Swimming with the Sharks
Criminal activity in the age of computers23 total reviews
Comment from Ben Colder
Good advice. They are out there. I got one several years back. It looked real and would fool a banker, but being in the Insurance business and working with the various law enforcement, I called a friend who worked for the FBI. She told me they were on to it and it was coming out of Canada. The next day or two Paul Harvey announced on his program they had cracked the case. So it pays to contact the officials in this matter.
Best to you in the contest.
reply by the author on 12-Sep-2021
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Good advice. They are out there. I got one several years back. It looked real and would fool a banker, but being in the Insurance business and working with the various law enforcement, I called a friend who worked for the FBI. She told me they were on to it and it was coming out of Canada. The next day or two Paul Harvey announced on his program they had cracked the case. So it pays to contact the officials in this matter.
Best to you in the contest.
Comment Written 12-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 12-Sep-2021
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Than you Chuck. They are getting smarter all the time, and it is hard to avoid them. I check everything out and I've been scammed. I glad you found out in time. I don't enjoy writeing these longer pieces. I appreciate you reading it and giving me six stars.
Beth
Comment from LJbutterfly
This piece is extremely informative and necessary in today's times. In 2012 I purchased a new laptop to go along with the desk top my husband and I shared. I received the Microsoft scam call and paid $100.00 to have both computers "corrected." I asked for a written receipt with the technician's name included, and was sent an email on letterhead which included a website address. I checked the website and all looked fine. I was satisfied. One month later, the site was taken down. Who did I give my money to? I did not know. I have been cautious since then.
Thank you for this well written, clear and concise information. I hope many read it.
reply by the author on 12-Sep-2021
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This piece is extremely informative and necessary in today's times. In 2012 I purchased a new laptop to go along with the desk top my husband and I shared. I received the Microsoft scam call and paid $100.00 to have both computers "corrected." I asked for a written receipt with the technician's name included, and was sent an email on letterhead which included a website address. I checked the website and all looked fine. I was satisfied. One month later, the site was taken down. Who did I give my money to? I did not know. I have been cautious since then.
Thank you for this well written, clear and concise information. I hope many read it.
Comment Written 11-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 12-Sep-2021
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Thank you for much for the review and comments. I think you're lucky it was only $100.00. They get much more than that from many people.
Beth
Comment from Mary Kay Bonfante
This is a very informative and educational article, complete with personal testimony and known examples of people who became victims of various types of fraud, mainly cyber crimes. My husband and I almost became victims of a phone scam, when we were first married. Fortunately the scammers had only started out by taking less than $10 from our account, but if it had continued, as we discovered, they were known criminals and would have removed increasingly greater amounts. For some reason, I knew something was off about what was going on, and made some inquiries, before it got out of hand. Our bank replaced the few dollars we lost, but we had to change our account number.
I know a pastor who was recently defrauded out of his life savings, over the computer. I don't know the details, but it happened almost instantaneously. We feel so badly for him and his family, and are praying for them. Because the theft involved a foreign country, the money could not be recovered by any insurance provision. They didn't get a penny back.
I have had many solicitations on Facebook from handsome men in my older age group, who want to be "friends" with me. I tell them, sorry, I'm a happily married Christian woman -- which I am. Besides, there could be a snickering 20-something female behind that screen, with a fake profile! Or whoever they are, they surely want my money -- and we don't have anything, anyway, but they're not going to get it. I do use Messenger, but I am very careful. One guy on Facebook actually tried to pose as the head of the U.S. military Joint Chiefs of Staff! As if someone who sits with the President would be trolling the internet, looking for a date. Really?!?! Apparently there are people uninformed enough to believe such malarkey. This happened some years ago, but I think I reported him to the actual military, for impersonation.
My suggestions for revisions:
It could be something shared, an opinion, or a photograph
-->
It could be something shared, an opinion, or a photograph.
in which the scammer goes to great links to impersonate a celebrity.
-->
in which the scammer goes to great lengths to impersonate a celebrity.
The person contacts the victim on social media pretending to like something that person has posted.
-->
The person contacts the victim on social media, pretending to like something that person has posted.
They create fake websites using actual pictures of the star
-->
They create fake websites using actual pictures of the star,
which might get her arrested
-->
which might get her arrested.
I did some research on line ...
-->
I did some research online ...
She would need to talk to him again to be sure.
-->
She would need to talk to him again, to be sure.
I can only hope and pray she will continue to read and investigate ...
-->
I can only hope and pray she will continue to read and investigate, ...
anyone might fall into the trap of those who try to deceive you.
-->
anyone might fall into the trap of those trying to deceive the public.
When he was released, he immediately, skipped out on parole ...
-->
When he was released, he immediately skipped out on parole, ...
and with well-paying jobs or titles.
-->
and have well-paying jobs or titles.
He had contacted her on facebook ...
-->
He had contacted her on Facebook ...
or operate out of foreign counties.
-->
or operate out of foreign countries.
have lost over one billion on this alone.
-->
have lost over one billion dollars on this alone.
The average each victim loses is around $21,000.
-->
On average, the amount each victim loses is around $21,000.
I shudder to think what may have happened
-->
I shudder to think what may have happened,
unsolicited letters arriving by mail and assuring her she had won either $10,000 or an automobile ...
-->
unsolicited letters arriving by mail, and assuring her she had won either $10,000 or an automobile, ...
tended to make her a believer in windfalls that never happened.
-->
tended to make her believe in windfalls that never happened.
I got regular calls telling me of other viruses had invaded my computer.
-->
I got regular calls telling me that other viruses had invaded my computer.
If you're on Facebook
-->
If you're on Facebook,
Almost everyday someone asks ...
-->
Almost every day someone asks ...
Then they began messaging my friends ...
-->
Then they began messaging my friends, ...
Because of this, I never use messenger,
-->
Because of this, I never use Messenger,
Criminals have always been around
-->
Criminals have always been around,
We doubt our own judgment and don't like to admit th,at ...
-->
We doubt our own judgment and don't like to admit that ...
can destroy everything we've worked for if we let our guard down.
-->
can destroy everything we've worked for, if we let our guard down.
***
I hope your daughter (it sounds like it could be Christi or Connie, probably not Carol) will abandon all hope in the fake Kenny Chesney, as it could only lead to heartache, loss and trouble. Send Don over to give him a good chiropractic adjustment, right in the nose.
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
|
This is a very informative and educational article, complete with personal testimony and known examples of people who became victims of various types of fraud, mainly cyber crimes. My husband and I almost became victims of a phone scam, when we were first married. Fortunately the scammers had only started out by taking less than $10 from our account, but if it had continued, as we discovered, they were known criminals and would have removed increasingly greater amounts. For some reason, I knew something was off about what was going on, and made some inquiries, before it got out of hand. Our bank replaced the few dollars we lost, but we had to change our account number.
I know a pastor who was recently defrauded out of his life savings, over the computer. I don't know the details, but it happened almost instantaneously. We feel so badly for him and his family, and are praying for them. Because the theft involved a foreign country, the money could not be recovered by any insurance provision. They didn't get a penny back.
I have had many solicitations on Facebook from handsome men in my older age group, who want to be "friends" with me. I tell them, sorry, I'm a happily married Christian woman -- which I am. Besides, there could be a snickering 20-something female behind that screen, with a fake profile! Or whoever they are, they surely want my money -- and we don't have anything, anyway, but they're not going to get it. I do use Messenger, but I am very careful. One guy on Facebook actually tried to pose as the head of the U.S. military Joint Chiefs of Staff! As if someone who sits with the President would be trolling the internet, looking for a date. Really?!?! Apparently there are people uninformed enough to believe such malarkey. This happened some years ago, but I think I reported him to the actual military, for impersonation.
My suggestions for revisions:
It could be something shared, an opinion, or a photograph
-->
It could be something shared, an opinion, or a photograph.
in which the scammer goes to great links to impersonate a celebrity.
-->
in which the scammer goes to great lengths to impersonate a celebrity.
The person contacts the victim on social media pretending to like something that person has posted.
-->
The person contacts the victim on social media, pretending to like something that person has posted.
They create fake websites using actual pictures of the star
-->
They create fake websites using actual pictures of the star,
which might get her arrested
-->
which might get her arrested.
I did some research on line ...
-->
I did some research online ...
She would need to talk to him again to be sure.
-->
She would need to talk to him again, to be sure.
I can only hope and pray she will continue to read and investigate ...
-->
I can only hope and pray she will continue to read and investigate, ...
anyone might fall into the trap of those who try to deceive you.
-->
anyone might fall into the trap of those trying to deceive the public.
When he was released, he immediately, skipped out on parole ...
-->
When he was released, he immediately skipped out on parole, ...
and with well-paying jobs or titles.
-->
and have well-paying jobs or titles.
He had contacted her on facebook ...
-->
He had contacted her on Facebook ...
or operate out of foreign counties.
-->
or operate out of foreign countries.
have lost over one billion on this alone.
-->
have lost over one billion dollars on this alone.
The average each victim loses is around $21,000.
-->
On average, the amount each victim loses is around $21,000.
I shudder to think what may have happened
-->
I shudder to think what may have happened,
unsolicited letters arriving by mail and assuring her she had won either $10,000 or an automobile ...
-->
unsolicited letters arriving by mail, and assuring her she had won either $10,000 or an automobile, ...
tended to make her a believer in windfalls that never happened.
-->
tended to make her believe in windfalls that never happened.
I got regular calls telling me of other viruses had invaded my computer.
-->
I got regular calls telling me that other viruses had invaded my computer.
If you're on Facebook
-->
If you're on Facebook,
Almost everyday someone asks ...
-->
Almost every day someone asks ...
Then they began messaging my friends ...
-->
Then they began messaging my friends, ...
Because of this, I never use messenger,
-->
Because of this, I never use Messenger,
Criminals have always been around
-->
Criminals have always been around,
We doubt our own judgment and don't like to admit th,at ...
-->
We doubt our own judgment and don't like to admit that ...
can destroy everything we've worked for if we let our guard down.
-->
can destroy everything we've worked for, if we let our guard down.
***
I hope your daughter (it sounds like it could be Christi or Connie, probably not Carol) will abandon all hope in the fake Kenny Chesney, as it could only lead to heartache, loss and trouble. Send Don over to give him a good chiropractic adjustment, right in the nose.
Comment Written 11-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
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Wow, that was a lot that needed correcting. Thank you so much. You are jewel. When the fake delivery system delivered the package, they told Christi $450.00 th was due. She didn't have it, thankfully. She called the number they gave her and told her, yes, it was really him and he had things delivered that way all the time. I have a feeling when she gets her phone bill it will be our ht. Ten she called the guy claiming to be Chesney. He told her $450. was just chump change to him and he would repay her when she came to meet him. All lies of course, but she stil thing it might be him. At least, she refused o accept the package. I hope that ends it.
Beth
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You're very welcome, Beth. It's really good that Christi couldn't give them all that money! What a racket. And she still thinks it might be him? She must stop believing those lies. What awful people, preying on the gullible. Someone should arrange a sting, and have whoever it is locked up -- without any technology! God bless you, my friend, and your family.
Love, Mary Kay xoxo
Comment from mermaids
You hit the nail on the head here. It is so sad that cyber crime has destroyed so many people financially. Your essay well describes the various ways these criminals lure people in. My facebook account has been hacked several times, it is disappointing but a reality. Sorry to read about your daughter and your elderly friend with the Ph.D. It shows how these criminals can lure anyone into their schemes.
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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You hit the nail on the head here. It is so sad that cyber crime has destroyed so many people financially. Your essay well describes the various ways these criminals lure people in. My facebook account has been hacked several times, it is disappointing but a reality. Sorry to read about your daughter and your elderly friend with the Ph.D. It shows how these criminals can lure anyone into their schemes.
Comment Written 10-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Thank you so much for the review and the comment and for the six stars. I just found out the package my daughter was expecting came the $450.00 shipping fees due. She didn't pay it, but she still wants to believe he is the real person and would have paid her back. It is had to convince someone who wants to believe so badly.
Beth
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
You did a great with your informative post, Beth. It should be required reading for anyone thinking of joining any social media platform. Your personal experiences plus those of your friends attest to the dangers described so well. Your presentation is great in every way.
Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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You did a great with your informative post, Beth. It should be required reading for anyone thinking of joining any social media platform. Your personal experiences plus those of your friends attest to the dangers described so well. Your presentation is great in every way.
Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 10-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Thank you so much Jan. I'm glad you find my piece worthy of being read by those thinking of getting on social media. I just found the package my daughter got came with a $450.00 worth of postage due. Thankfully she didn't pay it, but she still thinks he's the real thing. When even that doesn't convince you, I wonder what woulld.
Thanks for the six stars.
Comment from zanya
Well done on highlighting this particular problem of our modern times. The final line really says it all. It is so sad that something so wonderful as the internet can be used for such destruction. It really does highlight our human potential for wrongdoing.
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Well done on highlighting this particular problem of our modern times. The final line really says it all. It is so sad that something so wonderful as the internet can be used for such destruction. It really does highlight our human potential for wrongdoing.
Comment Written 10-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Thank you, Zanya. I really appreciate the review and comments.
Beth
Comment from lyenochka
You are so right! Thank you for this informative post!! We think we are careful but it could sneak up on us and get us by surprise. Today I was ordering groceries from what I thought was the grocery store's website but it turned out to be another website that came up as an Ad!!
Hope you do well in the contest!
Comments.
fake Microsoft technichom to get on my computer (technician??)
I ignore all friend request from people (requests)
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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You are so right! Thank you for this informative post!! We think we are careful but it could sneak up on us and get us by surprise. Today I was ordering groceries from what I thought was the grocery store's website but it turned out to be another website that came up as an Ad!!
Hope you do well in the contest!
Comments.
fake Microsoft technichom to get on my computer (technician??)
I ignore all friend request from people (requests)
Comment Written 09-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Thank you for the review and comments. Thanks also for noticing the errors. I've fixed them and quite a few more.
Beth
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
A panoramic tour de force of the black arts of deception. A nasterfully narrated, devastating, cautionary tale. This may be a winner.
SUGG:
There have always been dishonest people OMIT COMMA who are out to defraud and take advantage at other people's expense.
The person contacts the victim on social media COMMA pretending to like something that person has posted.
The [back and forth=>BACK-AND-FORTH] becomes personal.
the scammer was pretending to be the county music star OMIT COMMA Kenny Chesney.
To me, it made no sense that a person with the resourses=>RESOURCES and contacts of this star
No, but she was shaken and became a bit paranoid COMMA but IS still vulnerable.
My daughter is not the only one [of my personal acquaintances=>SUGG I KNOW] OMIT COMMA who have fallen victim to schemers attempting to defraud them.
My friend was a devout Christian. When her husband got a phone call OMIT COMMA saying one of his relatives, who he didn't personally know, had died with no will and no living descendants, she believed her prayers had been answered.
them know when they could claim their inheiritance=>INHERITANCE.
They contacted churches and schools COMMA promising to pay off their mortgages as soon as they received the money.
The scam works because the deceased has the same last name as the one [from=>OF] whom he is alleged to be the beneficiary.
A lonely person or widow is most vulnerble=>VULNERABLE.
before she learned he was an idenity=>IDENTITY thief operating out of a prison. He had contacted her on facebook=>Facebook
The average each victim loses is around [OMIT in] $21,000.
I've mentioned only a small sampling of people I know [SUGG OMIT personally,] who have fallen for one of the hundreds of variations of the schemes out there.
I have [SUGG OMIT personally] become a bona fide skeptic
Microsoft technichom=>TECHNICIAN
[From that point on for years=>SUGG FOR YEARS THEREAFTER], I got regular calls telling me of other viruses had invaded my computer.
[Hardly a day goes by when someone fails to ask=>sugg: ALMOST EVERY DAY SOMEONE ASKS] if I've sent them another friend request
Because of this, I never use messenger, and I ignore all friend request=>REQUESTS from people I know are already my friends.
ponzi=>PONZI schemes
Most of these crimes go unreported often because of shame OR guilt [SUGG omit embarrassment].
We doubt our own judgement=>JUDGMENT and don't like to admit that we have allowed ourselves to become [a victim=>VICTIMS.]
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
|
A panoramic tour de force of the black arts of deception. A nasterfully narrated, devastating, cautionary tale. This may be a winner.
SUGG:
There have always been dishonest people OMIT COMMA who are out to defraud and take advantage at other people's expense.
The person contacts the victim on social media COMMA pretending to like something that person has posted.
The [back and forth=>BACK-AND-FORTH] becomes personal.
the scammer was pretending to be the county music star OMIT COMMA Kenny Chesney.
To me, it made no sense that a person with the resourses=>RESOURCES and contacts of this star
No, but she was shaken and became a bit paranoid COMMA but IS still vulnerable.
My daughter is not the only one [of my personal acquaintances=>SUGG I KNOW] OMIT COMMA who have fallen victim to schemers attempting to defraud them.
My friend was a devout Christian. When her husband got a phone call OMIT COMMA saying one of his relatives, who he didn't personally know, had died with no will and no living descendants, she believed her prayers had been answered.
them know when they could claim their inheiritance=>INHERITANCE.
They contacted churches and schools COMMA promising to pay off their mortgages as soon as they received the money.
The scam works because the deceased has the same last name as the one [from=>OF] whom he is alleged to be the beneficiary.
A lonely person or widow is most vulnerble=>VULNERABLE.
before she learned he was an idenity=>IDENTITY thief operating out of a prison. He had contacted her on facebook=>Facebook
The average each victim loses is around [OMIT in] $21,000.
I've mentioned only a small sampling of people I know [SUGG OMIT personally,] who have fallen for one of the hundreds of variations of the schemes out there.
I have [SUGG OMIT personally] become a bona fide skeptic
Microsoft technichom=>TECHNICIAN
[From that point on for years=>SUGG FOR YEARS THEREAFTER], I got regular calls telling me of other viruses had invaded my computer.
[Hardly a day goes by when someone fails to ask=>sugg: ALMOST EVERY DAY SOMEONE ASKS] if I've sent them another friend request
Because of this, I never use messenger, and I ignore all friend request=>REQUESTS from people I know are already my friends.
ponzi=>PONZI schemes
Most of these crimes go unreported often because of shame OR guilt [SUGG omit embarrassment].
We doubt our own judgement=>JUDGMENT and don't like to admit that we have allowed ourselves to become [a victim=>VICTIMS.]
Comment Written 09-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Thank you, Elizabeth. You went to a great deal of trouble here and I truely appreciate it. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday. I went through correcting everything and was about ready to hit save when my computer took away everything I'd done. I waited until today to make all the corections again.
Beth
Comment from Midi O'Rourke
Very good commentary on scammers. I get a lot through email. Yesterday, one looked really, actually real. I looked it up and found it was a scam. Horrible. Lots of Covid scams out there too.
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Very good commentary on scammers. I get a lot through email. Yesterday, one looked really, actually real. I looked it up and found it was a scam. Horrible. Lots of Covid scams out there too.
Comment Written 09-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Thank you for the review and comments. The phone calls are really anoying too. I wish there was a way to crack down on these people.
Beth
Comment from damommy
I've never been on social media because I've never trusted it. Too many lowlifes get on there to do just what this horrible person did with your daughter and others. We can't be too careful these days. I'm so sorry this happened to you and yours. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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I've never been on social media because I've never trusted it. Too many lowlifes get on there to do just what this horrible person did with your daughter and others. We can't be too careful these days. I'm so sorry this happened to you and yours. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 09-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
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Thank you for the review and comments. You are smart staying away from social media but you still got to worry about the jerks on the telephone trying to scam you.
Beth
