In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.
These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.
In today’s edition – February 10, 2021 – the FBI warns of online romance scammers, the Worcester Fire Department receives a state grant for student fire safety education, get a chocolate-covered strawberry pie for Valentine’s Day at Table Talk Pies, Worcester Art Museum exhibit goes virtual this year, and gas prices are up five cents this week in Massachusetts.
FBI Says Don’t Get Fooled by Online Romance Scammers
The FBI Boston Division is working to raise awareness about online romance scams, also called confidence fraud — when scammers take advantage of people looking for companionship or romantic partners on dating websites, apps, chat rooms, and social networking sites with the sole goal of obtaining access to their financial or personal identifying information.
Romance scams are prevalent, especially around Valentine’s Day and during the COVID-19 pandemic with more people looking for love online.
Here are some online dating safety tips from the FBI:
- Be careful what you post online because scammers can use that information against you, and always assume that con artists are trolling even the most reputable dating and social media sites.
- Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
- Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
- Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
- Beware if the individual seems too perfect, or quickly asks you to communicate “offline.”
- Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family.
- Beware if the individual claims to be working and living far away, whether it’s on the other side of the country or overseas.
- Beware if the individual promises to meet in person, but then always cancels because of some emergency.
- Beware if you’re asked to send inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
- Never send money to anyone you don’t know personally.
- Never help anyone move money through your own account or someone else’s. You could become an unwitting money mule for the perpetrator helping to carry out other theft and fraud schemes.
Worcester Fire Department Receives State SAFE Grant
The Worcester Fire Department [WFD] is among 239 fire departments across the state to receive Student Awareness of Fire Education [SAFE] grants to fund fire education programs for children and older adults.
WFD received a SAFE grant for $11,380 and a Senior SAFE grant for $3,219.
“Since 1996, the S.A.F.E. program has brought fire education to hundreds of thousands of students in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This program allows firefighters and teachers to work together to provide fire and life safety education to young people. This collaboration contributed to a major accomplishment. No children died in fires in Massachusetts last year.”
Get a Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pie from Table Talk for Valentine’s Day
While supplies last, Table Talk Pies is selling chocolate-covered strawberry pies in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The pies are just 2 for $1.
The pies can be found at the Table Talk Pies store on Green St.
Worcester Art Museum’s ‘Flora in Winter’ Goes Virtual this Year
Flora in Winter, the Worcester Art Museum’s winter floral arrangement exhibit, will take place virtually this year.
Flora in Winter displays arrangements inspired by art in the Museum’s collection and created by top floral designers from throughout central Massachusetts.
Due to COVID-related capacity restrictions this winter, a limited number of tickets to enjoy Flora in person will be available for Museum members only. However, a virtual guided tour of all 24 interpretive arrangements throughout the Museum will make the stunning beauty of Flora available for all to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes.
This year, the event is named “Passport to Virtual Flora” and will include a tour of all floral arrangements and displays and a variety of online programs and demonstrations by floral design and art history experts.
“Passport to Virtual Flora” will be available free for Members; $40 for nonmembers. Museum members will automatically receive a link to the “Passport” package. To purchase a link to “Passport” on the Museum’s website, click here.
Gas Prices are Up 5 Cents this Week in Massachusetts
The state’s average gas price is up five cents from last week ($2.39), averaging $2.44 per gallon — 19 cents higher than a month ago ($2.25), and seven cents cheaper than this time last year.
Massachusetts’s average gas price is two cents lower than the national average.
“Consumers can expect to continue paying more to fill up this month, potentially up to 10 cents more a gallon, depending on how high crude goes,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Director of Public and Government Affairs. “If demand grows, that will further fuel pump price increases.”
AAA Northeast’s February 8 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be four cents higher than last week ($2.42), averaging $2.46 a gallon. The national average price is 16 cents higher than a month ago ($2.30), and two cents higher than this day last year ($2.44).
Lead image courtesy: Table Talk Pies/Facebook
