Warning about the Possible Identity Theft of Daniel Allyn

This is not the article I would like to have written as my first article of the year, but I really think I should share so that anyone lucky enough to read this can be alerted to a possible identity theft of a fairly important man in the world of military politics. If the man who was in contact with me is actually General Allyn, and I have posted classified information, please have someone in command contact me through official channels.

On Thanksgiving Day of 2015, I received an invitation to become a contact of a man who claimed to be Daniel Allyn. His profile photo was of a man in military clothing. When I saw the request, I said, “Who are you?” he replied, “Daniel Allyn”. I thought well, duh, that I can read on my own. I said, “Yes, that’s obvious, but WHO are you? Why should I accept?” He informed me that he was a 56 year-old man from New Hampshire and that he was, at that time, in Afghanistan.

All right, so I’m very leery of people, especially men, who I don’t know. I told him I wasn’t interested in amorous relationships (this usually stops them for a moment or three; some drop out of the conversation, while others accept this idea and keep on going. This guy was one of the latter).

The following is a copy of our conversation that day; please take note of Allyn’s grammar (not typos or possible typos—we all make typos; it’s Skype’s fault ;) ):

 

[11/26/2015 11:04:34 AM] *** Hi mary.mac ., I'd like to add you as a contact. ***

[11/26/2015 11:09:15 AM] mary.mac .: who are you?

[11/26/2015 11:10:21 AM] Daniel Allyn: I am Daniel Allyn from United  States

[11/26/2015 11:10:51 AM] mary.mac .: but why do you want me as a contact?

[11/26/2015 11:11:28 AM] Daniel Allyn: I was searching for friends then I found you

[11/26/2015 11:12:00 AM] Daniel Allyn: i just love the smile on your profile picture

[11/26/2015 11:13:59 AM] mary.mac .: Oh, I'm not accepting people I don't know. Thank you for the compliment, though--even if you don't know which of the two I am. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you find some good friends around your age.

[11/26/2015 11:14:22 AM] Daniel Allyn: How old are you?

[11/26/2015 11:14:37 AM] mary.mac .: XX

[11/26/2015 11:14:40 AM] Daniel Allyn: I am XX years old

[11/26/2015 11:15:00 AM] Daniel Allyn: But that does not stop us from been friends

[11/26/2015 11:15:26 AM] Daniel Allyn: These are opportunities that comes once in a life time

[11/26/2015 11:15:55 AM] Daniel Allyn: Why don't you try me you wont regret been my friend

[11/26/2015 11:16:43 AM] mary.mac .: Where are you?

[11/26/2015 11:16:55 AM] mary.mac .: in the U.S., I mean

[11/26/2015 11:17:53 AM] Daniel Allyn: Why don't you add me so we can know more about ourselves

[11/26/2015 11:22:02 AM] mary.mac .: I'm not really interested in romantic friendships if that is what you are looking for. I've found the love of my life and I just don't need another.

[11/26/2015 11:22:18 AM] Daniel Allyn: I am not looking for that

[11/26/2015 11:22:36 AM] Daniel Allyn: Is any thing wrong in ask9ng for friendship

[11/26/2015 11:23:08 AM] mary.mac .: I don't know; I'll need to think about it. Right now, I'm on my way out the door.

[11/26/2015 11:23:59 AM] Daniel Allyn: okay when you come back just let me know

[11/26/2015 11:24:31 AM] mary.mac .: all right.

[11/26/2015 11:24:48 AM] Daniel Allyn: Safe Journey.

 

I really was on my way out, but, being a curious person, I looked up the name Daniel Allyn on internet when I arrived home. I was amazed, to say the least, at what I found. His Linked-in status states that he is a brigadier general while Wikipedia and Google both add that he is the 35^th Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Other information included was correct, but that stirred up another set of questions: other than my smile (even though there was no way of him knowing which of the two people in my profile picture was me, since we are both women) Why me? Why was he looking for new friends in the first place? Here is the next section of conversation between the two of us (mostly invites from him and questions from me):

 

[11/27/2015 10:42:30 PM] mary.mac .: I have another question: Why would a Major General in the US Army, with a family, need to find  friends by looking through Skype? I'm sure you have a bevy of friends in D.C. and New Hampshire without having to look for a woman with a smile you like (even if you don't know which of the two women in my avatar is me) Please forgive me for being suspicious, but despite the goofy look on my face, I'm an intelligent person who looks very carefully before jumping.

[12/1/2015 5:56:47 PM] *** Daniel Allyn would like to add you on Skype

 

Hi mary.mac ., I'd like to add you as a contact. ***

[12/2/2015 12:07:43 AM] mary.mac .: Again?

[12/2/2015 2:33:30 PM] *** Daniel Allyn would like to add you on Skype

Hi mary.mac ., I'd like to add you as a contact. ***

[12/2/2015 2:48:55 PM] mary.mac .: Go away

[12/2/2015 2:50:47 PM] Daniel Allyn: Why do you want me to go away

[12/2/2015 2:52:18 PM] mary.mac .: Because I don't believe you are really BG Daniel Allyn. Too many grammatical errors.

 

I must admit that he took a bit of unwarranted offense at my answer. Below is a slightly watered-down version of his response which, in my mind, is not a very politically diplomatic answer…

 

[12/2/2015 2:53:13 PM] Daniel Allyn: What sort of nonsense is that

[12/2/2015 2:53:23 PM] Daniel Allyn: f*** off

[12/2/2015 8:22:56 PM] mary.mac .: Excuse me? As I recall you invited me, not the other way around. And not once, but three times. At the end of the first time I asked you a question which you didn't answer. And, also in the first conversation, there are at least 5 grammatical errors, which do not include typos. Even I make typos, mostly because skype eats letters while posting comments.

And really, there's no need to use foul language. I never used it with you.

Had that been the end of it, I probably wouldn’t have minded so much, but then, my real problems began. Fortunately for me I have an excellent Anti-Malware program on my computer. About that time, I began receiving messages that my program had blocked an inbound malicious site that originated from Skype. The port was always the same; although the IP changed from time to time, this was the most common:

 

 

If you should happen to receive an invite from said Daniel Allyn, his skype name being daniel03935 and having the above IP, block him immediately. I’ve had no more problems with the malicious website since I blocked him, so it should be sufficient.

I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERLINE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS MEANT TO BE A WARNING, BOTH FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND FOR THE REAL GENERAL ALLYN. IDENTITY THEFT IS BAD FOR BOTH GROUPS, AND I MEANT NO OFFENSE FOR THE REAL GENERAL.

 

All Rights Reserved, including the reproduction in whole or in part in any form Copyright © Mary E. Purpari. January 6, 2016