Hacked.
I write as a warning to those who use the internet – and hope it helps some of you avoid the trouble we’ve had over the past two months.
I was recently trying to make an HP printer work. It was almost new, but refusing to print anything after I put in a new ink cartridge.
So I put the name and model of the printer into a Google search seeking the cure.
A website that appeared to belong to HP popped up and the chat box asked about my problem. When I responded, the chat box offered an HP technician to help me on the phone.
The man who called said his name was Daniel and his ID number was HP8852.
He said he needed to check the computer I was using to see if he could diagnose the problem. He said he was checking my security and claimed he found a Trojan virus and evidence that someone had been accessing my computer.
Hackers he suggested. He displayed the words “Trojan virus’’ on the screen and an indication that someone had accessed our system.
He offered to secure the system for me, but said it would cost me $795 to get lifetime protection for all of my computers so no one would ever be able to access them.
At this point I still thought I was dealing with an HP agent. What could possibly go wrong?
Then he started insisting that I write a check and show it to him and send it by overnight mail. He wanted $795 to secure our computers for life.
By this time I realized there was a lot that was wrong about…
