Alexandra Bogdanovic's Blog: That's life... - Posts Tagged "scams"

So I had a very interesting time in New York City last weekend.
Trying to ignore the fact that it was freezing cold, I took the 9:46 Metro North commuter train to Grand Central. From there I took the 6 Train to the Flatiron District, where I joined a couple of people from the Memoirs Only Book Club for brunch. We discussed Life on the Line by Grant Achatz. Although I hadn't finished the book, I enjoyed the conversation... and the food.
Afterwards, I ventured back into the cold with camera in hand. I planned to do some street photography before heading uptown to get some shots of the Manhattan skyline from Top of the Rock.
I had walked less than a block when I stumbled upon a street fair where vendors were selling food, jewelry and durable goods. At one booth, two women were doing astrological readings. I had no intention of having for one, but one of the women accosted me.
To make a long story short, she insisted on reading my palm -- for a small fee. Reluctantly I agreed, and listened while she told me about my past, present and future. Sometimes she spoke in generalizations, making statements that could apply to anyone. She could have reached some conclusions by reading body language. Some of her questions and predictions were uncanny.
She asked me about the significance of California and Florida, and it just so happens that I recently entered literary contests in those states. I don't know how she could have known about that, unless she had some sort of super-duper X-Ray scanning device that saw the post office receipts in my wallet.
The reading went on... and on. I grew increasingly wary as it continued. There had to be a catch -- and of course there was.
I learned that there is a lot of negativity in my life and that I am spiritually weak. I needed five crystals to restore my spiritual balance, thereby "fixing" everything in my life for a mere $500.
That did it. I'd had enough, and expressed my opinion in no uncertain terms. It was one thing to fleece unsuspecting people out of a few dollars for a reading. Fleecing someone out of a few hundred dollars is another thing altogether.
Call it karma or call it fate, but I got the last laugh. I'd agreed to let this woman do the reading for $20. But when I looked, I only had $17 in my wallet...
Until next time, "That's life.."

To paraphrase an old saying; you can take the girl out of journalism but you can't take a police reporter's instincts out of the girl.
Or something like that.
For the past couple of years, I've been the target of a known scam that makes my blood boil. While it's garnered regional and national publicity, I decided to investigate and write about it myself. After all, knowledge is power and if what I am sharing prevents even one unsuspecting computer user from falling prey to bogus telephone solicitation schemes, I've done my job.
The type of con I'm referring to typically occurs when someone with an Indian or nondescript North American accent claiming to be from Microsoft or Windows Systems calls you out of the blue. The next thing you know, they're telling you there's a "problem" with your computer.
I can't tell you much more than that based on personal experience because that's where I usually use some extremely colorful language to end the call.
According to Microsoft (my link text), however, the perpetrators "offer to help solve your computer problems." Once they've convinced you to let them do so, the cybercrooks "attempt to steal from you and damage your computer with malicious software including viruses and spyware."
The callers identify themselves as representatives of the following groups or organizations:
- Windows Help Desk
- Windows Service Center
- Microsoft Tech Support
- Microsoft Support
- Windows Technical Department Support Group
- Microsoft Research and Development Team (Microsoft R&D Team)
As a result, Microsoft advises the public to "treat all unsolicited phone calls with skepticism." Recipients of such calls -- including those from anyone claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support -- should end them without granting the caller access to your computer or divulging personal information.
"Although law enforcement can trace phone numbers, perpetrators often use pay phones, disposable cellular phones or stolen cellular phone numbers," Microsoft notes the portion of its website devoted to online security and privacy. "It's better to avoid being conned rather than try to repair the damage afterwards."
In spite of repeated warnings and calls for public awareness, so-called tech support scams have been pervasive for several years.
In a 2012 blog (my link text), Consumer Education Specialist Nicole Vincent of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the agency "cracked down on a massive international scam" that "played upon people's fear of computer infections and hackers."
The perpetrators of that particular scam allegedly called the victims claiming to be associated with legitimate companies including Microsoft, Dell, MacAfee and Norton.
Collectively, they were accused of fooling "tens of thousands of computer users" into believing something was wrong with their machines and then charging each victim $130 to $300 for bogus repairs.
U.S. residents should report these and other phone scams to the FTC. For information about resources available in other countries, visit the section of microsoft.com dedicated to online security and privacy.
Until next time, "That's life..."