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That Time a Scammer Impersonated My Psychiatrist
A Retrospective
No one likes being scammed. But like the roaches that can survive an atomic blast, scammers won’t be going away anytime soon. We may not be able to eliminate them… but we can at least divert their attention away from our technologically illiterate grandparents. Each minute of theirs wasted is one they won’t be trying to pry credit card information from confused seniors.
Remember, not all heroes wear capes.
Below is an actual conversation I had last week.
I awake suddenly to an email from my former psychiatrist. It’s Tuesday. In a daze, I turn over and open it.
“Sorry to bother you, do you order on Amazo n? [sic]
Stewart Weebenhoffer, MD”
I glance back over the message. “This is a strange message to receive from the psychiatrist I haven’t seen in three years,” I say to myself. Only about 80% sure it’s a scammer, I reply,
“I do, why do you ask?
Nice to hear from you,
Ben”
It’s at this point that he decides to tell me some nonsense about a $150 gift card that he’s trying to purchase for a friend. He explains to me that he needs my help!
