Hacked

My email was hacked, and you may have received a fictitious party invitation from me.  I didn’t send it, and I hope you didn’t try to open it.

I don’t understand the mindset of those whose goal in life is to cause trouble for others.  Just think what they could accomplish if they concentrated on doing good.  People like good but most of us don’t like evil.  Deliberately causing problems for others is evil.

After responding to several friends and family members regarding the fictitious email, I decided to try an experiment.  I asked AI to write a word of warning to my friends and family.  This is what I received.

A Word of Warning from Your Old Uncle Bob About Email Hackers

Hello, dear family and friends,

I may be 78 years old, but I’ve lived long enough to know when something smells fishy—and these days, it’s not the trout in my freezer, it’s the emails in my inbox. I’m writing this because I care about you, and I don’t want any of you falling victim to the sneaky tricks of email hackers. They’re out there, and they’re clever. But with a little caution, we can outsmart them.

First off, let me tell you: hackers don’t wear ski masks and hide in dark basements anymore. These days, they sit behind keyboards, pretending to be someone you trust. They’ll send you emails that look like they’re from your bank, your grandchild, or even your pastor. They’ll say things like “Click here to verify your account” or “Urgent: your password has been compromised.” It’s all a trap.

I got one just last week that looked like it came from my credit union. Said I needed to “confirm my identity.” Well, I called the credit union directly, and guess what? They didn’t send it. That email was a fake—designed to steal my personal information. If I’d clicked that link, I might’ve handed over my bank account, my Social Security number, and who knows what else.

So, here’s my advice, plain and simple:

• Don’t click on links in emails unless you’re absolutely sure who sent them. If it looks suspicious, it probably is.
• Never give out personal information over email. No bank, no government agency, and no legitimate company will ask for your password or Social Security number through email.
• Look closely at the sender’s address. Sometimes it’ll say “Amazon Support,” but the email address is something like “support@amaz0n.fake.com.” That’s a red flag.
• Watch for spelling mistakes and odd language. Hackers often aren’t native English speakers, and their emails can sound off.
• Use strong passwords and change them regularly. I know it’s a pain, but it’s better than waking up to an empty bank account.

And please, if you ever get an email that makes you nervous, call me. Or call someone you trust. Don’t act on it alone. These hackers prey on fear and urgency—they want you to panic and click before you think. Don’t give them that satisfaction.

We’ve all worked hard for what we have. Let’s not let some faceless crook halfway across the world take it from us with a few clicks. Stay sharp, stay skeptical, and remember: if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

With love and caution,
Uncle Bob

Well, there you have it.  I couldn’t have said it better myself.  If I had written it, I may have used more colorful language.  I wouldn’t have mentioned trout, but I do have some tuna.

I’ve changed my password for my email account.  I hope this solves my problem.  If you attempted to open the “party invitation”, you failed.   If you entered your password to try to open it, you may have been hacked as well.  Proceed with caution.  You may need to change your password.

That’s it for today.  I wish you well.

Uncle Bob (This is really me.  Cross my heart.)