Cafe Chat
Welcome – make yourself at home. Pick a pretty cup or mug for coffee, hot chocolate, herbal tea, or a cup of my new favorite chai tea. Sit in a comfy chair so we can chat.
A little music might be nice. Hope you like my selection.
Relaxing Hang Drum – Good Vibes is playing softly. Mother Nature’s Fall …
No changes in our weather here. It’s still bright, warm, and sunny.
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It’s difficult to understand the magnitude of how far our words are going out there on the World Wide Web. For those of you who aren’t tech-savvy, I feel your angst.
I’m cautious about everything I do on-line. I’ve had a lot of SPAM calls since COVID. Perhaps, it’s coincidental or perhaps, the perfect opportunity to catch the unsuspecting isolating victim.
For Example:
I received a text message from Amazon.
Yes, I do shop through this site. I have family in different states. The free shipping helps. A major convenience for me especially during COVID.
The text said, “A large purchase has been added to your shopping cart. It’s for a 72” Sony TV.”
Well, hubby was happy. He thought I was about to purchase this TV for him. No … No … No!!!
I called the phone number listed on the text. It looked official. A man answered. I told him about the text and the number I had been ask to call for more information.
In quite an official voice he said, “Your account has been hacked. A large charge has been added to your shopping cart. Amazon has frozen your account until we can figure out these charges.”
I told him I didn’t charge a TV and would never purchase anything of that amount online. I asked if he could remove the item since I don’t see it in the cart.
Then, his questions started:
- What is your email?
- What is your computer type?
- Have you purchased anything recently from Amazon?
- What is your Amazon account number?
- What is your password for your computer?
I told him I didn’t need to give him my information if he was from Amazon. They have all of that on file.
He said, “No, he’s the one that will clear up this charge, and in order for him to do that he needed my password, email, and account number.”
When I refused, he said, “He had to put me on hold until he spoke to his supervisor.” Sometime later, a very flustered man returned to the call.
“Madam, you must understand that your account will be frozen until this is all taken care of by me. I will need the information in order to do that.”
While he was speaking to me a great deal of chaotic noises were going on in the background. I questioned why it was noisy as I was having difficulty hearing him.
“No worries, I am here and will clear the noise for you. Let me put you on hold a minute.”
Now, it was very, very quiet. A cautious chill overtook me. I immediately wanted to hang up. But, I also wanted my account unfrozen.
He came back.
He said, “Now, if you can give me this information I will clear up the issue for you.”
I told him, “ I’m afraid I don’t have time right now. I’ll have to call back.”
I never did call him.
I never did have a TV in my shopping cart.
I never did have a frozen account.
I contacted Amazon. They informed me that many, many accounts had been hacked but they had adjusted their security.
Do I feel safe using Amazon?
Yes, but I’m even more cautious about giving information than ever before.
Have you experienced an incident like this or a similar one?
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I hope the coming week is a peaceful and stressless one
Namaste, Isadora 😎
2020©Isadora De La Vega
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