I considered myself innocent of the ploy of today’s evil. But, like a bird, unaware of the net spread to trap anyone in its sight, I fell into the trap.
A familiar friend’s name popped up in my email. I clicked, and my computer froze. I realized I was “hacked.” The screen read, “Don’t shut down your machine or attempt to unlock it. Call this Microsoft support number.” I gave consent by calling.
“… If sinners entice you, do not consent … For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird ...” (See Proverbs 1:10-19 NKJV).
I called the number. I talked to a foreign voice and followed his instructions. He asked about my online banking. He said money had been taken out. I couldn’t open my computer to see. I told him I needed to call my son. After a long conversation, I said, “I’m calling my son.” The voice on the other line hung up.
When I talked to my son, he asked what kind of information I gave these people. I told him little, but probably too much. I was concerned about my computer and bank account, so I did what they asked. My son warned me to just hang up. Don’t push any buttons, don’t give them any cellphone information — any of it will open their machine into your account.
The innocence of our children is also hanging in the balance. The ways of the world have bombarded their minds with technology and lurking predators. My friend said she was surprised when her 10-year-old grandson said a word that only adults use. “Where did he pick that up? Not from us!”
“Probably on the internet, at school or television.” I responded with a shake of my head, perplexed by how far we have allowed ourselves to spiral down into the gutter of life. The topic immediately turned to the difference in conversations today and the last 20 years, and how current knowledge is acceptable. “How did we get where we are today?”
“Years ago, I heard a neighbor cursing and yelling at her children. I told Al then, “She doesn’t know she is teaching her children that it’s OK to use those words. One day, they will accept those words as normal.
“Thirty years ago, our son-in-law edited the violent parts from the Disney movies before he’d let our two grandchildren watch them. At the time, I thought that was a little extreme, but today, I’m looking at things differently. Give an inch, they will take a mile.”
Every generation brings its own tolerance. I’m thankful we raised our children in the ‘70s and ‘80s. In Pagosa, they were shielded from outside influences.
“Happy Days” was one show they watched. All the other shows were fuzzy. We wished for a better television, but didn’t get it. There was no social media and our family interacted with each other. Computers came in the ‘90s.
My friend continued, “In my day, we were raised by parents of the ‘40s where people didn’t air their thoughts about sex. Period. My mother would have been too embarrassed to talk about it. I didn’t get that talk.”
Then she breathed a sigh of relief.
I said, “I didn’t get that talk, either. Now sex is freely spoken of. This is another example of what has captured our children’s attention today.”
How much do children know? Parents must protect their children. We, the elderly, are prime targets to be trapped in the scammer’s net. Our children now must protect us. Our son immediately called our bank. Our accounts were not compromised. A hold was put in place. Passwords were changed.
Final brushstroke: The young and old and in-between are in the crosshairs of the predator. Boundaries for the innocent have been shattered. Hackers and scammers are stealing from those unaware. The battle continues to wage against good and evil stealing children’s innocence and the elderly’s retirement. Everyone’s well-being hangs in the balance.
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