water treatment & chemical supply Training Steam plant operation & routines Steam system awareness & mo

Electric - Steam & Thermal Fluid Boilers - Packaged Plant Rooms Fulton Ltd specialises in the design and manufacture of steam, hot water, thermal fluid boilers, packaged plant rooms and skid-mounted systems for industrial, commercial and medical applications. It is part of the Fulton Group of Companies, which as well as in the UK, has manufacturing plants in the USA, China, and operates on five continents, reinforcing Fulton's reputation as a worldwide leader in the development of heat transfer products. Fulton Ltd has over 60 years of experience globally, with over 45 years in the UK. The company's standard range of products is backed up by bespoke turnkey capabilities. Fulton take responsibility for the turnkey package from concept, to commissioning on site and back it up with excellent aftersales support. Range of Products Electric steam boilers: 14 kg/h - 2393 kg/h Fuel fired steam boilers: 96 kg/h - 10400 kg/h Thermal fluid heaters: 22kW - 5.9MW Full range of ancillary equipment Customised Skid-Mounted Systems & Prefabricated Plant Rooms Fulton offer a complete service for the design, manufacture, assembly and commissioning of prefabricated skid-mounted systems and packaged boiler plant rooms. All steam and hot water boilers in the Fulton range can be incorporated onto skids or into plant rooms, bespoke plant rooms are designed to customer specifications. A typical plant room package will include: boiler blowdown separator, feed water and condensate return tank, water treatment and control system with interconnecting mechanical and electrical services. These systems are especially beneficial for projects where on-site work is difficult or limited by time, where access is remote or restricted, or where security is an important consideration. Services Manufacture Fabrication Repair of boilers, ancillaries & pipework Commission Water treatment & chemical supply Training Steam plant operation & routines Steam system awareness & monitoring Water testin

Lenders have changed the goal posts considerably over the last few years and many borrowers are faced with being stuck on a variable rate Picture: Getty Images  By Jeff Salway  Published on Saturday 8 September 2012 14:10  Borrowers with interest-only mortgages have been urged to seek advice after a leading banker raised concerns over the number of people struggling to repay their loans. 

ST. PETER'S CHURCH HIT BY EXPLOSION March 31, 1936: Dozens of windows were shattered in surrounding buildings and a number of persons were knocked off their feet by a terrific blast in the boiler room of St. Peter church. Firemen think gas accumulated in the flue, ignited and exploded. No damage was done to the furnace and boiler. Carl Schrattenberger, engineer, who was firing the boiler at the time, escaped without injury. He was hurled 15 feet. Persons in the vicinity said a huge cloud of smoke rolled out of the chimney. The force of the blast was felt up to six blocks away. 1964: Representatives of city employees' unions said the proposed $338,000 increase in the city's pay plan was not enough. The unions recommended, instead, an increase of at least 10 percent. The proposal sent to the Personnel Board by Personnel Director Ernest W. Howard called for an annual increase of about 5 percent. It would give raises to about 80 percent of the city's 1,700 employees. 1987: People wanting to establish a day shelter for the homeless would be required to obtain a city permit under a proposal to be reviewed by the City Planning Board. The board also would consider a redevelopment plan for the Lackawanna leather-processing plant a 2420 Z St. The plan called for the city to provide a $250,000 tax-increment loan to help expand the plant. The homeless shelter permit proposal came from City Councilman Walt Calinger. He said the city needed to have some controls over the establishment of shelters. 1996: The gypsy-moth spraying in the previous May that cost the City of Bellevue $15,000 seemed to have taken care of the moth infestation. Only one male moth was found in traps set during the summer. "We're looking real good there," said Stephen Johnson, an entomologist with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Johnson said that if traps laid out for the next two years didn't contain any moths, the problem would be considered solved.

ST. PETER'S CHURCH HIT BY EXPLOSION March 31, 1936: Dozens of windows were shattered in surrounding buildings and a number of persons were knocked off their feet by a terrific blast in the boiler room of St. Peter church. Firemen think gas accumulated in the flue, ignited and exploded. No damage was done to the furnace and boiler. Carl Schrattenberger, engineer, who was firing the boiler at the time, escaped without injury. He was hurled 15 feet. Persons in the vicinity said a huge cloud of smoke rolled out of the chimney. The force of the blast was felt up to six blocks away. 1964: Representatives of city employees' unions said the proposed $338,000 increase in the city's pay plan was not enough. The unions recommended, instead, an increase of at least 10 percent. The proposal sent to the Personnel Board by Personnel Director Ernest W. Howard called for an annual increase of about 5 percent. It would give raises to about 80 percent of the city's 1,700 employees. 1987: People wanting to establish a day shelter for the homeless would be required to obtain a city permit under a proposal to be reviewed by the City Planning Board. The board also would consider a redevelopment plan for the Lackawanna leather-processing plant a 2420 Z St. The plan called for the city to provide a $250,000 tax-increment loan to help expand the plant. The homeless shelter permit proposal came from City Councilman Walt Calinger. He said the city needed to have some controls over the establishment of shelters. 1996: The gypsy-moth spraying in the previous May that cost the City of Bellevue $15,000 seemed to have taken care of the moth infestation. Only one male moth was found in traps set during the summer. "We're looking real good there," said Stephen Johnson, an entomologist with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Johnson said that if traps laid out for the next two years didn't contain any moths, the problem would

The insurance fraud in Changwon uncovered by the Financial Supervisory Service is both shocking and disturbing. It involved as many as 1,361 people, mostly residents of the South Gyeongsang Province city, who either posed as fake patients or exaggerated their illnesses. Collectively, they claimed 9.5 billion won from 33 insurance companies between 2007 and 2011. At the center of the scam ― the largest ever in terms of the number of people involved ― were three unconscionable hospitals in the city, which recruited fake patients systematically in cahoots with insurance brokers and solicitors. They did this to increase revenue and ease their financial distress. The main ploy used by the hospitals was to share a patient, meaning they would arrange for a patient to check in the three hospitals alternately for a different disease. For this, they faked his illnesses and prepared false documents. For close cooperation, they shared patient information among themselves. This scheme helped patients pocket more insurance money. They all purchased multiple private health insurance policies before hospitalization. On average they received some 7 million won per person. In one example, a man in his 50s was hospitalized for a total of 564 days over three years, collecting 95 million won in insurance. The Changwon case followed a similar one that took place in Taebaek last November, involving more than 400 people in the declining mining town in Gangwon Province. They got a total of 14 billion won in insurance payments. As with the Changwon scam, three financially distressed hospitals in the city played a central role. The two cases suggest that insurance fraud is a fairly common occurrence in Korea. According to the FSS, the number of insurance-related crimes has surged in recent years. Last year alone, more than 70,000 people were caught for insurance scams, with the amount of false claims they filed reaching 423 billion won. Yet the figure represented just t

The insurance fraud in Changwon uncovered by the Financial Supervisory Service is both shocking and disturbing. It involved as many as 1,361 people, mostly residents of the South Gyeongsang Province city, who either posed as fake patients or exaggerated their illnesses. Collectively, they claimed 9.5 billion won from 33 insurance companies between 2007 and 2011. At the center of the scam ― the largest ever in terms of the number of people involved ― were three unconscionable hospitals in the city, which recruited fake patients systematically in cahoots with insurance brokers and solicitors. They did this to increase revenue and ease their financial distress. The main ploy used by the hospitals was to share a patient, meaning they would arrange for a patient to check in the three hospitals alternately for a different disease. For this, they faked his illnesses and prepared false documents. For close cooperation, they shared patient information among themselves. This scheme helped patients pocket more insurance money. They all purchased multiple private health insurance policies before hospitalization. On average they received some 7 million won per person. In one example, a man in his 50s was hospitalized for a total of 564 days over three years, collecting 95 million won in insurance. The Changwon case followed a similar one that took place in Taebaek last November, involving more than 400 people in the declining mining town in Gangwon Province. They got a total of 14 billion won in insurance payments. As with the Changwon scam, three financially distressed hospitals in the city played a central role. The two cases suggest that insurance fraud is a fairly common occurrence in Korea. According to the FSS, the number of insurance-related crimes has surged in recent years. Last year alone, more than 70,000 people were caught for insurance scams, with the amount of false claims they filed reaching 423 billion won. Yet the figure represented just t

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ - Researchers find high incidence rates and deaths in first-ever analysis of the disease impacts in Latin America Today, Latin American researchers and global health leaders revealed preliminary results from the first-ever study to estimate the burden and costs of meningococcal disease in the region. The study found a need for improved surveillance and better understanding of meningococcal epidemiology and information on costs to help devise meningitis vaccination programs. This new research was coordinated by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins University (JHU's IVAC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Ciro de Quadros, Executive Vice President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington, D.C., said, "Clearly, meningitis is a real health and economic burden in Latin America. Too many children are debilitated or die from this serious disease, yet it is preventable by vaccines. Our new research proves that we need to improve our strategies to fight meningococcal disease." Dr. de Quadros spoke at the conclusion of the first Regional Meningococcal Symposium, convened by the Sabin Vaccine Institute and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO). The symposium, which took place March 19 and 20 in Buenos Aires, brought together more than 150 researchers, vaccine experts, economists and others to evaluate the extent and cost of meningococcal disease and what obstacles impede its prevention through vaccination. "Few diseases have as much power to cause panic among the population as meningococcal disease, said Dr. Marco Aurelio Safadi, Head of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Division at Sao Luiz Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. "This is primarily because of its potentially epidemic nature. The rapid on

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ - Researchers find high incidence rates and deaths in first-ever analysis of the disease impacts in Latin America Today, Latin American researchers and global health leaders revealed preliminary results from the first-ever study to estimate the burden and costs of meningococcal disease in the region. The study found a need for improved surveillance and better understanding of meningococcal epidemiology and information on costs to help devise meningitis vaccination programs. This new research was coordinated by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins University (JHU's IVAC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Ciro de Quadros, Executive Vice President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington, D.C., said, "Clearly, meningitis is a real health and economic burden in Latin America. Too many children are debilitated or die from this serious disease, yet it is preventable by vaccines. Our new research proves that we need to improve our strategies to fight meningococcal disease." Dr. de Quadros spoke at the conclusion of the first Regional Meningococcal Symposium, convened by the Sabin Vaccine Institute and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO). The symposium, which took place March 19 and 20 in Buenos Aires, brought together more than 150 researchers, vaccine experts, economists and others to evaluate the extent and cost of meningococcal disease and what obstacles impede its prevention through vaccination. "Few diseases have as much power to cause panic among the population as meningococcal disease, said Dr. Marco Aurelio Safadi, Head of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Division at Sao Luiz Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. "This is primarily because of its potentially epidemic nature. The rapid on

California's attorney general announced more than $4 million in penalties have been levied against defendants in a national loan modification scam. Half of the money will go to consumers who were duped. Over 1,000 customers were caught in the ploy and paid a total of more than $2 million in modification services to Orange County-based Statewide Financial Group Inc., according to a release Tuesday from the office of Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. "These defendants took advantage of vulnerable people in extremely difficult circumstances, including many who faced imminent loss of their homes," Harris said. "The significant financial penalties imposed by the court let scammers know that severe consequences will flow to those who defraud California consumers." The attorney general's office shut down the business in 2009, which had been in operation since January 2008. The business' owners -- Zulmai Nazarzai, Hakimullah Sarpas and Fasela Sheren (who went by the name Sharon Fasela) -- were all found liable in Orange County Superior Court for violating California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. You can also visit us @ http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/

California's attorney general announced more than $4 million in penalties have been levied against defendants in a national loan modification scam. Half of the money will go to consumers who were duped. Over 1,000 customers were caught in the ploy and paid a total of more than $2 million in modification services to Orange County-based Statewide Financial Group Inc., according to a release Tuesday from the office of Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. "These defendants took advantage of vulnerable people in extremely difficult circumstances, including many who faced imminent loss of their homes," Harris said. "The significant financial penalties imposed by the court let scammers know that severe consequences will flow to those who defraud California consumers." The attorney general's office shut down the business in 2009, which had been in operation since January 2008. The business' owners -- Zulmai Nazarzai, Hakimullah Sarpas and Fasela Sheren (who went by the name Sharon Fasela) -- were all found liable in Orange County Superior Court for violating California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. You can also visit us @ http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/