Facebook Hijacking

I was sleeping just before midnight on Sunday when my cell phone rang. I tried to ignore it but it rang again a couple minutes later. I answered it. A man said "Rocki?" I had no idea who it was. After a few minutes of fumbling around and trying to wake my mind up, I figured out it was David, an old friend who I have not seen in at least 6 or 7 years. When I inquired with him if he was aware that it was midnight and told him it was too late to call, he told me "I am chatting with you right now on Facebook."

Surprised, I said "No David, I am asleep."

But he insisted that I had just asked him to call me while chatting on Facebook. I went to the computer and logged on. Sure enough I (or someone who was impersonating me and using my Facebook identity) was chatting with him and a couple of my other "friends".

My status had been changed to "Rocki is Scared."

I am now, I thought.

I quickly logged onto the email account that is connected to my Facebook account. All my emails that I had filed or were in my inbox were gone, they had been erased. I switched back to Facebook and scrolled through the chatting "I" was doing with several friends.

The chat went something like this…

Rocki:
David, I am having a bad day
David:
What’s up
Rocki:
I got a letter from my doctor today and I have a brain tumor
David:
R U kidding
Rocki:
No I am serious, I do not know what to do,
I have not told Jud yet, I am freaking out
David:
I am sorry, I thought you were kidding, what can I do?
Rocki:
I am crying and freaking out! can you call me>?
David:
What is your number?
Rocki:
I cant even think right now, just please call me!
David:
I am looking for the number hold on
Rocki:
RING ME!
David:
Im trying…One sec.

Once he got a hold of me he continued the chat...

David:
Who is this?
Rocki:
Who else?
David:
I just called Rocki and woke her up.
Rocki :
You did not. What is my number?
Go Bleep Bleep! You Bleeping bleep!

This type of chat – with a slight variation in the script, sobbing about a about a brain tumor and then turning lewd and full of expletives happened 3 times with 3 of my Facebook friends who unluckily happened to be logged on at the same time. The "impostor Rocki" wrote on Jud's wall...and it was not friendly. They changed my status several times, sticking again with the brain tumor story.

I tried to sign out of Facebook but it would not let me. I shut down the computer. My mind started reeling. Who would have my password? This person must know me. What are they doing with my emails? Looking for more information to steal? Is this a mean joke or a real hacker who is more malicious than just a couple of insults?

I understand that Facebook has had some cyber criminals who are scamming people out of their money as they assume a stolen Facebook identity and solicit friends for help. I have read about spam that is sent from hijacked accounts that spread viruses. But this fake Rocki was not asking for money or trying to send a tainted link, they were just being...mean.

I have changed my passwords and kept my eye on my bank account. It seems to have worked since there has been no unauthorized activity on my accounts since the password changes...still...I some how feel less safe.

4th Grade Project

Tilly and I spent about 4 hours today doing her 4th grade history project. We studied Tillie Pierce, a 14 year old girl who witnessed the battle of Gettysburg up close when she escaped to a safehouse that ended up being in the middle of the battle. We mapped out Tillie's 3 day ordeal during the battle.

Cooper Bowl IV

Last Saturday we celebrated Cooper's 9th birthday with a big party at the church. We had a blast!

We played many fun games, every one's favorite was the treasure hunt. Every year for the kid's birthdays I plan an elaborate hunt where the kids have to do stunts, decode clues or find hidden spots to follow a series of clues to lead them to a treasure. This year the clues took them all over the church. They hunted under the pews, sliding across the floor on their backs, scoured the books in the library to find the right title, performed a cheer for grandma, made up a commercial, shot baskets, unscrambled words, answered trivia and raced from room to find the next clue. Each team did a great job working together through 12 clues.

One game we played got messy! Using only their mouths the kids had to hunt for a piece of gum hidden in a pile of whipped cream, the first to blow a bubble was the winner! This was a fun game...we took turns racing about 5 kids at a time so the rest of the group could enjoy watching their classmates chew gum sporting a whip cream beard and mustache! And based on the laughter and giggles heard in this video the kids did enjoy it.

Nine Years Ago; Cooper

Nine years ago today I had a son. Tilly was just 14 months old when she became a big sister.
Cooper has been "intense" from the moment he was born. He is a strong willed child. He has been a challenge to me as a mother from his very first days to this very day.

Although "intense", he is a loving and affectionate child. My favorite time of the day with him is bed time. I always lay down with him for 30 minutes and read. He loves to cuddle and listen. When the lights go out we pray. If I ever forget to pray, he will remind me.

He is goofy! He always has me laughing. Check out this funny video that the kids made and posted on their blogs.

He is bright! School comes easy for him. Teachers count on him to have an answer to most any question. His teacher told me that but I also noticed that when I started teaching his age group at church, if no one has their hand up you can count on Cooper to know the answer.

He is extreme…when something interests him he dives in full throttle, or if he gets something in his head it is there for good, you will have a hard time convincing him otherwise. He does things his way.

For example – an "extreme interest"; When he was in kindergarten he read a book about the Titanic. He loved it. We made a time line out of pieces of computer paper taped together, each year was represented by about an inch. He wanted to see how long it was that the Titanic sat in the bottom of the ocean before they found it. He also basically memorized the first couple chapters of the book, he knew all the facts, statistics and dates regarding the Titanic. He drew floor plans of the ship. He wrote stories about it. He was obsessed. He was 6!

To me he is Super Cooper…He is super smart, super stubborn, super strong. He is exceptional. He is extreme. But as much of an extreme challenge as he is, he is also an extreme joy. He is one of a kind. And I am proud to be his mom. I love him more than he will ever know.

I am sure many of the traits that drive me up the wall right now have been given to Cooper by God and when harnessed and focused in the right direction those same traits will be used by God in a mighty way.

Happy Birthday Cooper!

The Suite Life of Tilly and Cooper

It has been over a week since we have been displaced by the fire. The first week we stayed at my Aunt Jeanie's house, she was on vacation in Belize for the week so it worked out nice for us to "house sit", wink, wink.

This Sunday we moved into the Amish Acres Inn in Nappanee. The insurance company approved for us to have a suite and adjoining room. The kids are pumped as they think living in a hotel is a "Suite" life. I am loving the continental breakfast in the morning and the whirlpool bathtub, but am not so much liking the noisy neighbor that keeps the TV at full volume until 3am(she is an extended guest too because her house had a fire as well...weird, huh?).

I am not thrilled with living out of boxes, but am not going to complain about that. Each box is a reminder of the stuff we still have. We are thankful that our entire house did not burn down, that nothing was lost that cannot be cleaned, re-carpeted, painted or replaced. Aunt Jeanie and Kristi are keeping us well fed. Tilly's dog and Cooper's lizard are staying with Jeanie. God is reteaching me lessons about what is important and essential in life.

My furniture and belongings are nearly completely packed out. My friend who had not heard about the fire called to ask if we were moving because she saw moving trucks in our drive way. I told her we were moving for 4-6 weeks and then we would be back. Our house has been full of visitors; packers, adjusters, investigators, etc. I will receive an estimate and report from the adjuster next week. New carpet, paint, insulation, and a furnace are on the list of things to be replaced. Most of the other items will be cleaned.

We do not have my computer but I am posting this from the lobby on the guest computer and will try to keep my blog updated.