Man Conned Out of Millions for ''Virus Protection''
That's some real-life malware.
Computer viruses are serious business. Like real viruses, infections must be dealt with quickly and thoroughly. Sadly, just like real-life healers of viruses, sometimes there are crooks out there.
Such goes the story of 58-year-old Roger C. Davidson from Mount Kisco, NY, who has been cheated out of millions after bringing his computer into a repair shop for fear that his machine had been infected with a virus.
In August 2004, he brought his computer to a shop on Main Street. There, Vickram Bedi, 36, the owner of the shop, told Davidson that he indeed had a virus. This wasn't just any computer virus – oh, no – it was a particularly vicious one that had infected all the computers in the shop.
Thankfully, Bedi's uncle was a military officer in India and was put on the mission to retrieve the source of this virus on a hard drive located in Honduras. From there, Bedi learned that the virus was linked to Polish priests who were tied to the conservative Roman Catholic organization Opus Dei. This organization had plans to harm Mr. Davidson.
Naturally, Bedi persuaded Davidson to not only pay for removal of the virus, but also for personal protection. Davidson paid Bedi's shop through credit card payments over the years, which have totaled to over $6 million.
While all of this sounds impossible and a very simple scam to steer clear of, Mr. Davidson was in no way a computer expert. His specialty is in music and he wanted to save his compositions that he stored on his computer.
- con ,
- virus ,
- protection ,
- honduras ,
- malware
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The Da Vinci Code, Anyone ?
Sad thing is those companies that produce malware that tells you you have a virus and that you need to go purchase their antivirus package (which is usually a real virus) to remove it probably make more money than this, and many people don't notice since its "only" something like $30 at a time. I guess lump sums from a single person make better stories than small amounts from scams that aren't (quite) as obvious.
Too bad for him though, but in theory he'll get his money back and might even have some left after he pays his legal bills. Computers can be a nasty problem for the vast majority of the population that really doesn't know much about them, but people won't remain oblivious forever.
While all of this sounds impossible and a very simple scam to steer clear of, Mr. Davidson was in no way a computer expert. His specialty is in music and he wanted to save his compositions that he stored on his computer.
Seems to me he was an utter dipshit or had serious mental issues. Whether your computer literate or not, you have to be be pretty thick to be duped out of $6 for christ sake.
Whether your computer literate or not, you have to be be pretty thick to be duped out of $6 for christ sake.
$6 isnt that much tbh
I meant $6 Million smartarse. Appears someone is on a negative votedown on all comments tonight. Perhaps those voting peoples remarks down are just hurt by the truth and probably so stupid fall for this crap themselves.
Opus Dei were after this guy, so Bedi made him pay for personal protection? :S i don't get it.
Stupid ediot whoever that davidson is.