This is my first time ever “blogging”. I guess the makes me a “Blog Virgin”. So, when you remember this blog…and YOU WILL. Be kind.
Take this as a warning or a “don’t let this happen to YOU” message. Being the “computer Illiterate” that I am ( I can barely e-mail!) this should really come as no surprise. Recently I was sent a e-mail notice from what claimed to be my server, AOL. They said they were “updating” my billing info. I didn’t respond. A few days later I received a “final notice” e-mail again from what I thought was AOL. I looked everywhere for a phone number online or a e-mail address to contact someone at my server. I thought this e-mail night be bogus. They wanted my credit card info + a few other things. Having no luck with AOL and the e-mail DID look authentic, I decided to roll the dice and sent them the info.(It was also 2:30 in the morning when I sent it too!) I DID think it was strange that they asked for my credit card pin number which they didn’t need for billing. For some odd reason and I still don’t know WHY I sent them the pin number from another card and even that one wasn’t correct. Like I said it was 2:30 AM!!! I figured ALL my credit card info was still the same and the only reason they would need my pin # was to withdraw money and I was SURE they would NEVER do that! I also thought if there was a problem they could try calling ME for a change!
A few days later I was at the checkout line at Wal-Mart and my credit card was denied. I told the cashier to run it through again because it was probably just wearing out from abuse. She did…SEVERAL times. All the while the line behind was getting longer and longer. There I was looking like white trash in Wal-Mart trying to charge on a bad card. I handed the girl another card and was on my way. She didn’t even look at it, but that’s another blog story….
When I got home I called the credit card company to tell them I thought I needed a new card. The woman told me that my card was fine, but they did notice some “odd” charges being made so the card was BLOCKED. Turns out somebody had tried to make a cash withdrawal with my bogus pin number and then tried to make a charge for the same amount, $229.00! Thank God I was smart(?) enough not to give them the right pin number! There was also another charge made to FRANCE! I assured the woman from the card company that I wasn’t doing any cash withdrawls and people really should be wiring ME money NOT the other way around! My account on that card was closed and I was issued a new one.
Then, I had to find someone at AOL to report this to. An hour or so later I was “instant messaging” a “live tech”. It took me that long to locate ANYONE to help me at AOL!!! I explained my dilemma to my tech “Sigfreid” or whatever he was calling himself. He asked me to send him the e-mail that I had received that started this whole mess. Within in seconds he said I had been SCAMMED! Had I been able to get in touch with someone easier at AOL this all could have been avoided. “Sigfreid” now tells me I need to REPORT this. I e-mailed back “Isn’t that what I just did?!!!!” The exclamation points were flowing fast and furious at this now. He e-mails back “You sound upset….” I replied “What the hell am I doing with YOU if you’re telling me to report it after I just reported it to YOU!!!!!! What are they paying YOU for?!!!” Magically and mysteriously he vanished and it said “session terminated” Odd….I got a e-mail seconds later from ol’ Sig saying he didn’t know WHY were cut off. OK, whatever….
Long story longer….The SOB’s didn’t get any money out of me and I have learned a valuable lesson. I must have a Guardian angel watching out for me out there someplace….BEWARE!
Went to the hairdresser’s last week. I took a copy of the artist, Jon Paul’s book “The Art Of Romance” that features me on the back cover + a few pages inside to show my hairdresser, Rayne.ALL the women at the salon swarmed around me like bees to catch a gander at the book of JP’s best cover art. They all loved it. One woman said she already had one of the book covers as a screensaver. The odd thing was later one of the hairdressers came over and asked me how I felt about “one-night stands”. She smiled and said “Me first, then Carol!” I guess they are looking at me in a different light now… The book is available at www.jonpaulstudios.com
Hi CJ - Mary said to go to your new site, and this is where I got!
I was reading with bated breath what had happened to you, hoping you wouldn’t give them your PIN #… You’re one helluva writer, you had me on the edge of my seat!
We get a lot of scammers here, as soon as they start with, It’s about your credit card, I slam the phone down.
I know what you mean about being up at 3, I am not an atual insomniac, but at time sleep is elusive, and rather than lie in bed, sleepless, i get up and play with my emails.
GREAT story! KATE
Ouch! Identity theft is not fun. Been there, done that.
You ought to make a police report too, CJ.
Good luck to you.
Carpe Noctem,
Des
Desirée Lee
Putting the Romance Back in Necromancy
http://www.desireelee.com
des@desireelee.com
Mary said come….so I came.
Boy did you luck out. I had to cancel my debt card recently after my sat company did an unauthorized withdrawl. No they wouldn’t return the money, but they did credit my account so I wasn’t billed this month. After my contract is up I am so done with them.
Loved the trailer BTW, it’s awesome. now I’m off to tell everyone about you new blog! Wheeeeee!!!!
Being scammed and dealing with AOL doesn’t sound like any fun. I’m glad you came out okay with that. The trip to the hairdresser’s on the other hand is a bit hilarious. Maybe you should be scared. lol. Really scared!
Hope you have a great week. I really enjoyed the blog. You should do it more often.
trend watch : Look at me…I’m a Blog Virgin! « CJ Hollenbach…
[...]Take this as a warning or a “don’t let this happen to YOU” message. Being the “computer Illiterate” that I am ( I can barely e-mail!) this s[...]…
Thieves make it their #1 job to get money any way they can and it is so upsetting. I agree with you that our servers need to be more accessible. It is crazy how long it takes to get a hold of them.
Congrats on the new blog!
Who knew a DCL could write, be smart & handsome? Wink!
Lunch soon again sweetie!
xo’s
Hello CJ,
Welcome to the world of Blogs. I don’t write them, but do enjoy reading them. Yours was great!
See you in Orlando in about 18 days…
Hugs, Lisa
Be kind. That was my favorite thing you said. I wish everyone would do that.
As I was reading I was thinking, no, CJ, don’t give it to them! I’m glad you got it resolved. AOL is a pain in the ***. I went to earthlink a few years ago. and then had a computer cleaned up later and the tech guy said it’s real hard to get AOL out of your computer. I’ve wanted to stay away from them ever since.
Have fun blogging! (It can be addictive.)
I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.
Hi,
Thank you for the great quality of your blog, every time i come here, i’m amazed.
black hattitude.
Great Blog I love the lay out and the color scheme is it possible to get a copy of your theme? Please send me an email at JoanBm3@gmail.com