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This family dog was bound for Kansas City. Heres why he wound up in Japan
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On Wednesday, United reportedly shipped a Kansas-bound dog all the way across the world to Japan, CNN reported. - photo by Herb Scribner
United Airlines had a rough week when its come to dogs on flights.

On Wednesday, United unexpectedly shipped a Kansas-bound dog all the way across the world to Japan, CNN reported.

Kara Swindle and her family went to find their German Shepherd named Irgo when they arrived in Kansas City, but only found a Great Dane in their pets place, according to KCTV 5.

Both Irgo and the Great Dane briefly stopped over in Denver, where they were sent on connecting flights. However, the dogs ended up on the wrong flights.

"They had no idea where the dog was," Swindle told CNN. "I burst into tears instantly because this has just all been a whirlwind. They didn't know (where Irgo was) until 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday when the plane landed in Japan."

The dog was found OK in Japan.

But Swindle said Irgo didnt have any water or food for the 16-hour flight to Japan. She said her dog also has an ear infection but didn't have any medication for the three days the pet has been in Japan.

United Airlines issued an apology over the incident, as reported by The Huffington Post.

"An error occurred during connections in Denver for two pets sent to the wrong destinations. We have notified our customers that their pets have arrived safely and will arrange to return the pets to them as soon as possible. We apologize for this mistake and are following up with the vendor kennel where they were kept overnight to understand what happened," the airline said

United plans to send Irgo from Narita, Japan, to Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday. He will be flown to Denver and then Wichita.

As CBS News reported, the airline recently changed its pet policy to disallow pets in the aircraft cabin. Only small dogs who can fit inside a carrier underneath the seat are allowed.

United faced criticism earlier this week after a familys pet died in an overhead bin aboard one of the airline's flights, according to NPR.

A flight attendant allegedly arranged for the family to place their 10-month-old bulldog in the overhead bin, even though the family wasnt breaking any rules with having the pet onboard the plane.

The pet died during the three-hour trip from Houston to New York.

United accepted full responsibility, according to a statement sent to NPR.

"This was a tragic accident that should never have occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin. We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them. We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again."
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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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