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 #6
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:
Worldwide: Looking for love in Thailand? Hopefully you don”™t use the same password elsewhere.
U.S./U.K.: If your Windows system has been hit by CryptoLocker you probably aren”™t reading this. Otherwise, extreme caution is vital, this ransomware is very effective (Via Graham Cluly”™s Security Newsletter).
Vancouver: The attack-passerby-with-a-fake-axe trick gets you a nice pair of police-issue bracelets to wear all the way to jail.
Colorado: Stick a toy pistol in a cop”™s face. Luckily he doesn”™t react as some might, you”™re under arrest rather than under six feet of dirt.
England: “Night climbing“ on the roof of an 11th century world heritage site cathedral may not improve your class standing.
Florida: Is it just possible that the on-line lover you”™ve never met, who has borrowed $15,000 so far, might be less than trustworthy?
Washington DC: You come from south of the U.S. border. You get a call about a relative in trouble, needs money to pay abductors. Given how things are in the land you come from, could be true. But it isn”™t, just another scam.
Nationwide: The returning vet has hopes of quality education and resulting job opportunity. As you can imagine, there are scam colleges and universities hot to take advantage.
Here & There: Once upon a time cheese was naturally yellow due to beta carotene in plants eaten by cows. Then the cheaters got involved, skimming the color-enhancing cream and adding dyes.