As fraud savvy I believe I am, I now know I have to remind myself daily I have Caller-id for a reason on all my telephones.
A couple of days ago I got an early morning call waking me up out of my good sleep.
I looked at the caller-id, and it said NO-NAME. Normally, I would not answer the call, and just wait for them to leave a message. The other morning in my waking up Fog I answered the call. The Caller with an Indian accent announced He was calling from Microsoft.
He told me their computer systems alerted them to call me because my computer was in danger of crashing within a couple of days. He asked me to turn on my computer so he could show me where I had errors and warnings. Still in my Fog I complied and followed his instructions as he showed me, and told me if I had more than five errors and warnings, my computer could crash any day now. Note: He used fear to get my cooperation.
As I scrolled down and more than five errors and warnings were discovered he said the first O MY GOD.
The Fog began to lift just a little. He then asked me to go to a website where He would assist me with removing any virus from my computer. I got the second O MY GOD, and the Fog lifted some more. I asked can you please re-confirm you are from Microsoft, and you are going to remove any virus from my computer?
He gave me an indirect answer. Noteworthy! What I got next was a telephone number to call - 266-777-0091 and a site to visit - http://cyber-support.net, in the event the call with him dropped.
While He was giving me this information, the website He initially had me to visited gave him access to my computer.
He began to again show me more errors and warnings, and I got the third O MY GOD from him. The Fog lifted some more as I started to get that feeling I was falling victim to Fraud.
I asked him again you are going to remove any virus during this call? He said he would transfer the call to a technician who would. Immediately, a lady with an Indian accent came on the line asking if I would allow her to explain how she would remove the virus? She mentioned Microsoft support, and began to sell me on a maintenance service with a one year option starting at $199.
Now, the Fog is totally lifted and I started asking more questions.
I told her the Gentleman who initially called me never mentioned a charge for removing any virus from my computer. He gave me the impression He was calling me directly from Microsoft, and this was their complimentary service. She again indirectly told me the virus would be removed, and I could expect it to take one to one and half hours to remove it. term fix, recommending I purchase their maintenance program.
Now, the Fog totally lifted I told her I'm sorry I don't have $199 to give you. She made a second attempt and when I made her accept I was fully aware of her Predator-Like agressiveness, she immediately ended the call. I immediately deleted their access to my computer.
As the Fog initially started to lift I thought I am going to allow this call to go as far as this can go short of me giving up any money, because I realized I needed to teach myself a lesson, and maybe my experience could help someone else from being defrauded.
I have always purchased my computers through Dell, along with their maintenance concierge service. Please know I don't mean this to be any kind of commercial for Dell. The point I am making is I encourage you to make a note to yourself, if you have a maintenance plan on your computer, and you get a call like this from any one other than your maintenance plan, know you may be falling Prey to a Predator!
As I began to play along with this Fraud-Call, I knew I could call Dell and have them fix whatever was done to my computer.
Once She hung up on me, I called Dell-Support and explained to the Technician what I had allowed. He told me Microsoft does not make those kinds of calls. He confirmed the Caller did install a virus in my computer. It took Him all of a few minutes to remove it.
This was a good lesson for me to trust my Caller-id. I have made a habit of not answering no name or long distance numbers when they call. I have found when these calls go to the answering machine they usually hang up when requested to leave a message.
A couple of mornings ago I was all too human, and thought I'd take a chance and answer this call. MISTAKE! Answering led to my experiencing Fraud.
When I look back on the experience I am amazed at how long it took me to get the feeling I was being Fraud-ed. I was a good half an hour into the call before I started having that feeling.
One of my best friends an Attorney told me some years ago I needed to stop going through life expecting everyone I encounter to show me their good intentions.
He told me to daily please think like an Attorney specializing in Criminal Law, and always expect people to first show me the bad in them. He told me I needed to create this protective mechanism for my self. Now that's the kind of honest friend we all should have.
Sadly this great man passed away within a few years after telling me about my all too human self.
Fortunately, I could hear him in my ear as I started to realize I was allowing my self to become Prey. At the point I was not giving up money or access to my money I stopped the Caller from making me become Devoured-Prey.
It is a shame we must go through this life continuously placing a shield around ourselves because there are Predatorscooperation as a weapon against us.
Please, use my experience as an excuse to not let this happen to you!
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