Grandpa,
Several months ago my computer locked up. I found a company online which could fix it by remote and did not have to come out to the house. They got it running right again for under $100. They gave me a two-year guarantee. Recently, I got an E-mail from them telling me that they are going out of business and needed to send to me a refund on my guarantee. To refund my money into my account, they needed my bank’s routing number and account number. I gave it to them and sure enough the next day there was a deposit into my checking account for $150.
I was quite pleased because I had only paid $100. The day after that I got a phone call telling me that they had over paid me and I needed to send a check for $100 to them to repay what they had overpaid me. They said that if I don’t send them the money, they will lock up my computer again and not release it. It started to sound fishy to me so I checked with my bank. They told me that the deposit was just a transfer from my savings into my checking, no outside money had been deposited! How do I report this scam?
Grandpa says: Do two things: Report to both the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission. State and local authorities can be notified, but have little authority outside of their own jurisdictions. You can spend a few dollars a month to sign up for a service that protects and monitors not only your credit, but your internet, too. Grandpa won’t give endorsements of any company, yet, does endorse the industry. The money you lost to this scam would have paid a year’s premium for protection.
Grandpa,
When I was in the hospital I got a visit from some nut who wanted to baptize me. I told him that if he throws water in my face I will have him arrested for battery. I told him to get the hell out of my room. I was proud of that play on words! Now that I am home, I am getting phone calls offering to pray for me. I can’t curse them because it is a machine that calls me. I just slam down the phone. I’m not stupid enough to believe that a machine playing a tape of a few words is going to heal me.
Grandpa says: Keep hanging up the phone because if you press any button on the phone you will enable a scam of some sort; either authorizing a long distance call or authorizing a charge to your phone. The power of prayer does help one become calmer and more open to healing. Evil uses the promise of good to do harm. You sound angry at the world. Please seek out a person of faith with whom to talk out your issues. If you want me to suggest a good counselor in your area, please write to me again. I care.
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, PO Box 123, Aurora, IL 60507 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.