As a former teacher of information processing, I have often warned my students of the dangers of computer scams and have been lucky enough to have largely avoided these often dangerous nuisances.
Recently, however, I became a victim of a scam. It happened this way. I trusted that an email I received from an acquaintance was sent by her to me. The email requested me to purchase a google play gift card to the value of $100 for her nephew as she was unable to purchase it herself because of a hospital appointment. I was to scratch the back of the card off and send the PIN to her. I did not go out to purchase the gift card but bought one online and duly sent her the card’s number.
The person I received the email from was someone I had complete trust in. Since N. was also very kind and generous to me I had little hesitation in responding to her request.
However, a couple of hours later, speaking to my wife and telling her of the email I suddenly realised that there was something very odd about it. It just didn’t seem to follow and was quite out of character with the person I knew. I began to doubt N. sent me the email. It was, indeed, a scam and I had fallen for it.
Shortly after I received this email from N. I did not doubt that this email was genuine!
‘Three days ago I inadvertently opened a phishing email which set off an avalanche of phoney emails to dozens of people in my address book.
These emails invited the recipient to help me out financially and caused them and me a great deal of trouble and distress.
I am very sorry that this has occurred and urge you all to be ever on your guard against opening or responding to any email which looks at all doubtful like this one.
I urge you also to check the likely authenticity and the RETURN ADDRESS. Had I checked the return address I would have avoided the scam.
The scam email appeared to be from my email provider and looked legitimate: It read :
From: Mail Support Subject: Retrieve Now
Your mailbox account failed to synch and returned 6 incoming emails. Synchronization was unsuccessful because your mailbox could not be validated.’
My wife learning of this scam wrote to me:
`Francis this is terrible. N. went to the shop to get the computer de hacked and I. said it happened also to him last year. Imagine! You are not the only one they tried to see if you were gullible. I suppose many others were hit. Anyway, they thank you for your kindness. However, it was and is a hack. Hopefully, you did not send your Bank details to their email address.’
Fortunately, Amazon realised the discrepancy and refused the transaction. So I was saved even if I did feel a bit of a fool. (You may remember the saying ‘a fool and his money are soon parted.’)
I wonder if you too have been the victim of a computer scam. In this world where it is hard to believe anything in the morass of false news and tempting hoaxes, we must always be alert and, if, in doubt, question the validity of any email received involving money by double-checking the sender.
Anyway, one thing which is not a scam and is certainly the opposite of falseness is the lovely weather we’ve been having here in the Lucchesia which has stirred nature into action in readiness for the spring equinox.
Moreover roughly at the same time Suday evening whilst Francis was being scammed I’d been sent a phisshing email seemingly by Amazon stating that there was something wrong with the transaction I had none at present so left the matter till the next day. I phoned Amazone who kindly at the possibility of any unffilled deliveries none so in fact it too was a terrible phissing attempt to obtain my Bank details. Clearly we then checked the return address and it was From: “Customer Service” subtmbcoxctajzoj.jspf7gdflbba0t@ratvuidudccgapanh.onmicrosofy.com when we saw this with Amazon clearly stating Fwd: .Mail sent from Authorized Amazon: your payment method could not be processed – Statement Invoice Transaction #111-521632-781239
Then states that Amazon Account placed on hold etc and then invites you ti Update Payment Information. Which if you click this it takes you to an obscure site entitled : chisashiburine.com/FLG.rX38. Confirmed by Amazon not Amazon. Worst of all is that the email points out that : If we are unable to complete the verification process within 3 days, all pending orders willMr be cancelled. You won’t be able to access your account until this process is complete. We ask you not to open a new account as a new order may be delayed. We sppreviate your patience with our security measures. Thank you for your concern. Sincerely Amazon.com . There is no shame as these hackers phisshers scammers are more and more adept at their attacking people and their privacy it is truly scandalous though another fact to be aware of and alarmed by. I too had potential several scamming attempts too they start small and escalate if they can get away with it. It seems my card got copied on a payment through a card machine whereby all card details were copied onto a reader and then they attack. In fact I was surprised on getting a call from the Bank even then I wondered was this a gwnuine call. What with A.I. such as Alexa that loves singing or Siri computers are getting scary and one wonders what is real or reality anymore is this the new normal having to fight off cyber attacks genuine or not lets just turn the clock back and enjoy our lives!
Thanks for your comment with your own horror experience of computer scams. We all have to be alert these days especially as even “cat burglars” have to stay at home during this covid crisis and have to redirect their burglary operations from scaling drainpipes to draining our computers!
Just for the record the strange non Amazon Customer Service address there is an : a before the figure 7 and should be a :t. at the end of the address not a y: onmicrosoft.com to be correct anyone know how to deal with these IDIOTS please let me know. Thanks for acknowledging my comment I am exhausted with all this terrible nonsense. Lets all try to be happy. Lets start travelling well for now maybe in our dreams. Lets banish this virus other countries have managed to so do. We need to save our Planet to plant trees clean etc no more Lockdown Please let us pray and be grateful.