Editor’s Note: Ask The Fiddler is a lifestyle advice column that aims to remedy more chaos and confusion than it creates. Questions may be submitted to us here at Art of the Prank, and good luck.
The Fiddle File #8
Here we go with another madcap roundup of hoaxes, scams and damn fool idiocy making the rounds these days. Take heed. Some of these fiddles may soon be showing up on your computer, phone or even up close and personal. Check it out:
Los Angeles: Poor dear, is an evil curse keeping you from finding true love? No problem, for something just short of a million bucks this psychic will fix you right up. Think so?
Your Computer: The email says your package is on its way. But you didn”™t order any package. Well, better check. Nope, better not, unless you want to be phished for personal and banking info.
Atlanta: Whew, sure glad Home Depot has public restrooms. Whoa, sure hate that some jerk decorated the seats with glue.
Your Computer: You”™re active in online communities like Facebook, MySpace, Flickr and LinkedIn. Yum, scammers love you.
Everywhere: A good selection here, “The Twelve Scams of Christmas,” nefarious activities by scammers which you may encounter this season.
Washington DC: Do you think it might be possible some members of Congress have more money than sense? Check out one who lost $18-million to a scammer.
Los Angeles: Great idea. Bake a cookie that looks like an iPhone. When cop pulls you over, chomp on the evidence. Cop ain”™t laughing? You”™ve got warrants.
Your Computer: You want bitcoins? According to word traveling on the Internet, just type this neat little code into your Apple computer and you”™re in! Well, actually you”™re out — because that neat little code just deleted everything on your hard drive.
Wherever: Tired of winter and it”™s not even winter yet? Take a vacation. And, if you read these tips, maybe you”™ll avoid being taken for a ride by scammers.
Down Home: Selling a car? This company will put you in touch with buyers, guaranteed – for a modest fee, of course. Who would ever guess? There ain”™t no buyers.
image: Randy Liedtke