I Hate Windows 11 - Part 430

[Fernando]

I lost sound on my computer. Not sure if it's Window's fault but went to diagnostic and follow what Windows told me what to do.
These problems are not good creating opportunities for scammers posing as customer service.
Too many scammers and cold callers out there always trying to get my money. My brother got his identity stolen.
Scammers continue to bombard me every day. Terrible.
Everyone should be alert and trust no one.

 

[Tom D]

I put this post in my spam folder. But haven't blocked your 'my good life' posts, yet.

 

[cpursley]

My brother got his identity stolen.

Are you sure he's your brother? Scammers are slick these days.

 

[Fernando]

Are you sure he's your brother? Scammers are slick these days.

Sorry, meant to say brother in law.
He's a loner and not in touch with people. Never said how he got his identity stolen.

 

[RCA]

I lost sound on my computer. Not sure if it's Window's fault but went to diagnostic and follow what Windows told me what to do.
These problems are not good creating opportunities for scammers posing as customer service.
Too many scammers and cold callers out there always trying to get my money. My brother got his identity stolen.
Scammers continue to bombard me every day. Terrible.
Everyone should be alert and trust no one.

It's surprising how many people still swipe or insert their card. Tapping is the safest route, as it uses encryption and Near Field Technology (NFS) to transmit your information from the card to the card reader. The problem with sliding and insertion is that it takes less than 60 seconds to insert a simple device in the card reader to read all of the information on subsequent cards for the rest of the day (until someone finds out) - and assuming that the perpetrator also has a way to steal your pin number (e.g. a hidden camera or surreptitious eyes), they can empty your bank account just by getting on Amazon and doing some shopping.

What's more amazing is that there are still people dumb enough to give their credit card to someone to scan.

 

[cpursley]

It's surprising how many people still swipe or insert their card. Tapping is the safest route, as it uses encryption and Near Field Technology (NFS) to transmit your information from the card to the card reader. The problem with sliding and insertion is that it takes less than 60 seconds to insert a simple device in the card reader to read all of the information on subsequent cards for the rest of the day (until someone finds out) - and assuming that the perpetrator also has a way to steal your pin number (e.g. a hidden camera or surreptitious eyes), they can empty your bank account just by getting on Amazon and doing some shopping.

What's more amazing is that there are still people dumb enough to give their credit card to someone to scan.

In Europe, they bring a mobile card reader to the table instead of taking your card off to god knows where. Took me a while to realize this was for security purposes.

In backwords Russia where I'm visiting now, they've rolled out "smile pay" everywhere or you can use QR code from your phone (which is way more secure than card, which can be skimmed or stolen). Of course, the Chinese had this first. America is way behind with payment tech due to regulations and MBA culture that permeates the big banks:

 

[RCA]

In Europe, they bring a mobile card reader to the table instead of taking your card off to god knows where. Took me a while to realize this was for security purposes.

In backwords Russia where I'm visiting now, they've rolled out "smile pay" everywhere or you can use QR code from your phone (which is way more secure than card, which can be skimmed or stolen). Of course, the Chinese had this first. America is way behind with payment tech due to regulations and MBA culture that permeates the big banks:

Oh, Europe has its own bunch of problems. Very big ones. The ATM machines. They can be very expensive and problematic. The US is a breeze by comparison. Don't let me get started.

What I would vote for in Europe's favor are the really clean hotel rooms in countries like France. In the US, when it comes to hotel and motel rooms, it's a big landmine. Name doesn't mean much. We were just in Las Vegas, where they have a couple of La Quinta motels. One further outside of Vegas was pristine. The other, just off the strip, had dirt caked on the walls, filthy rugs and the rest. -- Of course Luxor and Treasure Island are notorious for problems - some gal wound up in the hospital from bed bug bites after staying at Treasure Island a couple of weeks ago. And it's not just Las Vegas. You don't always have to pay a fortune for a good motel room. Some can be fairly inexpensive, yet completely clean. Some can be over $150 and dirty as hell. And some can be expensive, new, but you just have bad luck. .........

 

[cpursley]

Oh, Europe has its own bunch of problems. Very big ones. The ATM machines. They can be very expensive and problematic. The US is a breeze by comparison. Don't let me get started.

What I would vote for in Europe's favor are the really clean hotel rooms in countries like France. In the US, when it comes to hotel and motel rooms, it's a big landmine. Name doesn't mean much. We were just in Las Vegas, where they have a couple of La Quinta motels. One further outside of Vegas was pristine. The other, just off the strip, had dirt caked on the walls, filthy rugs and the rest. -- Of course Luxor and Treasure Island are notorious for problems - some gal wound up in the hospital from bed bug bites after staying at Treasure Island a couple of weeks ago. And it's not just Las Vegas. You don't always have to pay a fortune for a good motel room. Some can be fairly inexpensive, yet completely clean. Some can be over $150 and dirty as hell. And some can be expensive, new, but you just have bad luck. .........

Yeah, payment situation in "developed" Germany was especially bad. They still use cash everywhere which is annoying. France was better about it.

Not sure about hotel rooms as my wife and I pre-kid generally house sat around Europe. We did get bedbugs in between staying in an Airbnb so no longer do those.

 

[Fernando]

In Europe, they bring a mobile card reader to the table instead of taking your card off to god knows where. Took me a while to realize this was for security purposes.

In backwords Russia where I'm visiting now, they've rolled out "smile pay" everywhere or you can use QR code from your phone (which is way more secure than card, which can be skimmed or stolen). Of course, the Chinese had this first. America is way behind with payment tech due to regulations and MBA culture that permeates the big banks:

While in Venice, I noticed all the merchant brought out a mobile reader when swiping my credit card. I like that.
I try not to use Credit Card if I can for small purchases. Each time using it I feel I'm at risk.
My sibling one time got identity stolen. He suspected the credit card was taken by the merchant to the back and did something shady.

I went to Mykonis and my sister in law told me the story that there was at one time a shady restaurant charging thousands of dollars for simple meal because tourist didn't bother to check the prices.
I always look at prices.

 

[RCA]

Yeah, payment situation in "developed" Germany was especially bad. They still use cash everywhere which is annoying. France was better about it.

Not sure about hotel rooms as my wife and I pre-kid generally house sat around Europe. We did get bedbugs in between staying in an Airbnb so no longer do those.

The trick is learning how to blend in fast so that you act and look just like a native. You definitely don't want to look like an American. ... Go buy some native clothes - Europeans can tell the diffrence. Easier said that done, if you don't know the local language.