General Error

I am sitting at my desk waiting for the bank’s security department to pick up my call-on-hold. It’s been over fifty minutes of dreadful music. Then the call finally timed out. Ho hum.

This was after several hours on the line with a scammer who cleaned out my bank account, with my help. I am neither senile or stupid but they bagged me with some cyber trickery. I won’t crawl back through the gory details except to say I was phoned by someone claiming to be from Amazon Security and that my account had been hacked. They wanted to help me get refunded for my loss and to block the alleged scammer from access to my account. I fell for it. There’s an old rule that says if it smells like fish, chances are, there be a fish! In hindsight I should have first checked my bank account for anything unusual and then called Amazon to see if indeed anything was amiss. There are now several obvious questions I should have asked. The biggest one is Why the hell didn’t I just hand up? I am sick at my loss and sick that even an old smart ass like me can be so easily scammed. Enough said, stay alert!

Well, well I’ve got my money back!!! My rapid response somehow stopped the scammer’s process. I’ve since learned that with today’s new telepathic mobile phones, using one in close proximity to your computer can give the caller-scammer instant and full access to all of your information and accounts. It is a scary world and unfortunately it pays to be paranoid and suspicious. Even with no fiscal loss I am shamed and humiliated that this jaded old fart could let someone jam a stick into my spokes so easily. The whole event has upset me quite badly. I’ll admit that. I wonder about how many folks are just too embarrassed to admit that they fell prey to some very clever thief. There are plenty out there. Apparently it pays. Even with the wisdom of older years, folks are being bamboozled by nasty people at the top of their game and who are very hard to out-scheme. They are incredibly blatant, just like certain politicians.

A few days later, the scammers had the temerity to call me back. Click!

The title comes from the message shown when I went to finish my last blog. General Error the computer said. That translates to “Poof Gone, we have lost your files!” What a week! Suddenly it is September with golden days and cool early sunsets. The anchorage in the harbour is still full of yachts, my head is still full of dreams, life goes on. Today is the only one we have.

“ The truth has no defence against a fool determined to believe a lie.”

-Mark Twain

Author: Fred Bailey

Fred is a slightly-past middle age sailor / writer / photographer with plenty of eclectic hands-on skills and experiences. Some would describe him as the old hippy who doesn't know the war is over. He is certainly reluctant to grow up and readily admits to being the eternal dreamer. He has written several books including two novels, 'The Keeper' and 'Storm Ecstasy,' as well as 'The Water Rushing By', 'Sins Of The Fathers', 'The Magic Stick', as well as an extensive inventory of poetry, essays, short stories, anecdotes and photographs. His first passion is the ocean, sailboats, voyaging and all those people who are similarly drawn to the sea. He lives aboard 'Seafire' the boat he is refitting to go voyaging, exploring new horizons both inner and outer. This blog is about that voyage and the preparations for it. In spite of the odds against it, the plan is to sail away this fall and lay a course southward. If you follow this blog your interest may provide some of the energy that helps fuel the journey. Namaste Contact him at svpaxboat@gmail.com View all posts by Fred Bailey