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'Black Panther' is set for 'remarkable' opening weekend. Heres why
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T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) in Black Panther." - photo by Herb Scribner
A normally slow time at the movie theaters is about to pick up this weekend.

Projections for the upcoming Marvel film Black Panther show that the film is on track for an estimated $165 million or more opening weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Black Panther would become the top February film of all time if it holds to those estimates, THR reported.

Hollywood film tracking service NRG initially estimated Black Panther would top out at $125 million. That number jumped to $150 million last week, according to THR.

Black Panther is the highly anticipated film about the Black Panther comic book character, TChalla, king of the fictional country Wakanda. TChalla received his superpowers through ancient rituals, which he uses to combat enemies.

The film stars an almost all-black cast. Chadwick Boseman will star as T'Challa/Black Panther alongside Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serkis.

The film also boasts a star-studded soundtrack, which was produced by rapper Kendrick Lamar. It features hip-hop stars 2 Chainz, The Weeknd, Travis Scott and others. The soundtrack is set to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart this week.

But this may only be the beginning of the "Black Panther film's success.

Imax Entertainment CEO Greg Foster told Variety this week that the film has already become the biggest seller of advanced IMAX tickets in history, showing theres no slowing down for "Black Panther."

We have a movie that has clearly captured the zeitgeist, Foster said. Presales are the surest way to see how momentum is going: The momentum is gathering steam as opposed to slowing down.

Foster said the film hasnt even peaked yet.

A movie often peaks 10 days before it opens, he said. This movie feels like its going to peak the day it opens. Its remarkable.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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