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. | 
Bill's story
