Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Sunday 8 January 2017

Back into the Swing and Beware of Scammers

And so the year has started in full swing and the daily routine starts again.  The alarm sounds and gradually I hear lights being switched on in bedrooms and the stirring of teenagers along with the usual 'life is so unfair'.  Those precious moments of getting myself ready before everyone else is up and wanting things from me (they'll find their own brains one day!).  Each day a bridge to conquer and to live it with a smile on my face.


Now, last week was a bit of a wash out if I'm brutally honest.  My dreaded lurgy came back to haunt me and my third chest infection decided it liked the previous two stays and to revisit again.  I tried everything but now think I have the formula!  Buttercup syrup, BIG spoonful of honey and a vitamin C and zinc dis-solvable tablet with some water.   I really do think that did the trick... or was it that I was coming to the end of this hell?... personally I like to think I found the cure.  This meant that I was fortunate to almost be myself at a meeting as planned, and able to show what I truly feel passionate about.

Chest infection remedy - Sweetbriar Dreams

Anyway, enough of this woe is me, the January blues, the can't wait for pay day, the impatience for the year to really get started.  Let me bore you with the story of my camera dilemas last month...

It started with the sudden and snap decision to buy a Canon.  A Canon 700D.  My ever faithful Fujifilm Finepix HS50 EXR was sent away and the new Canon arrived.  Now, I know there are MILLIONS of Canon lovers out there, and yes it is a sensational camera, but you know when you pick something up and you think 'No, this isn't me', that was exactly how I felt.  I lifted it to my eye and was so disappointed.  With the hole in my retina, the view finding lens is an essential part of the camera, and with a floater in the way when I am that close to something, very annoying.  I need brightness with this piece of kit and found it dark, I couldn't focus, and when I did (and that was in auto too), it was blurry.  So, I cut my losses and sold it within two days.


After losing on Ebay on the two Fujifilm Finepix HS50's that were in the country, I then found a Fujifilm Finepix SL1000, again, high expectations.  But once again, No!  This did not have the field of vision, the sound of the auto zoom was incredibly annoying.  No, back on Ebay.


I soon received an email saying that someone wanted to buy it overseas for the full price and £36 postage.  Well, I said yes of course.  I put the invoice through on Paypal and waited for the payment along with packaging the camera up for overseas travel.  In the morning I checked my Paypal account, no payment but there was an email from Paypal saying that the payment was ready to go into my account all I had to do was type in the reference number on the proof of posting and the money would be sent to me.

Now, as I have never had this happen to me before, and a seasoned Ebayer, I continued reading.  I don't know why, but I was looking for a spelling mistake, was this a scam?  Then, right at the very bottom, an email address... paypa.lcom@outlook.com.  Alarm bells rang, Paypal had an outlook account??? Straight away I sent a copy to Paypal asking if they had sent this and received back an automated email saying the usual 'thank you for your email, we will investigate and get back to you in 5 - 7 days', well, it took them five minutes.  This was indeed a phishing scam where I would have put the details in the scammers system and they would be able to get into the account.  Everything was cancelled within an instant and I was then subjected to a number of emails from the scammers saying that the money was in my account and why hadn't I sent it - ignored of course apart from the first email when I told them that Paypal was on to them.

And so, the camera went back on Ebay and in the meantime, my Fujifilm Finepix HS50 was coming back to me, happy days!  The SL1000 was bought in the end by someone in the next town and everything is now back to normal.  I just need the decent weather and trips to London et al to get it working at its full potential again.   So be warned, check those emails and the spelling mistakes.


So, with my right hand 'man' attached to me again (as you can see from my new profile picture), here's to an exceptional new week, keep positive and keep those New Years Resolutions forefront in your mind.  To those of you giving up smoking, chocolate, drink, losing weight etc etc, keep going! You're amazing individuals and I know you can do it!!  Be proud of yourselves!  (I personally think the lack of chocolate is the reason why I have had my third chest infection though!  Really, I truly do, but I'm soldiering on!!).  The box of Thorntons is still intact (and yes, that's both layers!).

Back into the Swing - Sweetbriar Dreams

Take care.

Chel xx

19 comments:

  1. I get 'Paypal' emails to the email account that isn't connected to anything Paypal! Paypal even have an email address to which you can forward suspect emails.
    My Panasonic has a little wheel next to the viewfinder that you can adjust a little to eyesight. Not enough for me but I am xceptionally short sighted.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How disappointing. And you're right...a camera needs to feel just right. I've had SO many pay pal emails lately and they go right into spam! Hope you have a wonderful week! Hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  3. I feel so sad that people feel the need for these scams, I often wonder are they desperate people or greedy??!!?? I admire your determination with the chocolate, they would have been long gone. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You've still got choccies unopened -I am impressed. It seems we have to double check everything we do these days. Well done for spotting the scam.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree with Felicia, do not these people have anything better to do? Gee Whiz!

    I am glad all turned out. Sending you HUGS for a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh- that is awful and thank God you read far enough to 'catch' what was happening. If those stupid scammers put half as much time and energy into 'real work' they would be making a very good living. I have no use for those that prey on others.

    Hoping you have a great upcoming week--happy shooting! xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm glad you were able to beat this last cold pronto, Chel. I have one that's lingering. I'm doing nothing more than running a humidifier in my bedroom and taking Ibuprofen. Miserable. And I had a flu shot 5 weeks ago!

    Scammers. I've had my problems and I'm so glad you came out okay.

    Here's to a new and most wonderful year...

    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  8. You take care, Chel, and a Happy New Year to you. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get on with our lives without having to worry about the nasty little crooks out there?!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's so scary how careful we have to be when shopping online. I love using the Internet to order things, and so far have been very lucky. Thanks for the heads up on this latest one. I love that photo of the chocolates!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad you caught on to this scam. I had my credit card hacked right before Christmas and lucky for me the bank caught that I was not trying to buy a $2000 dollar gift card and Christmas tree to be sent to a state I do not live in!!!! They are out there and have nothing but time to figure out how to scam people. So sad. I agree with Diana if they would work for the good with their computer expertise and scam ideas they could make a great living and not have to hurt others. Glad to hear you are feeling better.
    xoxo
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well spotted, sometimes you just get a feeling that all is not quite right. I recently received an email from a company that I have previously made enquiries with thanking me for my order, details of which could be viewed by following the link. I didn't actually place an order so needless to say I didn't follow the link. Hope you're feeling better. I take vitamin C and zinc tablets from Oct to March. I don't make new year resolutions but I am eating less chocolate :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lucky that you didn't get caught up in that scam! I'm glad you solved your camera problem, too. Hopefully you are feeling 100% better - I've had the same thing - bronchitis that I just couldn't get rid of, and once I did, I caught a cold! I felt like it was a bad joke, and no, I wasn't laughing! Here's to a great January, Chel!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh Chel, I hope you feel completely better very soon. Perhaps one of those chocolates would help? So glad you were wary of the scammers - such unscrupulous people are a blight on the human race.
    Looking forward to more of your beautiful photos.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I hope you're feeling much better now. Glad you were not taken in my the scammer. Great photos and write up and I hope all is going well this week with you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. My dear Chel, I hope you are feeling better....please know that you are in my prayers. I agree with Lorrie, maybe some of those chocolates will help {{smiles}}

    I am so glad you caught the scam before it was too late! What an awful thing that would have been, my friend.

    Sending you love and hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, scammers are everywhere and it really does take diligence! So glad that you caught the mistake and all is well. I do hope you are feeling well soon, too. I hope you have found a good camera after all this! Sending hugs xx Karen

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello Chel and happy new year. I hope you are feeling better. So sorry to hear about the ebay scam problem too. We do have to be so careful when on the internet. I like you new word for 2017. Take care and enjoy the week. Thanks too for your lovely visit.
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  18. I hope you're feeling your best self again!
    I had a weird email by Yahoo today about checking an account... And the email had a ".be" address... Let me tell you I didn't give them the info they wanted me to send them ;) Not THAT blonde!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good catch on the Paypal scammer Chel! I don't use such things just because I'm not up on how to and doubt I'll ever get into online shopping. lol I have the same eye problem as you...not the tear (retinal?)...but the floaters and a growing cataract....which are annoying when taking photos or just plain seeing anything against bright light including the computer screen. The joys of aging eh. I'm glad you got your camera back though and are happy with it. Have a good week ahead. Pam

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting, I love reading your comments and will answer either by email or on the blog. You can also email me privately in my side bar. Have a great day x

Other Posts

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...