What to do with scammers

 

What can be done about scammers?  I read a poem about them being crucified? That would nail ‘em.

In our world, apparently, 10 years gaol is the maximum custodial sentence for fraud, which includes online scamming. In reality, scammers receive much lighter sentences. A recent television documentary told how one gentleman who fraudulently earned £millions conning “investors” with his fine art and fine wine scam was caught after a lengthy police investigation but got only three years. This was then reduced to two. Then he was allowed compassionate leave for a day and never came back.

He was caught again two years later, by which time he had amassed thousands more with fraudulent activities, but this time he faced charges in both the UK and USA.

Clearly, he was a career baddie who became very rich on his ill-gotten gains and was in need of more appropriate treatment.

Gaol is too good for them, in my opinion. They  con many people out of their life savings.

Why this particular beef about scammers?

Well, this is personal.  Computers in our house have recently been targeted by scammers. They explode into view on the screen with lookalike Microsoft and/or Apple graphics.

They call these sudden intrusions pop ups, and they arrive out the blue, with much noise and bluster for shock tactics, an attempt to sow confusion, cause panic.  A voice over warns us that they have detected a suspected Trojan virus… warning don’t switch off whatever you do. And “Just immediately run this scan or call this number”.  

Oh, yeah?

Of course we know better than to do either of those things, but in a panic that’s what the scammers are hoping you will do,  hoping to gain access.  Getting rid of the pop-up nightmare has proved a nightmare and while it remains it has rendered the Mac unusable.

In the past we’ve got rid of them.

But this one is lingering and has so far resisted being cleared out.

So, what is to be done with the scammer bastards if caught?

I recall in one work of fiction the author’s heroes dealt with the criminals by flying them to Antarctica, where the bad people were ushered out to their freedom in the depths of a freezing winter, wearing only light summer clothing. The plane then took off, leaving them to it. It was -60c, so they probably had about 30 minutes.

Marvellous story.

But how about magic? This idea borrowed from Harry Potter’s adventures at Hogwarts, that school for children with magical powers.

I have a Harry Potter wand in the house and do wonder sometimes if I dare to use it!

I recall one story when Harry was at home and had to endure the company of an aunt who he didn’t much like. The feelings were mutual.

On one occasion he decided he didn’t need to listen to her barbed comments anymore and so he cast a spell on her. Well, that was breaking the golden rule of Hogwarts, which was never ever to use your powers on ordinary people.

Harry’s father was furious when he released what his son had done. He knew as soon as aunt’s feet began to lift off the carpet. She gave an “oo” and and “ahh”, and her eyes grew wide in surprise, then fright as she swung up slowly to the ceiling where she bumped around next to the light fitting, arms and legs flailing about. Harry watched, bemused.

The door was open and she gradually glided out to the hall, crying out in bewilderment while Harry smiled. He and his horrified mum and angry dad looked on as she bumped along the hall ceiling and out of the front door, to disappear spiralling slowly upwards into the sky, her cries of alarm gradually fading away over the rooftops.

I am sure Harry, who was roundly scolded by his father for this wanton act, very soon afterwards cancelled the spell so that his aunt was returned to earth. But I’m not sure!

Would that I had Harry’s powers to deal with the scammers.

Prison is too good for them.

I would send the scammers aloft never to return, to be forever trapped in a floating void, fully conscious of their predicament, fearful, and wetting themselves, filling their pants, totally unable to do anything about their fate.

The idea would be for them to become so uncomfortable, so bewildered, they would eventually go mental, floating about up there in the sky for ever and ever, buzzed by gulls and swifts and perhaps scratched by the talons of hawks.