BAD PRESS: Orange County long has been...

BAD PRESS: Orange County long has been home to dozens of fraudulent telemarketing schemes. But a new wave of national publicity identifying Newport Beach as the hot spot for these activities--which offer investors everything from precious metals to oil leases--has upset the local image-watchers. . . . On Tuesday, USA Today called Newport “Scam Central.� Last week, the Wall Street Journal labeled it “Cote de Fraud.� . . . “It’s kind of aggravating,� said Chamber of Commerce president Richard Luehrs. “We work so hard to build a great community. The bad guys want to take advantage of all the good work that goes on here.�