This Florida Woman Could The Worst Neighbor Ever

It seems like good neighbors are hard to come by nowadays. Every time I look at the news, there's a story about someone doing something crazy to the person next door. In most cases, there's at least one person in your neighborhood that likes you. However, there are those rare cases where everyone in the neighborhood hates one person. That is the case for Diane Goglas. If there was an award for The Worst Neighbor, she would get an overwhelming amount of votes.

In the quiet community of Shadow Bay, Florida, a storm has been brewing, both literally and figuratively, thanks to one resident's actions. Diane Goglas has earned the reputation of being perhaps the worst neighbor imaginable, following her decision to fill a storm drain with concrete. This act of defiance has not only disrupted the neighborhood but also brought significant legal and health issues to her doorstep.

The trouble began when Goglas decided to take matters into her own hands, claiming that a drain pipe had been installed on her property without her permission. According to Fox 35 Orlando, she sent a letter to her neighbors in March, warning them of her intention to close off the pipe. She stated, "I advise you of this because once I close that pipe off, you will have a drain problem that will back up on the road and on your property." Despite the clear forewarning, Goglas went ahead with her plan, sealing off the pipe in April with the help of a crew.

Her actions have led to a cascade of problems for the entire neighborhood. The most immediate consequence has been severe flooding, as the blocked storm drain could no longer effectively manage the water flow. The flooding has not only made daily life inconvenient but has also created a breeding ground for mosquitoes, posing a health risk to all residents.

Goglas's actions have sparked significant legal battles. The Homeowners Association (HOA) of Shadow Bay has filed a lawsuit against her, arguing that the flooding caused by the blocked drain "presents a clear threat to life and safety." This legal action underscores the severity of the situation and the potential dangers posed by such flooding.

Moreover, Seminole County has issued Goglas a notice of code violation, demanding that she remove the concrete and repair the existing stormwater pipe and drainage fixtures. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $300 daily, adding a financial burden to the already tense situation.

Diane Goglas's actions have made her a notorious figure in Shadow Bay, embodying the worst traits a neighbor could possess. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community, cooperation, and the potential consequences of placing individual concerns above the collective good.

Think you have a worse neighbor?

Source: WTSP

Scams are a scary thing, so you should know these new scams that are trending. It's easy to think that you could never fall for a scam, but the truth is that scammers are getting better and better and what they're doing, so it's getting more difficult to stay safe.

Before we get into the new scams that are trending, it's worth reminding ourselves of some age-old scams. Some scam artists just keep doing the same thing, and they keep getting successful results. The IRS has some good information out about tax-related scams and how to avoid them. On the agency's official website, they warn that seniors are often targeted in scams. This was true years ago and is still true. On their site, they warn taxpayers not to fall for scams targeting older adults. "Scammers pretending to be government officials, aim to steal sensitive personal information and money," they state. "By posing as representatives from agencies such as the IRS, or other government agencies, these fraudsters use fear and deceit to exploit their victims."

Another big scam that's been around forever is scammers claiming their services are needed to settle with the IRS and "that their debts can be settled for 'pennies-on-the-dollar' or that there is a limited window of time to resolve tax debts through the Offer in Compromise (OIC) program." The IRS says "these promoters are often referred to as 'OIC Mills.'" In a release, the IRS adds that an Offer in Compromise "mill" will "usually make outlandish claims, frequently in radio and TV ads, about how they can settle a person's tax debt for cheap. In reality, the promoter fees are often excessive, and taxpayers pay the OIC mill to get the same deal they could have received on their own by working directly with the IRS. This takes unnecessary money out of the taxpayer's wallet."

"Too often, we see some unscrupulous promoters mislead taxpayers into thinking they can magically get rid of a tax debt," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement. "This is a legitimate IRS program, but there are specific requirements for people to qualify. People desperate for help can make a costly mistake if they clearly don't qualify for the program. Before using an aggressive promoter, we encourage people to review readily available IRS resources to help resolve a tax debt on their own without facing hefty fees."

Now, let's move onto the new scams to avoid.

The AARP warns of a new scam called the "check cooking scam." The AARP states, "In check cooking, thieves take a digital picture of a stolen check and then use commercially available software to alter it." It can look super real, but it's fake. So, how do you stay safe? "Consider using a safer payment method, such as a credit card," they suggest.

The AARP states also warns of a new sweepstakes scam where "instead of trying to get you to pay taxes or other fees in advance to collect the nonexistent prize, the scammers will ask for personal information so that they can validate you and set up the payout." Just say no.

These days, AI scams are big. Experian.com says today, scammers use technology to "write more convincing and natural-sounding phishing emails and text messages." They can also "Impersonate the victim's friend or relative and ask for money as part of a grandparent scam." It's scary stuff. Beware of anything that sounds too crazy, as these can often seem far-fetched, but AI makes them look real.

Experian.com says that student loan forgiveness scams are on the rise. They note that, "scammers may contact you via phone or create phony application sites aimed at stealing your Social Security number or your bank account information." Don't give out your information. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

This one is really wild. With the games on the way, scammers can use the games to scam you. The AARP states, "A scammer hacks someone's email account, and shortly after, all of that person's contacts will receive the same message — something to the effect of, 'Hey guys, I'm over in Paris and my wallet got stolen! Can anyone please help me out by sending gift cards or a Venmo deposit?"

Whether the scam is new or old, the best way to avoid it is to stop and think about what's happening. These scam artists are super good at what they do, but if you just stop for a moment and really think out any actions, you can avoid making a rash decision that could cost you.