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This is the dirtiest place in the airport (and no, its not the bathroom)
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With the SkyTrain out of service, travelers are directed to a long line for shuttle buses Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Power was restored at the airport after a massive outage Sunday afternoon that left planes and passengers stranded for hours, forced airlines to cancel more than 1,100 flights. (Bob Andres/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) - photo by Herb Scribner
A new study unveiled the dirtiest place in the airport, and its not the bathroom.

InsuranceQuotes.com recently conducted 18 tests on six different surfaces at three major airports to discover that the airports self-check kiosks had the most colony-forming units of viable bacteria and fungal cells per square inch.

Specifically, the company said one spot tested for 253,857 colony-forming units. Another at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta one of the busiest airports in the world tested with more than 1 million colony-forming units.

Research shows that fungi and bacteria can cause allergic responses, respiratory issues and contribute to the spread of infectious diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most fungi live on human skin, indoor surfaces and in soil and plants. Most aren't considered dangerous. However, some can create fungal eye infections, rashes and weaken immune systems, according to the CDC.

Other dirty spots at airports included bench armrests (21,630 units) and water fountains (19,181 units).

For comparison, the average airport toilet seat had 172 units, according to Time Money.

At home, most toilet flush buttons have 95,145 units and kitchen countertops have 361 units, according to the study.

Each airline can decide how often and how well an airplane is cleaned, so if the turnaround time between flights is low, the plane may not be cleaned at all. Even when a plane is cleaned, general cleaners are used rather than stronger disinfectants, leaving dangerous germs right in your lap, the study said.

Airports in both Fort Lauderdale and Dubai have all recently added new kiosks, showing theres no slowing down in building more of the airport's dirtiest item.

However, according to Secure ID News, the Dubai kiosks wont require much human interaction, which could avoid some of the health concerns. Dubai's kiosks have the ability to identify passengers using facial recognition technology within one to two seconds.

The kiosks join the rising trend of smart gates, which allow people to scan their apps at kiosk gates and, using biometric signals, allow people to pass through into security without long waits.

Avoiding bacteria is only one hiccup people face at airports. The Economist recently asked its journalists to report the worst thing about each of the airports they visited. Growing crowds, slow security lines and poor navigation were among the problems listed by these journalists.
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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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