Do I have to say? In hindsite i'm an idiot....
So I bought a computer off my 19 yr old nephew who I let stay with me this summer while he figured some things out. Its a well built machine I'm using for the studio. Anyhow, I finally got around to hooking it up and transferring all my data form the old to the new.
When done, I couldn't get the PC to sync with my phone for all of my saved passwords. So I started doing searches around dropbox, the third party app that held my keypass password lists, so it could be accessed remotely. At one point clicking on links trying to figure it out( I fricken hate all of this tech shit) I get a pop up that the computer is froze and I need to call microsoft support, as i've been infected with a virus, etc.
1st mistake: called the number on the screen instead of looking up a microsoft support outside of the pc to confirm.
So I call the number on the screen and allow them to access the computer to run scans, etc. He has me go into DOS(run/cmd) and pull up some info that shows IP's being listened to(or so he says), established, etc. He says all of our devices have been compromised via our wifi. He then says all of my secure info has been compromised and asks if I have been to the wells fargo bank in Canby in the last 24hrs. I have not. He said there is a pending withdrawal for $3000 and that I need to go to the bank and withdraw the cash before the scammers get it. I do.
This is where i'm really just a complete idiot. he then says he is working on the cleaning up the pc and removing the virus/scammers. But I cant get the money back into the bank as cash and need to go get gift cards to then transfer the funds back. I did. I transferred the codes to him.
(this is where you can just lay into me. I deserve it).
I have alot of things going on in my life at the moment. Life changing things, and I just was not on top of my game and it all happened so fast. It took me about 20 minutes and then I realized holy shit. What did I just do. We had established a phone convo and text convo through this and I had sent him pics of the scratched cards. 20 minutes later I deleted them as I came to my senses. Luckily the store capped me at 2K in gift cards(4 @ $500).
I have called Nike(the cards) and submitted a claim to see about at least putting a hold on these numbers to possibly at least get the money back in credit, on a new card with new number, but I'm sure that's about the best I will get. They said it could take 5-7 days to complete, at which time the money could be spent. I checked the balance a couple times on the cards and they are still full as of a n hour or so ago. But if I cant get the cash back, Xmas is gonna be pretty weak this year...
I have since had to cancel all my cards and request new ones with new numbers, go into wells fargo and file a fraud claim and cancel my checking and savings and open up new accounts. Spent three hours with my nephew going over the PC to ensure it isn't still accessible or in someone's control. (He built it.)
I have yet to deal with my phone, which I think i'm just gonna replace since its almost 5 years old.
IM an idiot. I just wanna cry or break something. lol. Fuck!
