ຄວາມ​ເປັນ​ສ່ວນ​ຕົວ, ທີ່​ໃຊ້​ເວ​ລາ, ເງິນ

ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ບໍ່​ຕ້ອງ​ການ​ຄໍາ​ສັ່ງ​ເດ​ບິດ. ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ບໍ່​ເຄີຍ liked ຄວາມ​ຄິດ​ທີ່​ວ່າ​ນິ​ຕິ​ບຸກ​ຄົນ​ອື່ນ​ສາ​ມາດ​ເຮັດ​ໄດ້, ຢູ່​ທີ່​ຈະ, ໃຊ້​ເວ​ລາ​ເກືອບ​ຈໍາ​ນວນ​ເງິນ​ຂອງ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ (ດີ … ສິ່ງ​ໃດ​ກໍ​ຕາມ​ທີ່​ມີ​ຢູ່). ເພື່ອນ​ຮ່ວມ​ງານ A ຊີ້​ໃຫ້​ເຫັນ​ບັນ​ຫາ​ທີ່​ມີ MTN ຈະ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ການ​ຫຼີກ​ເວັ້ນ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ການ​ນໍາ​ໃຊ້​ຄໍາ​ສັ່ງ​ເດ​ບິດ. ບາງ​ທີ​ໄດ້ “ສະ​ດວກ​ສະ​ບາຍ” ປັດ​ໄຈ​ທີ່​ບໍ່​ແມ່ນ​ດັ່ງ​ກ່າວ​ເປັນ​ສິ່ງ​ທີ່​ບໍ່​ດີ.

ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ຄິດ​ວ່າ​ຄໍາ​ຖາມ​ສຸດ​ທ້າຍ​ນີ້​ບໍ່​ວ່າ​ຈະ​ເປັນ​ຫຼື​ບໍ່​ທ່ານ​ຕ້ອງ​ການ​ຄວາມ​ສະ​ດວກ​ແລະ​ສາ​ມາດ​ໄວ້​ວາງ​ໃຈ​ສະ​ຖາ​ບັນ​ການ (ໃນ​ກໍ​ລະ​ນີ​ທີ່​ມີ​ເງິນ​ຂອງ​ທ່ານ) – ຫຼື​ຖ້າ​ຫາກ​ວ່າ​ທ່ານ​ບໍ່​ສາ​ມາດ​ໄວ້​ວາງ​ໃຈ​ເຂົາ​ເຈົ້າ​ແລະ​ເຕັມ​ໃຈ​ທີ່​ຈະ​ຮ​ັ​ຄວາມ​ສະ​ດວກ​ທີ່. ໃນ​ກໍ​ລະ​ນີ​ຂອງ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ, ເຖິງ​ແມ່ນ​ວ່າ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ຍັງ​ມີ​ຄໍາ​ຖາມ​ຄວາມ​ສະ​ດວກ, ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ໄດ້​ຮຽນ​ຮູ້​ວິ​ທີ​ທີ່​ຍາກ​ກັບ MTN ວ່າ​ມັນ doubly ສາ​ມາດ​ຈະ​ບໍ່​ສະ​ດວກ​ທີ່​ຈະ​ມີ​ໂລກ​ຕໍ່​ຂອງ​ທ່ານ​ຫຼຸດ​ລົງ “ເກາະ​ຫ່າງ​ໄກ​ສອກ​ຫຼີກ” ສະ​ຖາ​ນະ​ພາບ. ເກືອບ​ວ່າ​ທຸກ​ຄົນ​ມື້​ນີ້​ໄປ​ກັບ​ປັດ​ໄຈ​ທີ່​ສະ​ດວກ​ສະ​ບາຍ.

ສະ​ດວກ​ສະ​ບາຍ

ໃນ​ອີກ​ດ້ານ​ຫນຶ່ງ, ໃນ​ປັດ​ຈຸ​ບັນ​ເປັນ​ເວ​ລາ​ດົນ​ນານ​ກ່ອນ​ຫນ້າ​ນີ້, I had a dispute with ການ​ສອດ​ຄ່ອງ​ກັບ​ດາວ ບ່ອນ​ທີ່​ສະ​ດວກ​ສະ​ບາຍ​ເປັນ​ດາບ​ສອງ​ຄົມ. ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ໄດ້​ລາຍ​ງານ​ການ​ປະ​ຕິ​ບັດ​ທຸ​ລະ​ກິດ​ຂອງ​ເຂົາ​ເຈົ້າ​ກັບ​ຄະ​ນະ​ກໍາ​ມະ​ການ​ຮ້ອງ​ຮຽນ​ຜູ້​ບໍ​ລິ​ໂພກ (ນັບ​ຕັ້ງ​ແຕ່​ກໍາ​ລັງ​, ການ​ຈັດ​ຕັ້ງ​ເປັນ ຄະ​ນະ​ກໍາ​ມະ​ຊາດ​ຜູ້​ບໍ​ລິ​ໂພກ) and never got feedback from them. The gist of the issue is that Planet Fitness’s sales agent lied to me and a friend in order to get more commission/money out of my pocket.

ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ເປັນ ສ Discovery ສະ​ມາ​ຊິກ​ທີ່​ເຮັດ​ໃຫ້​ຜົນ​ປະ​ໂຫຍດ​ຫຼາຍ, ລວມ​ທັງ​ລາ​ຄາ​ຂອງ​ຍີ່​ຫໍ້​ນິ​ຍົມ – ສ່ວນ​ຫຼາຍ​ແມ່ນ​ສຸ​ຂະ​ພາບ​ທີ່​ກ່ຽວ​ຂ້ອງ​ແນ່​ນອນ, as Discovery is a Medical Aid/Health Insurance provider. ເພື່ອ​ເຮັດ​ໃຫ້​ມັນ​ພຽງ​ແຕ່, ການ​ຄົ້ນ​ພົບ​ແມ່ນ​ຫນ້າ​ຫວາດ​ສຽວ. ຜົນ​ປະ​ໂຫຍດ​ອັນ​ສໍາ​ຄັນ​ຂອງ​ການ​ປົກ​ຫຸ້ມ​ສະ​ມາ​ຊິກ gym ທີ່​ມີ​ຕໍ່​ປະ​ກອບ​ອອກ​ກໍາ​ລັງ​ກາຍ​ດາວ. You still have to pay something, ເປັນ token ຂະ​ຫນາດ​ນ້ອຍ​ຂອງ​ການ​ຄັດ, ການ​ຄົ້ນ​ພົບ, ສໍາ​ລັບ​ສະ​ມາ​ຊິກ gym ໄດ້. ແຕ່, ຫຼັງ​ຈາກ​ທີ່​ທັງ​ຫມົດ, ພວກ​ເຂົາ​ເຈົ້າ​ຕ້ອງ​ການ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ຈະ​ມີ​ສຸ​ຂະ​ພາບ, so they don’t mind footing the bulk of the bill. ແຕ່, ປາ​ກົດ​ຂື້ນ, ນີ້​ຫມາຍ​ຄວາມ​ວ່າ​ກໍາ​ລັງ​ກາຍ​ດາວ’ ຕົວ​ແທນ​ຂາຍ​ບໍ່​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ການ​ຄະ​ນະ​ກໍາ​ມະ​ການ!

ສະ​ນັ້ນ​ບໍ່​ສິ່ງ​ທີ່​ຜົນ​ໃນ​ນີ້? ຜົນ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ແມ່ນ​ວ່າ PF ຂອງ​ຕົວ​ແທນ​ຂາຍ​ໃຫ້​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ເປັນ​ຕົວ​ເລກ​ອັດ​ຕາ​ເງິນ​ເຟີ້​ສໍາ​ລັບ​ການ “ສ​ໃສ່” ສະ​ມາ​ຊິກ. ພຣະ​ອົງ​ໄດ້​ຕົວະ. ພຣະ​ອົງ​ໄດ້​ຫຼັງ​ຈາກ​ນັ້ນ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ໄດ້​ລົງ​ນາມ​ໃນ​ເສັ້ນ​ສໍາ​ລັບ​ລາ​ຄາ​ທີ່​ອັດ​ຕາ​ເງິນ​ເຟີ້​ຂອງ “ປົກ​ກະ​ຕິ” ສະ​ມາ​ຊິກ (ແມ່ນ​ແລ້ວ, ມັນ​ໃນ​ຕົວ​ຈິງ​ແມ່ນ​ຫຼາຍ​ກ​່​ວາ​ເຖິງ​ແມ່ນ​ວ່າ​ເປັນ​ສະ​ມາ​ຊິກ​ເປັນ​ປົກ​ກະ​ຕິ​ຈະ​ມີ​ຄ່າ​ໃຊ້​ຈ່າຍ), ending up about 4 ແລະ 5 ເວ​ລາ​ຫຼາຍ​ເທົ່າ​ທີ່​ເປັນ​ສະ​ມາ​ຊິກ​ສ​ທີ່​ໄດ້.

Epiphany

Some time in 2011 ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ສຸດ​ທ້າຍ​ໄດ້ wisened ເຖິງ​ຄ່າ​ໃຊ້​ຈ່າຍ​ທີ່​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ຄວນ​ຈະ​ຖືກ​ຈ່າຍ. Discovery ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ແນ່​ໃຈວ່​າ​ຈະ​ບໍ່​ມີ​ຄວາມ​ສຸກ​ເກີນ​ໄປ​ກ່ຽວ​ກັບ​ຄວາມ​ລົ້ມ​ເຫລວ​ນີ້. ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ໄດ້​ໂອ້​ລົມ​ກັບ​ຜູ້​ຈັດ​ການ​ຢູ່​ໃນ gym ໄດ້, ແລະ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ປະ​ກັນ​ວ່າ​ສັນ​ຍາ​ທັງ​ຫມົດ​ຈະ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ການ​ຢຸດ. ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ບໍ່​ຫນຶ່ງ​ສໍາ​ລັບ​ການ​ໃຊ້​ຄວາມ​ຮຸນ​ແຮງ … ເວັ້ນ​ເສຍ​ແຕ່​ວ່າ​ສໍາ​ລັບ​ການ​ແຂ່ງ​ຂັນ​ກິ​ລາ​ຂອງ​ຕົນ … ໃນ Octagon ເປັນ … ແຕ່​ວ່າ​ຫຼັງ​ຈາກ​ການ​ຢ້ຽມ​ຢາມ 5 ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ກັບ​ຜູ້​ຈັດ​ການ​ໃນ​ການ​ຖາມ​ວ່າ​ເປັນ​ຫຍັງ​ຄໍາ​ສັ່ງ​ເດ​ບິດ​ທີ່​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ການ​ຍັງ​ເກີດ​ຂຶ້ນ, ພຣະ​ອົງ​ໄດ້​ບອກ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ວ່າ​ປະ​ຫລາດ​ໃຈ​ທີ່​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ບໍ່​ໄດ້​ນໍາ​ເອົາ​ອາ​ວຸດ​ກັບ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ສໍາ​ລັບ​ການ​ຢ້ຽມ​ຢາມ. ຫຼັງ​ຈາກ​ການ​ໄປ​ຢ້ຽມ​ຢາມ​ຫຼາຍ​ເປັນ​ຈໍາ​ນວນ​ຫນ້ອຍ, ຜູ້​ຈັດ​ການ​ໄດ້​ປະ​ໄວ້​ໃນ​ຕົວ​ຈິງ​ແມ່ນ​ສອດ​ຄ່ອງ​ກັບ​ດາວ​ແລະ​ອະ​ທິ​ບາຍ​ໃຫ້​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ວ່າ “ສັນ​ຍາ” was between myself and Head Office and that the local gym, ປາ​ກົດ​ຂື້ນ​ການ​ດໍາ​ເນີນ​ງານ​ລະ​ແບບ, ໄດ້​ພຽງ​ເລັກ​ນ້ອຍ​ກັບ​ເວົ້າ​ວ່າ​ບໍ່​ມີ​ກ່ຽວ​ກັບ​ການ​ບໍ່​ວ່າ​ຈະ​ເປັນ​ຫຼື​ບໍ່​ມັນ​ຈະ​ສາ​ມາດ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ການ​ຍົກ​ເລີກ. ຖ້າ​ຫາກ​ວ່າ​ຫົວ​ຫນ້າ​ຫ້ອງ​ການ​ເວົ້າ​ວ່າ​ບໍ່​ມີ, ໂຊກ tough.

By this point I’d lost it. I had my bank put a ຢຸດ​ເຊົາ​ການ ຄໍາ​ສັ່ງ​ເດ​ບິດ. It was a huge schlep: I had to contact the bank every month because the debit order descriptions would change ever so slightly. It also cost me a little every couple of months to “ຄືນ” the blocking ການ​ບໍ​ລິ​ການ. ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ບໍ່​ສາ​ມາດ​ຊ່ວຍ​ໃຫ້​ແຕ່​ຄິດ​ວ່າ​ລະ​ບົບ​ທະ​ນາ​ຄານ​ໄດ້​ສະ​ຫນັບ​ສະ​ຫນູນ ການ​ສະ​ແດງ​ອອກ​ເປັນ​ປົກ​ກະ​ຕິ ແຕ່​ພະ​ນັກ​ງານ​ທີ່​ບໍ່​ຈໍາ​ເປັນ​ຕ້ອງ​ຮູ້​ຈັກ​ວິ​ທີ​ການ​ນໍາ​ໃຊ້​ມັນ.

Technically I’m still waiting on the CCC to get back to me (ບໍ່​ເຄີຍ​ເກີດ​ຂຶ້ນ – ແລະ​ແນ່​ນອນ​ພວກ​ເຂົາ​ເຈົ້າ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ການ Re ການ​ຈັດ​ຕັ້ງ​ທີ່​ໄດ້​ກ່າວ​ມາ​ຂ້າງ​ເທິງ​ນັ້ນ​ກໍ​ລະ​ນີ​ທີ່​ອາດ​ຈະ​ຫຼຸດ​ລົງ​ໂດຍ​ຜ່ານ​ການ Crack ໄດ້). ແນ່​ນອນ, ໂດຍ​ຈຸດ​ທີ່ PF ຍັງ​ຕ້ອງ​ການ​ຢາກ blacklist ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ສໍາ​ລັບ​ການ​ບໍ່​ໄດ້​ຈ່າຍ​ເງິນ!

Hero ການ​ທີ່​ບໍ່​ຄາດ​ຄິດ

A ກ່າວ haphazard ຂອງ​ບັນ​ຫາ​ກັບ Discovery ໄດ້ (ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ຄິດ​ວ່າ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ເອີ້ນ​ວ່າ​ພວກ​ເຂົາ​ກ່ຽວ​ກັບ​ການ​ຢ້ຽມ​ຢາມ​ຫມໍ​ແຂ້ວ​ເປັນ) ຜົນ​ການ​ເອີ້ນ​ໂດຍ​ການ​ຫນຶ່ງ​ຂອງ​ຕົວ​ແທນ​ຂອງ Discovery. ພວກ​ເຂົາ​ເຈົ້າ​ຫຼັງ​ຈາກ​ນັ້ນ​ຮ້ອງ​ຂໍ​ໃຫ້​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ເພື່ອ​ອະ​ທິ​ບາຍ​ບັນ​ຫາ, ໃນ​ລາຍ​ລະ​ອຽດ​ແລະ​ລາຍ​ລັກ​ອັກ​ສອນ, ການ​ທີ່​ດີກ​ວ່າ​ອະ​ທິ​ບາຍ​ຈາກ​ທັດ​ສະ​ນະ​ຂອງ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ເຖິງ​ສິ່ງ​ທີ່​ໄດ້​ເກີດ​ຂຶ້ນ​ແທ້. ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ມີ​ພັນ​ທະ. ມັນ turns ໃຫ້​ເຫັນ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ນີ້​ແມ່ນ​ສິດ​ທິ​ກ່ຽວ​ກັບ​ພວກ​ເຂົາ​ບໍ່​ໄດ້​ເປັນ “ຍິນ​ດີ​ເກີນ​ໄປ” ກ່ຽວ​ກັບ​ມັນ. ໃນ​ຄວາມ​ເປັນ​ຈິງ​ພວກ​ເຂົາ​ເຈົ້າ ແທ້ ບໍ່​ໄດ້​ມັກ​ມັນ. About three weeks later, ການ​ສອດ​ຄ່ອງ​ກັບ​ດາວ​ຄືນ​ຂ້າ​ພະ​ເຈົ້າ​ໃນ​ການ​ທັງ​ຫມົດ​ສໍາ​ລັບ​ການ​ເງິນ​ທັງ​ຫມົດ​ທີ່​ເຄີຍ​ໄດ້​ຮັບ​ຄ່າ​ຈ້າງ​ເພື່ອ​ໃຫ້​ເຂົາ​ເຈົ້າ.

ການ​ຄົ້ນ​ພົບ​ແມ່ນ​ຫນ້າ​ຫວາດ​ສຽວ. 🙂

Have we here a Facebook Stalker?!

Of great consideration to online privacy are facebook stalkers. If a stalker randomly manages to add a few of your friends and you have your Profile Privacy Settings allowing “Friends of Friends” to see everything then your stalker effectively has access to your profile even without having added you.

I’ve now adjusted my privacy settings more strictly and I’ve used the “See how a friend sees your profile:” tool to get an idea of how it changes things.

My “Basic” Information I had available to “Friends of Friends”. This includes “Gender, Birthday, Hometown, Political and Religious Views and Relationship Status” according to Facebook’s description. You might think it fair that friends of your friends have an idea of how you roll.

But can you trust all your friends anti-stalker spidey-senses?

I think NOT.

I previously had it that friends of friends can see my photos and videos but not much else. I’m thinking of changing that now too.

But wait, there’s More!

Further to this, we should be vigilant of “fake” Facebook profiles. Stalkers are usually apt enough to create more than one account with fake names. If you block one they create another and attempt to get a glance at your profile once more. I’ve created a friend group called “Privacy Pls”. This group is limited from being able to see anything other than a very basic page. This “basic” view is akin to when you first started using Facebook and didn’t know you could add lots of stuff in there (stuff you later realised you didn’t want anyway).

If someone adds me and I’m not absolutely sure who it is, I add them to my “Privacy Pls” group. Also if someone adds me and I don’t want to offend them by ignoring their invite I’ll rather add them to this group. Perhaps you feel you have a pervy boss for example.

But Wait! There’s More – and this time you can do it TOO!

To do this for yourself, go to your Friends page, click “Create New List”, and name it something appropriate – “Privacy Pls” in my case. Add the appropriate friends to this list now or add any future “suspect” friends to the group.

Next, go to the Profile Privacy Settings page. Underneath each section you will find a “Edit Custom Settings” button. Click the first one and, at the bottom of the dialog that pops up, you will find “Except these people”. Add your “Privacy Pls” group here. Do the same for all the sections you don’t want them to see. When done, use the “friend’s view” tool to confirm what is made available to persons on that list.

And the Friend-of-Friend Stalker?

To prevent your “Friend-of-Friend” Stalker from being able to see your profile, do yourself a favour and think very critically about what you want potential stalkers to be able to see. Now go change those Privacy Settings to “Only Friends”.

For the Photo Crazy

Check up on your Photo Album Privacy settings. This is set up much the same as your profile settings. Consider carefully who you want to be able to see which photo albums and adjust the permissions appropriately!

Your Personal Contact Information

Lastly, check up on your Contact Information: Click the “Profile” button towards the top left of the Facebook page to get to your profile. Then click on the “Info” tab within your profile. When you mouseover the Contact Information section you will see an “Edit” link pop up on the right. Click this button to start editing your details.

Next to each item you will find a “lock” icon. Click this lock to define further permissions for which friends are able to see the items. You’ve never give your address and phone details to a dodgy stranger you meet on the street. Why do we then go and give it away to everyone on the Internet. I recommend the following:

• Allow “No one” on:
  • email address
• Allow “Only Friends” on:
  • IM Screen Names
• Remove completely or allow “No one” on:
  • mobile phone number
  • landline number
• Limit the following:
• address details – give your area or suburb – but NOT your full address

Hopefully we don’t all have to learn our lessons the hard way.

P.S. (especially to the guys and gals who have asked) I’ve been extremely busy these last couple of weeks. I have a lot of unedited content I’m hoping to make publishable very soon!

Who Rules?!

When an artist has released his work (even as Creative Commons) and the IPTC / EXIF data is no longer in the image, how do you find out who the original artist is? All I have here is a difficult-to-read signature. 🙁

I’m looking at the South African banking system (partly a result of watching the Zeitgeist “documentary”) ແລະ, after finding my bank implicated most with regards to the SA-Banking Competition Commission wikileaks scandal, I’m putting serious consideration into switching banks.

What ethical banks are out there right now? I’ve even looked into Sharia (Islamic) banking because of their strict ethics laws but even there I’m looking at even more unknowns. I’m not Islamic and I have nothing against funding pork-related activities.

On that note, do you know if your bank has a code of ethics? If they’re public, where can we see these ethics codes?

Tell me about service levels I haven’t heard of before and which bank you believe deserves to handle my money.

I think the Internet is a scary place. Yes, me. Some days I find myself horrified to find the lowliest of criminal bastards trying to steal our livelihoods.

Yes, people, there are criminals out there and they want your money or they want to use you to make money. What’s even more scary is the lengths to which they are willing to go, even risking YOU. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

I received an email saying that I was being offered a job as a “Regional Assistant” ແລະ, though the details weren’t given, the email suggested that it was a legitimate opportunity. I replied asking about where they’d received my details and also about what they would require of me.

Being the skeptic I am, I thought I could spot scammers a mile away. How fortunate that I can still laugh at the idea.

A few hours later, they replied indicating that I’d soon receive further instructions. They’d “probably” been referred to me by a friend and they had a pile of referrals and so couldn’t specify which friend had recommended me. I waited patiently and left it to the back of my mind. “They’ve probably found a good candidate already and I’ve lost out”, I thought. “How nice that a friend might refer me. Obviously I’m Awesome.” (and daft :-/)

So later on, I receive my email with my “further instructions”. This is where I finally realised that I was dealing with scammers:

Hi. We’d like to start a trial task. Our customer will make a bank transfer to you this week. Please go to our site <site omitted> to submit the banking details where the transfer will go to. Once we’ve established a good transaction history, you will receive between 2-3 transfers per week (amounts of about R10 000 each except the first trial transfers).
Please confirm that you can start. We don’t send any transfers to your account until we receive confirmation from you.
On Monday you will receive notification, detailed information and instructions regarding the transfers. Thank you and have a lovely weekend.

Say what??? I checked out the web site in question and, without a doubt, this is a money laundering scheme done by professionals. They know what they’re doing and they probably launder millions every month. What’s more is that, inevitably, they will screw you over and get the cops to arrest YOU. These criminals can leave evidence behind implicating you even if all you’ve done is diligently moved money from one place to another… and kept a small percentage for yourself. 😛

Money laundering is where illegitimate money (stolen, probably) is transferred via third parties to appear more legitimate. You’re an accessory to the crime and, even worse, you’re even likely to be the victim of it. Recognise when an opportunity is too good to be true. I was fooled for a short while. Next up, given that a victim might give out a lot of personal details, the scammers might steal your identity and start to implicate you in fraudulent activities without you ever having done a thing.

If you happen to have already given any details such as the above where they wanted my banking details, contact your bank and inform them of the situation. They will give you the best possible advice on what to do next. If you’ve already responded to the mail but haven’t yet already given them the information they want, don’t reply any further. I’d also suggest calling your local police for further advice.