Speeding, Distracted Driving and Radar Speed Signs:

(This is an excerpt from an article found on Radar Signs Website. It expresses the reason Feedback signs work . If you wish to read the entire article, follow the link at the bottom of the page.)

Distracted driving is one of the top reasons why drivers speed. Yet, we often overlook the relationship between driver speed and driver distraction as an opportunity to solve the distracted driving epidemic. This is probably because the majority of distractions come from within the vehicle. Mobile phones, radios, passengers, a hot cup of coffee and more can divert a driver’s attention.

It’s during these periods of distracted driving that brain activation shifts dramatically, impairing a driver’s cognitive abilities making them unable to multitask safely. Everyone knows that driver behaviors must change. The question is, “How do we change them?” We can regulate driver behavior with legislation, like hands-free laws. But that approach still relies on driver compliance. To be more effective, regulations should be paired with external forces that automatically remind drivers to focus on the job of driving. Radar speed signs, one of the most reliable traffic calming solutions, are already scientifically proven to do this: they work because they prompt drivers to change how they operate their car.

Radar Speed Signs Trigger Changes in Distracted Driver Behaviors by triggering feedback loops.

Wired Magazine describes feedback loops as a centuries-old strategy that is “profoundly effective” in affecting behavioral changes. The concept is simple:

“Provide people with information about their actions in real time (or something close to it), then give them an opportunity to change those actions, pushing them toward better behaviors. Action, information, reaction.”

Distracted drivers typically fail to maintain speed, driving faster or slower than the posted speed or other drivers. Whether these drivers are going too slow or too fast, they need a trigger, a neurobehavioral activator, to convert from a distracted state to engaged state. Radar speed signs provide that trigger.

Full Article

https://www.radarsign.com/speeding-distracted-driving-radar-speed-signs-science/

Cabernet Watch Annual statement

Financial Statement - 10/06/2023

Introduction:
This financial statement provides an overview of the financial position of Cabernet Neighborhood Watch as of 10/06/2023. It outlines the organization's income, expenses, assets, and liabilities, reflecting its financial health and stability.
Income:
During the current fiscal year, Cabernet Neighborhood Watch has generated a total income of $500. This income primarily consists of membership fees from local residents and donations received from community businesses and individuals. The steady inflow of revenue has enabled us to carry out our various community safety initiatives effectively.
Expenses:
To fulfill our mission of ensuring the safety and security of our neighborhood, Cabernet Neighborhood Watch has incurred several expenses. These expenses include administrative costs, communication and outreach efforts, training programs, and equipment purchases.
Administrative costs, such as office supplies, printing materials, and software subscriptions, amount to $5,000. Communication and outreach expenses, including website maintenance, social media promotions, and community event organization, total $212. Training programs, such as first aid and CPR training sessions, self-defense classes, and crime prevention workshops, have cost us $0.00. Lastly, equipment purchases, such as surveillance cameras, signage, and safety kits, have amounted to $0.00.
Assets:
Currently, Cabernet Neighborhood Watch does not possesses a range of valuable assets to aid in its community safety efforts. We have no patrol vehicles, communication devices, surveillance cameras, safety equipment, office infrastructure, or reserve fund. Assets of this nature would enhance our operational efficiency but also contribute to creating a secure environment for our residents.
Liabilities:
We are pleased to share that Cabernet Neighborhood Watch has no outstanding liabilities or debts as of 10/04/2023. This fiscal responsibility and commitment to debt-free operations reinforce our organization's stability and sustainability.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Cabernet Neighborhood Watch, as reflected in this financial statement, has maintained a positive financial standing. The steady income, effective management of expenses, valuable assets, and absence of liabilities showcase our commitment to efficiently utilizing resources for the betterment of our community. We remain dedicated to enhancing safety and security in Cabernet and strive to continue our financial success in the future.

AI ‘supercharges’ voice scam

Sitting at home one day in April, Dr. Rudolph Cumberbatch received a phone call from an unknown number. When he picked up, he recognized his grandson Eddie’s voice.

Eddie explained that he was calling from Ohio, that he’d been in a serious accident, and that though he was OK, his car had been totaled. He needed $18,000 immediately.

But when Eddie’s father, who was suspicious, called Eddie back, the 19-year-old was healthy and safe at home in his Chicago apartment. There had been no car wreck. A voice scammer had found Eddie’s popular TikTok Channel, sampled his voice with speech synthesis technology, and impersonated him.

"I sort of fell for it because basically, it sounded very much like him," Cumberbatch told Yahoo Finance. "I was so shaken up that I didn't even question it, because I get a lot of screwed-up calls and I always question these people. But this one I did not question at all."

Cumberbatch’s experience is one of many raising concerns among experts who worry that voice scams could pose an increasing threat to Americans as artificial intelligence, or AI, continues to evolve and makes it harder to detect what’s real and what’s not. Still, there are several ways Americans can protect themselves from being swindled.

"It's going to be extremely common, because what tends to happen in anything that is related to manipulated media, which this falls under, is once you have someone demonstrate the effectiveness of that technique, you're going to have an endless number of copycats who get creative with it and try to do a variation on the initial grift," said Wasim Khaled, co-founder and chief executive of Blackbird.AI, an AI-powered risk intelligence firm.

In March, the Federal Trade Commission warned of an increase in AI voice scams, while a recent McAfee study found that out of 7,000 people surveyed, one in four indicated they had experienced an AI voice scam or knew someone who had. The same study reported that 77% of those who received an AI voice call lost money.

Phishing! Don’t get hooked.

Though scams have always existed, AI has made them vastly more convincing.

For example, in romance scams, scammers have traditionally posed as prospective lovers to swindle their victims. Previously, fraudsters could connect with potential victims over email or messenger, but now they can use voice-cloning technology to disguise their voices as well. In other words, a male scammer could call a lonely old man with the fake voice of a young woman in an attempt to defraud him.

"There's impersonations, there's government agency scams, there's prize scams, there's gift card scams, caller ID spoofing," said Khaled. "All of these types of scams have been going on in one form or another… but being able to clone a voice now supercharges those existing scams that already worked pretty well, but create an additional level of authenticity as well.”

The McAfee report found that some scammers need just three seconds of audio of someone’s voice to create a convincing fake. Meanwhile, social media instructionals on voice cloning abound, meaning that even a mediocre scammer can learn the tech and produce impressive results.

Key Takeaway

In March, the Federal Trade Commission warned of an increase in AI voice scams.

But folks can still fight back, experts say.

"If you have some level of knowledge and some level of defense that you take personal responsibility for it … that's the only line of defense you have today," Khaled said, noting that from a tech perspective, there are no safeguards "in place yet."

"So you have to get educated," he added. Here’s how.

Have a security word

Experts say that security words are one of the most effective forms of defense against voice AI scams. That means coming up with a secret word or phrase, so if a fraudster calls and fails to give the secret phrase, you can be confident that you’re about to be the victim of a ruse.

"If they're asking for something like a ransom payment for a kidnapping, what is that secret word?" Khaled said. "Basically get ahead of the situation before it gets any further."

Consider location-tracking services

Dr. Michael Skiba, also known as Dr. Fraud for his expertise in scams and crime, said that tracking services like Find My or Life360 can help if you think you’re on the receiving end of a fraud.

For instance, if a swindler calls you and tells you he’s kidnapped your significant other in another country, you can verify whether that’s true on Find My Friends, which permits users to see their friends’ location on a map.

"So, if you get a call saying that your son or daughter is in Mexico and you look and they're at their college campus … you’re right off the bat thinking my flag should be out," he said.

Be wary of unknown numbers

Steve Grobman, senior vice president and chief technology officer at McAfee, advised folks to screen unexpected phone calls from unknown numbers. Many mobile providers offer call screening, where the caller has to provide identifying information before the user even answers the call. The cell providers sometimes label unknown phone numbers as "Spam Risk" or "Telemarketer."

"When in doubt, sending an unknown or unexpected number to voicemail is a good approach," Grobman said.

Be aware of your online presence

Take inventory of your social media accounts and channels where your voice is on display.

"One of the important things to do is to make any social media account private, and that is so that people can't just go onto a public Instagram account, grab audio from that video clip, and use it to synthesize a voice," said Khaled. "That's going to create a much bigger obstacle for anyone so that they can't have their voice out there."

Grobman warned users about the dangers of having too much information available online. He said that social media offers “a gold mine” for scammers who want to tailor their messaging to particular individuals.

"To better mitigate these risks, periodically review your social media connections and privacy settings to ensure you’re sharing only with people you know and trust," he said. "If you have an open social media profile, it’s critical to be more on guard when it comes to communications you receive, as the public, including scammers, have access to more information about you."

Hang up and call back

If you think you’re receiving a call from a scammer, hang up and call back. That way, you can confirm the identity of the caller.

"You call them back at their real number," Khaled said.

Even if the scammer posing as your loved one says they’re calling from a kidnapper cell, still call that loved one back on their usual number.

"If you call back the real number and they pick up, [everything is] … it's another great way to just quickly spot check," he said.

Pause and take a deep breath

Scammers try to generate panic to swindle their victims. When experiencing a flight-or-flight response, victims struggle to think clearly and tend to make impulsive decisions, like wiring vast sums of money to an afflicted relative or acquaintance. That’s why, Grobman said, it’s important to remain calm.

"Scammers prey on creating a sense of fear and urgency, since it means their victims are much more likely to act first and ask questions later," he said. "Taking a few seconds to calmly analyze the situation allows users to better identify fraudulent communications."

"The primary key to avoiding most scams is being vigilant and alert," he added.

Spread the word

Perhaps the best way to fight back against scams is to spread awareness, Khaled said. Warn your family, friends, and colleagues of the prevalence of AI voice frauds.

"It's not just your elder relatives now, because they're not the only ones falling for it," he added. "So spreading the word is critical if you happen to be the one that sees the information first."