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United Airlines denies womans 'emotional support peacock'
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United Airlines turned down a womans request to bring her emotional support peacock onboard a flight leaving Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday. - photo by Herb Scribner
One woman and United Airlines won't be flocking together much anymore.

United Airlines turned down a womans request to bring her emotional support peacock on board a flight leaving Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, according to Fox News.

The story, which did not originate from satirical news site The Onion, was picked up by national news organizations including NBC News, The Washington Post and Business Insider.

Live and Let Fly first reported the story, saying that an unidentified woman bought a second plane ticket for her peacock, which she uses for emotional support.

However, a spokesperson for United explained to Fox News that the airline told the customer she couldnt bring the peacock on board.

"This animal did not meet guidelines for a number of reasons, including its weight and size. We explained this to the customers on three separate occasions before they arrived at the airport," United said in a statement, according to Fox News.

United added in a statement that it continues to support customers with emotional support animals, NBC News reported.

We know that some customers require an emotional support animal to assist them through their journey, the statement said. In order to ensure we provide the best service to everyone on board our flights, consistent with government rules we currently require these customers to provide documentation from a medical professional and at least 48 hours advance notice.

The travel talk show The Jet Set shared photos of the incident on Facebook.

According to the BBC, airlines often allow passengers to bring animals on board for their emotional and psychiatric needs. However, a number of animals have raised concerns from airlines in the past.

For example, in 2014, a woman brought a pig on a US Airways flight. The pig defecated and squealed on the plane before it took off.

Similarly, traveler Jodie Smalley brought a turkey on a holiday flight in 2015, according to the BBC.

Cynics were surprised to hear that the bird made the return trip back in one piece and wearing a special bird nappy, BBC reported.
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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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