Bloody Computers

Last Thursday I opened my computer to begin work when a very large window appeared saying ‘your computer is crashing’.  That was freaky enough, but then another window, equally large, filled my screen: ‘your computer has crashed’, with the words OS-Assist and a phone number.  Since OS is the Mac operating system, I assumed it was an Apple command. I’ve never been ‘had’ by a scam before, but I sure have now .  Never again.  At OS-Assist I got a professional-sounding man who said he needed to see my computer, and would I follow the steps to allow screen access.  Again, I did, panicked and not thinking obviously.  He actually gave me a program that combats malware, doodled around, and then asked if I wanted to pay for the service on a yearly or lifelong basis. Since lifelong meant every two months for life for my computer, my partner, Wonono’s computer, and both our iPhones, I signed up.  Waking in the middle of the night for my regular jaunt to the bathroom, I knew something was wrong.  At 9 AM I called Apple.  It was a scam.  The Apple tech also shared my screen and spent an hour checking every single thing on my computer, without charge. He told me that they are getting thousands of calls about this scam.  He upgraded my computer so that these folks (and others) could no longer worm their way into my computer to perpetrate a similar scam  with windows opening and directions about who to call, etc.  I felt pretty silly for not calling Apple in the first place, but you live and learn. Fortunately no virus  had been installed on my computer.  All these folks seem to want, he told me, is to get money out of frightened Apple users.  When I hung up I called my credit card company so their name is flagged and to have the charge removed.  The Apple tech – great guy that he is – sent me an email describing the scam, with his email and phone number included in case the credit card company decides it’s a real charge because I signed a paper agreeing to let them in as part of the scam.  Saved, and lesson learned.  I’m writing this so that all of you who read my blog will be forewarned.  Yucky is all I can say.