If they actually had the ability to withdraw money they wouldn’t need to do the whole refund/gift card thing. Also, the ‘refund’ for considerably more is definitely also not real money.
Maybe, but then how did the scammers get the initial 600 bucks? Routine debit card fraud? (and if that’s it, how was did the large deposit afterward made?). I’m going with the assumption that this is somehow like the “here’s a check for too much, send the rest to xxxxxx” where the check bounces. The later deposit will be found to be fraudulent and backed out.
In any case, the account is definitely compromised one way or another - and a simple password change will do zilch to fix it.
I have two work computers. One is issued by the employer, the other is issued by the client, and that’s where I do most of my daily work.
Late last week there was a mandatory reboot to do some Windows updates. This process bricked my computer (and quite a few others; total was 12 or so as of yesterday including a teammate). The help desk wasn’t answering their phone and it wasn’t like I could email them about it since I didn’t have their address to send from my corporate account.
I got hold of them yesterday morning - and they are shipping me a new machine. Hopefully that’ll arrive tomorrow. Yes, at least 3 business days of work lost because a “routine” Windows update rendered it unbootable (and none of the steps to get into safe mode work). I’m hoping that they are able to recover my files from the computer when I ship it back. Luckily, the files I might lose are an annoyance, nothing worse.
The teammate got hers swapped out the same day - she’s local to the client, I am not.
Her new one bricked itself today.
If my replacement follows that pattern, I will basically get nothing done between now and Christmas.
I would assume that too. Scammers rely on the fact that it takes some time for a check to bounce, and meanwhile ask you to send them something that can’t bounce, like cash, or gift card, or money order. That way by the time you get notification that the check you received is made of so much rubber, they already have your money and you can’t do anything to get it back.
How certain are you about the order of events? Are you sure the original $600 was a real charge seen through the bank website, or did it come via email? Or a text? Was MIL on the phone with the scammer at any point?
I’m thinking something along the lines shown in this video:
Where they actually take control of the victim’s computer and change the HTML of the bank page to show fake data.
That’s certainly a possibility that I won’t rule out. We don’t know the details of just when that 600 dollar charge showed up. I did get a glance at the email, which was quite threatening.
The landscaper company that cleans the houses across the street just pulled up outside. I got a pretty good glimpse of their guy blowing leaves off their lawn, into the street ( a no-no ) and onto my property ( a Big no-no ). Luckily, I have my own leaf blower, much more powerful than a backpack model… and I started it up in front of them.
Startled, the kid ran for the truck and the truck pulled down the street quickly. With it started, I then put all the leaves they blew onto my yard… Right back.
Fuck You, Landscaper Scum!
OUCH!! Just renewed our car’s license plates - and found out that there is now a surcharge on registering efficient vehicles. I had not heard that our state had implemented this. It more than doubled the registration. I assume this was also built into the original purchase price, as registration was a line item there, but I didn’t particularly notice it (this was just a year ago).
Given how little we’ve been driving - and how little of that fuel was purchased (or used) in Virginia, I think we’re more than making up for the difference.
But I saved 3 bucks by renewing for 3 years. Woohoo.
Fucking hell’s bells, my freezer is, well, not freezing.
This is going to sucketh very expensively.
I assume you have checked that it is plugged in and the circuit breaker hasn’t flipped? (I once spent an hour on the phone with Google Fiber and it turned out that neither the very nice support person or I ever considered that the device might be unplugged.)
Here’s a more in-depth look at the Magic Dirt phenomenon.
When I was too young for school, I swear I remember seeing a Dragnet episode where some religious nutcase was convincing pregnant couples about “the faithful eating clay while pregnant” ! The ‘clay’ caused significant birth defects.
The more things change…
( My only regret is that I can’t find a link to that episode, even though I know that it was made and was broadcast )
For sure. Actually, I’m not sure where the “landscaper” title comes from since I’ve never seen any of them actually do any actual 'scaping: trimming hedges, spreading mulch or whatever. It’s always, dart around like a lunatic on a 300 decibel zero-turn mower, then just blow shit everywhere, be it on the street or the neighboring properties. They do that shit all the time up and down the neighborhood. Fuck them.
Adam-12 (1971) “The Ferret”
Although I would not be surprised if it were a Dragnet episode as well.
I know. And leaf blowers are The Worst.
Still, my mantra must be: I am an adult. I solve problems through civility and negotiation.
I am not a child. I must forget my childhood and address this as a civilized man.
Thank you. I had checked the plug but hadn’t thought to check the breaker, so I sincerely appreciate the super-noob beginners advice.
Both are O.K. so meanwhile, I’m eating what I can & storing the rest outside overnight in a sturdy box (it’s 20 F or so here).
Ok, I want to vent. After thinking I had a boyfriend in June and all was happy, starting in August, I wasn’t so happy but could figure out why. For four months he made half hearted attempts at acting like a boyfriend. Finally he just said he doesn’t “want anyone.” Not even brave enough to break up with me. Not sure if it was cause I had started as his home aide or that I’d told him my age (I’m 61, he’s 35.) I also had to quit as his aide as he accused me of stealing his toilet paper. Neighbor s say he accuses all his aides of stealing and fires them. And his father was so happy I’d taken the burden off him, as he could concentrate on his bedridden wife and heart procedures. Now he has to come over every other day to bring him coffee, snacks, and his luster pods. Poor guy. Ok, glad to get that off my chest.
And you were dating him? I think you’re better off.
Still, ending any relationship sucks and I sympathize.
Thanks. I saw him every day for six months. We haven’t spoken since I quit a week and a half ago
Our vintage 1997 hot water heater FINALLY broke down. I never heard of one lasting that long. So after a 3.5-hour installation and $2035, we now have nice hot water again.