Up, Up, Up!

Ruth Dingfield can go to Hell…

Today is the 15th anniversary of my mother’s death and I’m thinking of how she used to try and cheer me up whenever I was feeling down.

She knew me so well that I didn’t even have to say anything when I was upset.

She’d see this morose look on my face, give me a most beautiful smile and, referring to my spirits, she’d say, “up, up, up!”

I wish I had listened to her when she was alive. I wish I had kept a more positive attitude around her and showed that I was making an effort to be happy, instead of playing the victim far too often.

And I could sure use her help today.

My bank account was hacked last week and the sons-of-bitches were able to get my birthday and my Social Security number, which is pretty much everything in today’s society.

I thought I had taken care of things by changing the password on my bank account, but then I got a call from Bank America checking to see if I had applied for a credit card.

Of course, I hadn’t.

Then they told me that someone using my name had applied for a credit card at TD Bank. So, I called them and asked to please rip up that fraudulent application.

I feel violated, exposed and stupid. I’m blaming myself even though over 15 million people are the victims of identity theft each year.

Social Insecurity

And that brings me back to Ruth Dingfield. When I first saw this bogus email address on my bank account page I wrote to the sender just to see what was going on.

I got some vague response and then when the credit card fraud came up I wrote back telling this scumbag to cease and desist. And “Ruth Dingfield” responded.

“Rob, I’m the one who stole your identify,” the email said. “Do you wanna know who I really am?”

No, I don’t. I wanna see swinging by your neck from the Eiffel Tower with a harpoon through your head. Do you think you could arrange that?

It was creepy actually getting a response from this denizen of the Dark Web, but I guess this is the world in which we live now.

Anonymous thieves crash into other people’s lives, help themselves, and then move on to the next victim.

I contacted the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS about the hack and I had to boost the security on my bank account so now I have more passwords than Mata Hari. And I still don’t feel safe.

I’ve got a new credit card and now I freak every time I see a charge I don’t recognize, convinced the bastards have hacked me again.

And it angers me that I’m writing about this bum today of all days, when I really should be focusing on my mother.

I’m feeling all sorts of pressure both personally and professionally and this latest round of misery isn’t helping. I strongly suspect this business with the hacking is going to get worse—possibly much worse—before it gets any better.

But since I’m calling up all these memories of my mom, perhaps the best thing to do is take her advice and aim high when life leaves you low.

Up, up, up…

(I'll be taking of next week for a very important trip. See you soon)

Comments

Bijoux said…
Sadly, it's become a way of life. We get a credit card hacked every year now. This, despite the fact that I pay cash at restaurants and all my cards have chips. Unfortunately, I predict big government will use this as a way to get all our fingerprints and other identifying personal info. But that's another story!

Safe travels next week!
Ron said…
Yes Rob, when something like this happens, you most certainl do feel violated and exposed. It's like being raped.

My brother had something similar happen to him several years ago with his idenity and credit card. I was back in Florida visiting him, when he got a call from his credit card company asking if he had made some purchases. Someone had charged almost $400.00 on his card. And do you know whats ironic? They traced the hacking back to the company where he bought ONLINE SECURITY FOR HIS CREDIT CARD!!! Someone from the company used his card to make purchased, can you believe that?

"It was creepy actually getting a response from this denizen of the Dark Web...."

OMG, that is creepy!

I am so sorry you had to go through this experience. It's getting to the point where I'm paranoid to make any online perchases because of stuff like this. It seems that for all the updates in online security, these freakin' hackers find ways to get through them.

Have a good time on your trip, buddy. Safe journey. See you when you get back.
Rob K said…
Hey, Ron, thanks so much! That is really sick about your brother!

I think we've been sold a bill of goods about the Internet. I think we're a hell of a lot more exposed than the people supposedly in charge want us to know. All they saw was dollar signs with online shopping.

I'm awfully paranoid about online purchases now, too. The hacker rats always seem to find a way to steal.

Take care, buddy!
Rob K said…
@Bijoux:

Wow, Bijoux--a hacked credit card every year?!? That sucks! You may be right about that government spying mission. It seems privacy is a thing of the past!

Take care!
CrystalChick said…
That is really terrible, Rob! I'm sorry you had to deal with it and hope nothing else comes of it.
I had my license and a credit card stolen from my purse one time. It seems that it might have happened right while I was sitting in a bookstore as I couldn't think of anywhere else I'd been. Creepy though because my bag must have been hanging on the chair with my jacket over it, and someone got close enough... sitting behind me I guess... to reach in and get my wallet out and take what they wanted. Oddly, there was cash in there... if remembering correctly about $100.00 but it wasn't touched. Interestingly, I think it was so that I wouldn't notice the theft right away and that gave them time to get over to the mall to try and use the department store card for a bigger purchase. It didn't work though, maybe the signature raised concern and their transaction was denied. The theft department notified me that there may have been attempt at fraudulent activity. So, it worked out okay... whew...but it's very scary the lengths that criminals will go to take from us. Sad, too.
Hope you enjoy the very important trip that you are on now!
Rob K said…
Oh thanks so much, Mary!

That sucks about your credit card, but I'm glad the theft department folks were on their toes! These hackers will go to any lengths and sink to any depths to get what they want.

Take care!

Popular posts from this blog

Land of Enchantment

Missed Connection

Getting Connected