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Resources For Indiana Artists
How to Talk About Your Art in a Grant Application
Are you an artist applying for a grant? It can be challenging to capture the emotional depth of your work in a grant application, especially with limited space. Learn how to navigate the world of grant applications with these tips from fellow creatives! Read recommendations on how to frame your work to resonate with potential funders in a blog post from Fractured Atlas.
Free Legal Assistance for Artists and Small Arts Organizations
Pro Bono Indiana’s (IndianaLegalHelp.org) Lawyers for the Arts project provides legal assistance at no cost to artists and small arts organizations. To obtain help, please call 812.402.6303. Calls from artists and small arts organizations are taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Central Time). Support for this service is provided by the Indiana Bar Foundation.
Accessibility in the Arts
Are you an artist with a project, program, or event accessible to the public? Physical and programmatic accessibility is an integral part of the planning and budgeting processes. Ensure that persons with disabilities will be able to participate in your offerings! Learn more about making the arts accessible to all.
Dates and opportunities to keep an eye on:
- (May 23) Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities Application Deadline
- (May 29) Zionsville Cultural District RFP for Muralist
- (May 31) "I" Am Allen Bicentennial Legacy Sculpture Project
- (May 31) Carmel International Arts Festival Entry Deadline
- (June 1) Jazz Road Tours Grant Application Deadline
- (June 1) Indiana Soybean Alliance Art Competition Entry Deadline
- (June 14) New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art Exhibition Proposals
- (June 28) SAMHSA Art of Recovery Submission Deadline
- (July 16) Brown County Playhouse Mural Call for Entry
The “Can you hear me?” scam has been targeting consumers for quite some time. BBB continues to receive reports to BBB Scam Tracker about these calls. Usually, the caller will hang up immediately after you respond to the question “Can you hear me?” However, some consumers say the calls can also be about banking, vacation packages, warranties, and even Medicare cards. The callers may be impersonating a business like your bank or another financial institution, a government agency, an insurance company, or others.
So far, BBB has no reports in Scam Tracker that mention monetary loss, and BBB is unsure if any victims have reported any losses to the FTC or another entity. However, it’s unclear how the scams will play out over time or if the targets will be victimized later.
How the scam works
You get a call from someone who almost immediately asks, “Can you hear me?” Their goal is to get you to answer “Yes,” which most people would do instinctively in that situation. There may be some fumbling around; the person may even say something like, “I’m having trouble with my headset,” or “I’ll call you right back.” But in fact, the “person” may be a robocall recording your conversation, and that “Yes” answer you gave could later be edited to make it sound like you authorized a major purchase. Your “Yes” could also confirm to the scammer that the phone number they dialed is a real number, enabling future targeting of phone call scams. The FCC previously issued a unanimous ruling making AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal.
In other variations of the scam, the caller may say, “Is this [your name]?” or some other question where the answer will be “Yes.” The caller may not hang up right away either and may continue the conversation to attempt to steal your personal information or record more of your voice. Here are some recent examples from BBB Scam Tracker:
“They called and said hello, hello? Then they asked if I could hear them. I assumed they wanted me to say yes, but instead, I said “mhmm” and they immediately hung up. I immediately tried calling the number back and got an error message, saying the number had been disconnected.”
“Caller asked ‘can you hear me’ then represented himself as a representative of [company name redacted] and asked for personal finance information…”
“A man called and immediately said “can you hear me?” And then told me that my identity was stolen and used for a crime in San Antonio TX. He said that someone was laundering money using my name. I then hung up the phone.”
“Caller asked “Can you hear me.” My husband responded with YES. The caller hung up. We think they recorded his response to be used as a scam.”
How to avoid similar scams
Use Caller ID to screen calls, and consider not answering unfamiliar numbers. They will leave a message if it’s important, and you can call back. Read the FCC’s article on how to stop unwanted robocalls and texts.
Just hang up. If someone from an unfamiliar number calls and asks, “Can you hear me?” or “Is this [your name]?” do NOT answer “Yes.” Just hang up. Scammers change their tactics as the public catches on, so be alert for other questions designed to solicit a simple “yes” answer or any response.
Make a note of the number and report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker to help warn others. BBB also shares Scam Tracker information with government and law enforcement agencies, so every piece of information helps track down scammers.
Join the Do Not Call Registry (DoNotCall.gov) to cut down on telemarketing and sales calls. This may not help avoid scammers since they don’t tend to pay attention to the law, but you’ll get fewer calls overall which may help you more quickly notice the ones that could be fraudulent.
Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized charges. Checking your telephone and cell phone bills is also a good idea. Scammers may use your voice's “Yes” recording to authorize charges on your phone. This is called “cramming,” and it’s illegal. If you’re worried, notify your bank and credit card company. They may be able to put an alert on your accounts for unauthorized transactions or freeze your credit cards temporarily.
To report a scam, go to BBB’s Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker.
Are you looking for the perfect pet? It’s essential to exercise caution when shopping online for a furry friend. BBB Scam Tracker often receives reports of online purchase scams for pets. Even though puppies are the most common type of animal used in a pet scam, BBB also receives reports of fraudulent sellers advertising the sale of kittens, reptiles, and birds that have yet to be received. In most cases, consumers only recognize they are interacting with a scammer once they start arranging for the transportation of the animal after purchase.
How the scam works
A consumer recently reported to BBB Scam Tracker that they lost $850 when attempting to buy a Chihuahua puppy online. After paying the initial $650 for the puppy and $200 for airline shipping, the consumer was asked for an additional $950 in cash for pet insurance prior to shipping the puppy.
“I contacted the “breeder” and was told that this is the way it works and that I must pay the $950 to them via Zelle. At this point, I realized the entire transaction was a scam and I told the “breeder” I wanted them to immediately refund my $850. Of course, they never responded after that.”
How to avoid similar scams
Visit the seller in person. Responsible breeders and reputable rescues are happy to offer you a tour and let you see the available puppies in person.
Check references. Read online reviews and talk to other people who have purchased pets from the place you are considering, making sure the seller is trustworthy. Visit BBB.org to read reviews and find BBB Accredited breeders near you.
Look for website warning signs. Fake puppy sale sites look legitimate because they steal content from other websites. An easy way to spot a duplicate site is to copy a line of text from the website and paste it into a search engine. You can also do a reverse image search of the photo of the puppy by using images.google.com to see if the photos are stolen from somewhere else. Read BBB's tip on 6 things to look for when shopping online.
Select on-site. Rather than relying on pictures to pick your perfect pet and waiting for a breeder to send them to you, visit the site and make your choice in person.
Use a credit card to make payment. This offers additional protection if you purchase online. Asking a customer to pay by wire transfer or prepaid card is illegal, and any breeder who pressures you to do so is most likely a scam. Paying via a digital wallet app is also a red flag for a scam.
If you have spotted a scam, or become a victim, please let us know! Go to www.bbb.org/scamtracker.
This year, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) received 67 entries for its annual photo contest. After voting by DHPA and DNR staff, the winners in each category are listed below:
Altered: Frog Baby Fountain on campus of Ball State University by Tim Underhill of Muncie
Black & White: Cannonball Bridge over Wabash River in Knox County by Jennifer Minnis of Paris, IL
Color: Barn at Prophetstown State Park by David Wright
Kids: Indiana State Capitol and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis by August Rumschlag
Preservation Month Theme (Indiana’s Scholastic Gymnasiums): Salm Gymnasium in Madison by Andrew Forrester of Madison
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Eastern High School 2024-25 Football Homecoming Court
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Indiana’s Tax System: A Framework for Future Competitiveness
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Punishing K-12 Students For ‘Misgendering’ Peers Is Unconstitutional & Undermines Parents
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County Holds Budget Hearing
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This Week In Indiana History September 15-21
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Indiana Leads The Nation In Lottery Wins! A Jackpot State Of Mind
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This Week In Indiana History September 8-14
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Latest Washington County Mugshots
The following individuals were arrested recently by local law enforcement agencies. Those listed, in most cases, are just facing charges at this point, and are to be considered innocent of those charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are often dropped or lessened. Mugshots are collected from local law enforcement agencies on Mondays and are public records.
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