CSI Blog & Newsroom

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“There is “at least one very significant investigative operation underway” at the moment into one of the largest cyber crimes in Canadian history — the CRA phone scam — with both Canadian and Indian authorities working to shut it down, says Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale,” wrote Nelisha Vellani and David Common for CBC News on September 26, 2018.

Vellani and Common continued, “Goodale made the comments while responding to a months-long CBC Marketplace investigation that traced some of those fake tax calls to illegal call centres in Mumbai. 

The CRA scam usually begins with an automated phone message claiming that the target is facing a lawsuit over unpaid taxes owed to Canada Revenue Agency, and demanding they call back or face arrest. Those who return the calls face further threats, before being instructed to pay an outstanding sum, sometimes through bitcoin or gift cards.”

Read the full article here. 

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“Venezuelans are living through one of the worst hyperinflation episodes ever recorded since the end of World War Two,” wrote Pablo Uchoa for BBC World Service News on September 22, 2018.

Uchoa continued, “Prices have hit a new high in August, peaking at 65,000% a year, says Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and one of the world’s leading experts on hyperinflation.

Under President Nicolas Maduro, inflation stands at around 150% a month, says Prof Hanke – hyperinflation is defined as when inflation rates are greater than 50% per month and persist for more than 30 consecutive days.”

Read the full article here. 

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“At least 1,036 Canadians died in the first three months of this year of what appeared to be opioid overdoses, raising the opioid epidemic’s national death toll to more than 8,000 people since January 2016, according to newly released government figures,” wrote Catharine Tunney for CBC News on September 18, 2018.

Tunney continued, “According to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s latest trend report, 94 per cent of the deaths between January and March of this year were accidental and most of those deaths involved the powerful pain medication fentanyl. 

“The latest data suggest that the crisis is not abating,” said Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, in a joint statement.”

Read the full article here. 

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“(CNN)Cystic fibrosis did not define Claire Wineland. She did.

No matter the obstacles placed in front of her, of which there were many, she refused to be pitied and was determined to live a life that mattered. She inspired countless people, invited — no, demanded — honest talk about illness and mortality, and brightened the worlds of those she touched with her smile, spunk and spirit,” wrote Jessica Ravitz for CNN on September 4, 2018.

Ravitz continued, “On Sunday evening, after being taken off life support and using the newly transplanted lungs she received just one week earlier, Claire took her last breath. The cause of death was a massive stroke she suffered soon after the transplant surgery. She was 21.”

Read the full article here. 

Photographer: Alex Read

“Aretha Franklin was so hard-nosed in her business dealings that she demanded to be paid in cash before performing. Her heirs won’t have it so simple,” wrote Andrew Dalton for The Globe and Mail on September 2, 2018.

Dalton continued, “Though she lived to 76 and was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, the Queen of Soul died without a will.

As her four sons and other family members move on from Friday’s funeral in Detroit, they’re left with the potentially tall task of finding out how many millions she was worth, and divvying it up, a process that could take years and is likely to play out in public.

Read the full article here.