An August Avalanche of Scams Across Town and Help on the Way

On my watch – An August Avalanche of Scams Across Town and Help on the Way

By Anne W. Semmes

That email in early August appeared to be from my wildlife photographer daughter with her name and subject of “Transmitting images.” Not quite looking like her own email but perhaps… I opened it…My screen is seized by “Microsoft” with a TERRIFYING siren and messages across the screen citing my laptop has been compromised, with DO NOT TURN OFF COMPUTER AS YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTHING, CALL MICROSOFT AT THIS NUMBER NOW! So, it’s Microsoft to the rescue, correct? I call the number with the deafening siren continuing. A man answers the phone sounding foreign and far away. I hang up! I say a prayer and turn off my laptop and call my techie son-in law. “It’s a scam,” he tells. He’s able to inspect my lapt