Identifying Scams – Part 2

A funny, not so funny thing happened to me today. Most of the posts I make to Facebook are reserved for Friends and Family, but I linked my “Identifying Scams” blog post on Facebook and made it public because knowledge is the best key to preventing scams. Someone actual commented on it. ”Yay!” They want to be my friend because they are lonely. “Boo!”

Do not! Do not! Do not! Fall for this! Yes, it could be a lonely guy. It is probably a scam. There are two main scam reasons this person wants to be my friend. 

1) To get access to my profile and friends list so he can scam my friends.

2) Sextortion – Scammers will spend a long time becoming your friend, and once you are comfortable being their friend, they ask you to send them a picture either naughty or nice. Don’t send pictures! They will try to extort money from you. They will threaten you, your friends, and your family if refuse to pay. 

This comment is a clear example how sextortion can start. 

I blocked out their picture to protect the real person, just in case the real person’s Facebook page was stolen. I did check out their Facebook profile. Friends “No Following to show.” Posts to their page, only went back for 5 days.

What actions did I take? I hid their response to my post and blocked them. Facebook really wants to make sure that you really want to block someone.

Today, I commented on an article that showed up on my Facebook feed, and someone commented back wanting to be my friend.

Well at least this person didn’t comment on my post about “Identifying Scams.” Their Facebook page only went back 2 days. Their friends also had “No Following to show.” When I did an image search for their pictures, it was a little creepy. There were so many people that resemble this person. 

I hid their comment and blocked them too. People who put that many emojis in a comment, deserves to be blocked.

Protect yourself, protect your kids, protect your parents, against this type of scam. I know there are a lot of very lonely people in the world, but there are better ways to make friends. People engage in sextortion are some of the worst types of scammers in the world.

Here are a few articles I found:

Sextortion: It’s more common than you think

Sextortion

Microsoft Bing Image Creator

Over the past few weeks, I have been creating pictures with Microsoft Bing Image Creator. It’s AI created some wonder images. It works by describing the picture you want to see, and the AI creates the picture.

One prompt I used was: “candy manufacturing plant made of gingerbread located in the north pole that is run by Santa’s elves”. Below are the images the AI returned.

To use Bing Image Creator, you must have a Microsoft account. If you are a new user, Microsoft will provide you with 15 boosts. My Microsoft account is many years old, and I was provided 80 boosts.

In the prompt field you type a description of the picture you would like to see, then you press the Create button. After a short period of time, the AI will show you four pictures it created. You then have the option to download the pictures or rework the description. Each time you submit a description, it will use one of the boosts.

Below are more descriptions I used and the pictures the AI created.

Description: a nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger with the Bethlehem Star shining down on the stable. In the background show choir of angels in the background.

Description: The garden with variety of trees and flowers. The garden features a fountain sculpted from white marble, resembling an open flower. Within the fountain, 40 water sprouts shoot up into the air, cascading back down like rain into the crystal-clear pool.

Description: A dog playing frisbee and cat riding on the frisbee. They are in a park which has a bluish green field surrounded by a variety of trees.

Description: Need a image that I can use to give credit to Microsoft Bing Image Creator for the wonder images the AI creates.

Microsoft only provides the image in a JPEG format and limits the size to 1024 x 1024 pixels. Which is good enough for posting on a Social Media platform or this blog.

There is no guarantee that you will get that same pictures every time you enter a same description multiple times. Nor, is it guarantee that someone else will not get the same picture created with a description you used.

I tried other AI picture generated programs like PIXLR and FOTOR. Both have more features than Microsoft’s Image Creator. FOTOR I ran out of boost before I finished my research. In the PIXLR Licensing Agreement, it states that no image can be used unless you have a subscription.

In my opinion, Microsoft Image Creator generated better pictures. In the other programs missed sometimes in what I was trying to create. For example, I asked for a yellow bird whispering in a dog ears. It returned a few examples, but one had a dog’s head on a bird’s body.

Sunrise, from Hotel Parking Lots

Some people stay at a hotel until it is time to check out.  Me I wake up and get going.  One of benefit is I get to see a lot of sunrises.  Here are the pictures I took from the hotel parking lot.  I saw a bunch more sunrises.  No pictures because I was driving.

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Memphis, Tennessee

What is there to do in Memphis, Tennessee that doesn’t involve music, where you can take picture and be outside on a summer day?  After many web searches, I found it!  The Memphis Botanical Gardens.

This place was huge, several different gardens, lots of plants, and plenty of photos opportunities.  And, it was hot, but very quiet and relaxing.  There is plenty to see in the gardens.

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Things You Find on the Side of the Road

This summer I traveled through most, if not all, of the States in the center of the country.  During these travels I found some interesting places.  First there was the Beef Jerky Outlet, my travel companion was in heaven.   Second interesting stop was Pickle Gap, AK.  If you need a Belly Button Lint Brush, they have it.

The third stop was a fruit stand on the side of US 49, somewhere in Mississippi.

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The coffee cups do not belong to me.

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A fake flying duck, is what everyone needs.

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Alas, I could not purchase anything because my car was full of stuff.

While is Mississippi, I did stop by the beach.  It was cloudy, dreary day.  I did find sand and a few grains are probably in the car.

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Art Show

I attended the Art Show of some very talented students from the Hall County area of Grand Island, NE. The event was held at the Sturh Museum. These are just a few of the hundreds items on display. Their parents and teachers should be proud.

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The students put in a lot of time and effort on each piece.

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The little added pieces provided an excellent enhancement.

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Many of the students showed that they had a steady hand and a lot of patience.

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Transforming one dot at a time into a work of art.

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Even the creepy, crawly turned out beautiful.

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Some pieces should their whimsical side.

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Other pieces showed their creativity.