Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Sunday, May 8, 2016

A Scam And A Story

We hear a lot about scams but can't say I've ever had personal experience with one until now. We received Facebook friend requests from a niece/cousin. All of us vaguely thought we were already friends but never the less clicked confirm.

Our son then received a message from his cousin excited about being notified she'd been chosen to receive a $250,000 grant for people retired, disabled etc. She indicated she'd seen Rodger's name on the list and wanted to know if he'd received his money. He knew immediately it was a scam.

Leaving out a lot of details, the short of the story is the Facebook account of our niece/cousin had been duplicated. She was not the person contacting our son.

The lesson here is to be very careful about your Facebook account and keep your eyes open to anything unusual. Facebook immediately removed the duplicated account but not before our son had spent a chunk of his Sunday on the mess.
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Remember my post of a few days ago about our son Rodger who speaks in one word sentences? I have another story to share about him. This week while downtown Portland he came across a blind woman having difficulty. He could tell by the way she was tapping her cane something wasn't right. He approached her and as if there was anything he could do to help.

When he learned where she was going he told her she was close, and then told her he was going that way (he wasn't) and would she like to walk along with him. She was greatly relieved and asked if she could hold on to the back of his arm. 

He walked her to where she wanted to go, opened the door for her, and then went on his way.

I asked our daughter how she thinks all these people find Rodger. She says he's keenly aware of his surroundings and just sees things others might miss in their hustle and bustle. Maybe so but it seems odd to me when he says so little around us as family. Perhaps if I wasn't talking all the time I might be more observant of my surroundings.

20 comments:

  1. Hmm, first I've heard anything about that.
    Our children don't always tell us the everyday things in life. Must be nice to find out stuff like that.

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    1. Since I wrote this post another family member on Facebook had their account duplicated and got hit with the same scam. They seem to know who all the Hillins are, although two have been women with married names. Weird.

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  2. Introverted people are very tuned in to the people around them. We read facial expressions and body language as much as what is being said.

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  3. I do believe there are people who are more sensitive to others and more importantly will offer help when they find someone like the blind lady who lost her way. What a nice son you have to go out of his way to help.

    Thanks for the tip about Facebook. Anything someone mentions winning or receiving money in an email you assume it's a scam. I didn't know it is tried on Facebook as well.

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    1. Rodger is apparently one of those sensitive souls. He is a good man and we are proud of him.

      I've never cared much for Facebook, now I care even less. I'd give it up completely but there are a few people I like to keep up with. Nothing is safe anymore. We just have to be mindful of everything.

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  4. Well, for me, quiet people are just great. When people talk too much my mind wonders off. Yes , you son will be a good observer. He will quickly size people up. Right?

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    1. You are right. He is a keen observer. Everything going on in his head does not flow out through his mouth.

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  5. There are so many scams targeting seniors in Hawaii. The most irritating one for me right now is the Indian sounding phone call saying they are calling from the Windows technical support department. Roger must have a very trusting demeanor that people recognize.

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    1. Kay, the one from the "Windows technician" has been around a while but it just keeps on going so they must still be people falling for it or they would have stopped. Really irritates me that it's so hard to control what comes into my personal space, as in the telephone, computers, and electronic gadgets.

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  6. This has unfortunately been happening quite a lot as of late...the duplicate accounts. I am not exactly sure what the preventative answer is. I do change my password monthly because I have read that that helps. Technology sometimes has its downfalls! But it also led me to your blog so that it a good thing :)

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    1. I'm very glad you found my blog. I briefly checked out your blog and will definitely be going back to spend more time reading it. Thanks for leaving a comment.

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  7. Regarding Rodger: it sounds like he is a very perceptive, intuitive person, sensitive to the needs of others around him. What a wonderful gift! Sometimes it is the quite ones, those who just kind of blend in, who are the most intuitive, taking it all in, ready to respond, help if needed. He sounds like a wonderful human being.

    Regarding the scam: scary stuff! It is a reminder that if it doesn't quite ring true, verify first and always! We are vulnerable because we tend to trust and believe what people are telling us. As we get older (and more vulnerable to such scams) it is important to keep our radar on high alert. I'm not paranoid, but I do tend to check/verify if something seems out of the ordinary.

    I do believe that the vast majority people in our country are kind, good-hearted. But all it takes is one schmuck to walk into our life and mess things up. I've gotten those phone calls that Kay mentions!

    Great post Linda! Thanks.

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    1. Thanks for your compliment about son Rodger. In spite of all the anger surrounding us today I refuse to give in to it for if I do it will greatly limit my life. Like you, I intend to be a little bit more on guard but not paranoid.

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  8. I've seen mention of that Facebook scan several times recently. I hope I'll remember it if I receive a friend request from someone who's already a FB friend. Scammers could be putting all that energy into something positive. Nice story about your introverted son. I have an extremely EXTROverted friend who is, now that I think about it, very UNaware of what's going on with those around her.

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    1. Apparently those of us who talk all the time are missing a lot that goes on around us. Hmmm I wonder if I could ever be a non-talker? Not likely I fear.

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  9. Your Rodger is very special! I missed the post about one word sentences so I'll go back and hunt for it!
    My ex husband did not speak much but he was more the type of latching and waiting to pounce on us if we didn't very carefully guard and select our words. Talking with Jesse was the most dangerous thing to do so my children and I tried to say as little as possible! Now I have Louis Dean and conversation flows freely! It took me awhile to get used to it! Also, even if I say things I shouldn't, LD sees and hears me in the best possible light!
    I, too, accepted a friend request not long ago but immediately knew it wasn't right! I reported it to Facebook and notified my friend!

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    1. Linda, no wonder you are so vibrant, you were suppressed all those years! I'm very glad you found Louis Dean.

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  10. He is obviously a person who actually sees and cares rather than one who just overlooks. You have to be so proud of your boy.

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