Hi its Alzie,
I thought I would start writing about the train wrecks I mentioned I my Hello posting. Maybe I should start with one of the most recent ones since it will be fresher in my mind.
Around September of 09 one of my friends (Michelle) convinced me to have a face book page. She said it was a great way to advertise my business. Michelle's daughter set everything up for me, and it was great. I really know very little about the Internet, and it dangers. I was a sitting duck, just quacking away playing farmville, and adding friends as they popped up. I" was" advertising so I thought I needed to click on and expand my friends list, how else do you network? I started getting IM'S from strangers, and I thought most of them were being nice. Some were very young and from different countries. I tried to explain to them I don't date Young boys, especially young enough to be my son.
But they were relentless so I would defriend them or block them, that is after I figured out how. One night I was playing farmville and minding my own business when this guy Jeff im'ed me. He was very nice, and was in the Army. Jeff told me he was stationed in Baghdad and had been there for a very long time. We Talked about our likes and dislikes and likes, and we liked allot of the same things (go figure). I said he would have to love animals and he did.( I have 3 dogs and4 cats)
I have not been on a date for about 20 years, because I was in a long term relationship that ended after 15 years. I thought that part of my life was over, and I thought I would never date again. I didn't date because I thought I would never have feelings again like I had for Joe. ( Joeis alot of stories.) I told Jeff I was in the military after high school, (will save that story for another time) was married once ended badly, (another story for another time) then had 2 long relationships. ( more stories)
It was so funny how he new just what to say. He spent allot of time writing me poetry and telling me how beautiful I was and how he love me. I even sent Jeff a picture of my boobs. Unfortunately I live in Al's world most of the time. Al's world is my safe place where everything is good, no one lies, cheats, steels, etc. The sky is always blue there and there are lots of animals of all kinds and they all get along. Al's world is always peaceful and fun, no wars, no killings, and everyone accepts everyone for who they are.
Jeff seamed to understand me for who I was. I believe in astrology, past lives, ghost, paranormal, nature, psychics, etc. And he had me hook line and sinker, boy did I sink. Jeff sent me flowers 2 times, a basket of chocolate, and pizza to my door all from Baghdad. Boy was I impressed.
Jeff wanted me to go to yahoo messenger to talk and I agreed, big mistake on my part. I could not figure out how to down load the messenger, being electronically challenged as I am. So I gave Jeff my password to down load it for me, who would want anything of mine? So I thought it was safe.
After a couple of months Jeff said he would be home soon and wanted me to let him send a piece of luggage to my home. He said a diplomat would bring it to my door and I would have to pay for shipping. The shipping would be between 100 and 200 thousand dollars The bag would be lock with a combination and have 10 million 500 dollars in it. My heart dropped, I did not even see this coming. I had some suspicions but he always had excuses, Like I cannot tell you this or that for security reasons ( how convenient) . Some of my friends had there doubts and did not believe him but I did, In Al's world you don't lie about things like this.
I freaked out and made some stupid excuse like I had to go run errands, and he said he wanted to go to my Face book and look at my pictures. I said fine (I did not care) I wanted to get off line fast. Jeff did not know I was logged into face book because I appeared to be off line, and all of a sudden this box pops up a from face book and said someone was trying to access my account from Ghana. I started freaking out even more, and went to admin to change my password but to late they (Jeff) already had everything they need to hijack me.
A couple of days later I talk to Jeff ( or who ever he was) to tell him off. I demand the truth and wanted to know who he really was which he gave me another factious name. ( I wanted to know who I sent my boobs to!) Jeff turned everything around to make it look like I was just confused. Jeff kept saying he love me and that was all that mattered, and he had to lie for security reasons (that again). I ended up blocking him and reported his profile to face book. Then he started coming at me with different profiles, so I blocked them to.
The following week I felt hurt and violated, but that was nothing for what was about to come. Sunday morning I woke up to my face book being hijacked and all my contacts were being sent a virus via personal video from me. The video was also posted on my wall. I removed it and sent out on my wall and the main wall that I did not sent any messages out and to delete them. I must say my face book friends did rally around me to help get the word out. I changed my pass code again, still nothing to work it seamed my face book page had a life of its own. I was stuck in a bad science fiction movie that would not end. I shut down the face book page.
The next day my face book page was up and running again on its own, and I was at a lost as to what to do. The virus video was back on my wall for anyone to down load and was being sent to my contacts. One of my friends suggested I go to the library and change my password and shut it down again, so I did and that seamed to work for now.
Then I was home working on my new face book page, and up pooped this window saying I needed to upgrade my virus protection. I being computer challenged believed it and paid $89.95 to upgrade, and puff up went my computer. My computer man said I downloaded a virus from the scammers.(damn) So a new hard drive and mother board later I am back and running.
I filed a police report and learned those Internet scams are everywhere, and impossible to catch. About 3 or 4 weeks later a police officer calls me about one of the flowers I received, apparently the florist wants there money. $80.00 to be exact and how was I going to settle this.
After I went into detail explaining what happened I think he felt pity for me, and said he would add it to his report.
In the beginning of the end of Jeff I felt hurt and violated, but somewhere in the mist of Al's world I realized what a sad and pathetic life the scammers must have. They must wake up everyday and say who am I going to rip off today so I can have a roof over my head. That must be a horrible life to live not being true or honest to anyone, or trusting anyone. I believe what we put out there comes back 10 fold, so I hate to see what life has in store for them.
