Last week, I had an up close and personal experience with a  cyber-criminal ! I was home alone, reading Face Book posts. I clicked on a picture to open the link and read the text, when all sorts of messages popped on my screen.  I tried to X them  out but was unable to do so. Then as I began to panic, I started reading the messages.  DO NOT POWER DOWN as you will destroy your HARD DRIVE  and/ or FILES.  More messages popped in when  I noticed a phone number to reach a CERTIFIED MICROSOFT  TECHNICIAN.  I have to say I was suspicious but also very  near panic for a “lifeline!” I fit the victim profile perfectly.

First I heard the robo message about “message being recorded for quality control”.  This   obviously was to  further draw the  computer owner into the web.  Next, a very polite and extremely…