Fraud?

Let me start by saying I am pretty particular about the law. I try to be a good, law abiding citizen. Yes, I speed in my car and things like that, but in general, I keep things on the up and up.

Several months ago, I was at the pediatrician's office and I saw a little girl grab her mom's iPhone and squeal "Dora... Dora..." The mom, with exasperation, rolled her eyes and started an episode of Dora the Explorer on the iPhone. The child was mesmerized and watched, sitting down for several minutes.

That was genius. I thought I was a technology person, but I had not even considered letting my 18 month old play with my treasured iPhone. But after 30 minutes sitting in a waiting room, better judgement prevailed. I needed to get me some Dora.

I searched on iTunes. A season of Dora is $29.99. But he doesn't watch Dora. Why should I buy that? He watches Elmo, that's what I should get. So I purchase a season of Seasame Street for $19.99 and downloaded it and figured out how to put it on my phone for the next time I need it. So far, it has been a good investment.

But, and there is always a but, why should I pay iTunes when I have a BOATLOAD of DVDs that I OWN? My opinion is that I shouldn't...

So I consulted my friend who is to computers what my husband is to hunting/fishing. He told me about a software that "strips" the copyright off of DVDs so that you can rip them into iPhone format. He has used it for some time. So, I downloaded it. It has a 21 day trial period. In 21 days I should be able to rip a good many of them and save them for a rainy day... Besides, I did pay for the DVDs. I am not distributing them. Only "backing them up". Right?

With some maneuvering, I get it all to work and I rip a couple of Elmo DVDs to iPhone format. When Cutter starts to freak out, and beg for m'Elmo, I pull out the phone and let him watch. Target, Gringo's, the car... it never lasts long, but it does work.

This morning, I am working from home and thought, what a good time to do some more DVDs. My trial period expired so I need to purchase the software. I click the link, and go through a very typical internet shopping experience: create an account, uncheck the box for "send me stupid emails with more crap I don't want", check the box for "notify me when upgrades are available" give them shipping address, credit card number, credit card secret code, etc. I get to the final check out and the currency is in Euros, with a USD estimation. Hmm. That's weird. "COMPLETE THIS PURCHASE." Click.

Let's go. I have a day, people. Everything downloads and I start my thing. Turn to my laptop from work and the phone rings.

800 number. I'm not answering... But something tells me to answer.

Hello.
This is Chase Bank's Fraud Alert calling to verify your credit card account. Did you recently purchase software. Press 1 to confirm. Press 2 for more information.

Oh crap. I guess here is where I press 1... I did buy it. Buyer's remorse sets in. Press 2... More information, please...Yep. That's the place. Yep. That was the amount.

I had to confirm more than a month's activity - half an hour on the phone. It was all my stuff. What have I done? Am I on a special list now? Are they keeping track of people that by software from out of the country?

Can you say, paranoid? Maybe I should just pay iTunes... or buy stock in Apple...