Last month I told you my troubles with my computer. This month I have had more troubles with my computer, which at the moment is inoperable. I won’t tell you how much money this “free gift” of Windows 10 has cost me, but I will tell you that in irritation and frustration, it has been a very costly present. My computer man, who is excellent, has had a death in his family and is at the funeral, so I’m currently dictating this to my writing coach, so we can get it in on time for the March issue.
Kelly, my computer man, has asked me to write about the computer scams that older people are subject to. I can write this heartily because I have been a victim. I think I’m pretty smart – I know I’m smart – but this is the way I got involved with South Asian scams. One Friday afternoon, a red-lined notice popped up on my computer, supposedly from Microsoft: “Your computer is going to die in a few moments; call this number so we can rescue you.” It was an 800 number. I couldn’t face the weekend without my computer, so I called.
Almost $400 later, they fixed what they probably had created in the first place, but in order for them to do so I had to give them control of the machine. It was not officially my computer any more, and I had to sign a computer check for their services for a year. Stupidly, I did it. Then it happened again, with a different company. I got a notice on the computer, supposedly from Microsoft, with a different number to call, but just as frantic-sounding, and again on a Friday afternoon. I had numerous conversations with this con man, a charming fellow who spoke English I could understand, but when he got to suggesting I replace a drive, I thanked him and dispensed with his services. This time it only cost me $200.
The next time I had a problem, I looked in the local phone book and found Kelly. He came immediately, helped me with everything I needed and explained that once you give these people access to your computer, they look at everything on it to determine how much you can afford to be taken for. I was just one of the number of smart people he knew who had fallen for this scam, he said. Another of his clients – a brilliant man and someone I know – was taken for thousands. Kelly told me this man told nobody, because he was brilliant and couldn’t believe this had happened to him. I told nobody either, because I’m supposed to be so smart, and I’m old, and I was embarrassed to say what a sucker I had been.
I told my son, eventually, and he said, “Mother, lots of people have fallen for this,” which was comforting. Anyway, now I’m telling the whole world – all my readers, anyway. If you get a notice with an 800 number, don’t call it. It is a scam. They will fix what they say, but they will find any number of things that need to be fixed. The safest thing to do is to call a local person who will come and tell you what is wrong with your computer and will be on call should something go wrong in the future. I am letting everybody know how vulnerable I was. It is my good deed for the day – but when you see me, don’t laugh. cc