I'm an idiot

 

I’m an idiot.

I thought I was immune, but I’ve been caught in an obvious scam and have paid a (small) price to be made aware of it.

So here’s the story:

Our friends, Bill and Cher, go back to our early days in Campbell River, when both families had small kids and Bill and I were both Carihi teachers. Our classrooms were across the hall from each other, rather separate from the rest of the school –– Social Studies and English –– in the newish shop wing.

So we saw a lot of each other.

Then Bill and the kids followed Cher to the Lower Mainland so she could attend UBC Law School, and our paths diverged.

But we sort-of kept in touch, as close friends often do.

We haven’t seen each other for several years, however.

Anyway, when I got an email request to help him with a small problem, which consisting of his computer giving him trouble with his Amazon account and a friend of his I didn’t know needing a cash infusion. He asked whether I had a functioning Amazon account.

I do, and readily agreed.

He assured me he’d refund as soon as he could.

At that point I obviously should have called him, but so far everything appeared kosher and I was busy. I awaited the instructions.

Again, the instructions should have triggered my instincts, because the money was to be sent on an Amazon card, and when I’m thinking, I know better than that.

But I bought the card and had it sent to the address posted in the instructions.

Then I started to question the entire process, and when “Bill” wondered whether I could send a bit more, I pretty-much knew.

So I finally phoned him.

Turns out he’d been hacked, his email had changed, and his entire mailing list was being assaulted by fraudsters. He’d been on the phone dealing with this for hours, just hadn’t gotten around to notifying me yet.

So I’m going to save you some money: when asked about providing a gift card always phone and confirm!