Suspicion
“Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind” Shakespeare Henry VI, Part 3, Act 5
Just before Christmas, I was at Heathrow Airport, returning from a short trip to Vienna, and I needed to find a toilet. The flight had been brief, and I knew there were aeroplane toilets, but I was raised to follow the command, “Do not use the toilet while the train is in the station.” I do not like to risk using the toilet on an aeroplane—you never know who might be below!
The toilets at Terminal 3 are grandly situated at the end of a long, clinically white corridor. The corridor looks as if it has been scrubbed and polished to perfection, and it was bright enough to put Blackpool illuminations into the shade. As I sauntered down this testimony to hygiene, I saw a crumpled mass of humanity in the distance that looked very much out of place. He was not hurt or injured; he was sprawled across the floor like some muddy teenager on your best sofa. Was he a protester, a beggar, a thief, a drunkard, even a ne’er-do-well (whatever they are)? I was ready for any eventuality, i.e. a hasty exit in the opposite direction. I was suspicious, and as I drew near, my suspicions grew until I was upon him and there at my feet was a tired traveller with two mobile phones plugged into two electoral sockets. He was nursing and caring for his and his partners, prized possessions, i.e. iPhones. I felt somewhat guilty after making such a negative assessment of him and his motives.
On reflection, I was right to be suspicious or wary, which, given the situation, is a better word to use. We all want to be kind, i.e. the type of person who is warm, friendly and welcoming, but the truth is that, at the same time, we need to be cautious of the unexpected. I was reminded of this when watching my favourite television channel, Talking Pictures TV (Freeview channel 82). It was a 1959 episode of Dixon of Dock Green about doorstep swindlers taking advantage of the elderly, with one well-dressed crook promising their victim that they had been left an annuity while the other quietly and carefully stole cheques and looked for silver to be stolen later. At the end of the programme, George Dixon gave some sensible advice about being careful of unknown callers no matter how plausible and friendly they may seem. How right he was, but how many more doors do we have to protect today? My mother-in-law, usually a wise and sensible woman, spent thousands of pounds to receive a cash prize of millions; of course, she had been conned and lost the lot. She was not a greedy woman out for the millions, but she was too trusting a soul. The people who took her money were, to her, kind, clever, and believable; in reality, they were evil, and she saw no evil in anyone.
In one case, in this article, it was a door; in another, it was a letterbox that let the swindlers in. Again, how many more doors do we have now, not just physical but digital doors as well? A computer, a landline, an iPad, and an iPhone are more doors we need to protect. It is important not to get too pessimistic about computers, email, and the Internet. During and after COVID, they kept people in contact and informed, but like any door, it is essential to be wary of unknown visitors.
We can use tools like antivirus software and ensure that all our software is current. More accounts offer Two-Factor Authentication, where you enter additional information, such as a code sent to your phone. We can also be more cautious and less trusting when using free Wi-Fi in public places, watching what we post on social media, and avoiding sharing personal information.
If you are targeted, reporting concerns helps police track the criminal. While the Telephone Preference Service may help reduce direct marketing calls, it does not stop scam calls. These should be reported to www.actionfraud.police.uk, while suspicious emails should be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk.
We all have so many more doors to protect, and we can fail quickly. Just the other day, I nearly replied to a text supposedly coming from my son telling me he had a new phone and couldn’t do online banking, so could I help? I nearly did reply to that text, but I remembered to “take five”, i.e. take a few minutes before replying and during that time, I rang his old number, and my son answered. I may have been scammed if I had rushed to respond to the text message.
The police have produced a comprehensive and valuable resource to keep us safe. Now that Gavin and Stacey has finished, we have time on our hands, so please follow the link and read:
As well as a good lock and chain on the front door, we need to know how to protect ourselves from cybercrime I began with a quotation from Henry VI. The complete quotation is:
“Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind;
The thief doth fear each bush an officer”
Perhaps today, it should read
“Suspicion always haunts the careful mind;
The thief doth fear each vigilant user.”