My
story is about how the internet can confuse the vulnerable
He
arrived with a thud - 10lbs of healthy son - with little foretaste
of the joy and frustration to come
All
his life, he has seemed half his real years. He has always
been happy, and specialised education taught trusting souls
like him to cope. No physical defects mark him as different,
just a lovely trusting- if obstinate teenager (although he
IS 32
).
After
much pleading, I set his beloved computer up with the internet
and webcam - now he could see his lovely sister in New Zealand.
The
decision to allow internet access was taken in consultation
with his carers and the dangers were discussed in detail with
him.
When
I let him loose on his newly installed web access, I impressed
on him again that he must not download any programs and never
EVER use his bankcard to shop on the net - and NEVER try and
take advantage of the many 'free' offers
Well
- within 24 hours he had downloaded a free anti-spyware programme
that scared him and offered to remove the virus, it said,
was there - for a fee.
He'd
also invited his chums round. They egged him on to book, and
pay for, a free holiday with them in Florida - at a cost of
£600- on his bank card!!
This
free six hundred pound holiday had started with a banner that
popped up uninvited on his computer saying 'congratulations,
you have won, ring this number to claim your prize'.
In
a fright, he phoned me up to confess and that he'd only 50p
in his bank account.
Was this a relief - or the start of my panic as I began to
rescue the situation and deal with the legalities of distant
selling.
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Bill's story
