Scammed!
A public shaming!20 total reviews
Comment from LJbutterfly
Hi Debbie,
I am so sorry you had to experience this scam. Scammers are so clever that I never blame the victim for what happened.
A scammer called me on the phone and said he was from Amazon customer service. He said a scammer charged a large amount on my Amazon account. He told me to go to my computer and take a look. I did. He told me to type in some numbers which would remove the charge. I did. The numbers allowed him access to my account and he immediately went to my credit card info. That's when I became suspicious. Fortunately, my bank and card info was outdated. He asked for current info, but I hung up. I posted the story on FanStory just as you have, hoping to save someone else.
Your story is a public service announcement. Thanks you for sharing. Best wishes in the contest.
reply by the author on 27-May-2023
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Hi Debbie,
I am so sorry you had to experience this scam. Scammers are so clever that I never blame the victim for what happened.
A scammer called me on the phone and said he was from Amazon customer service. He said a scammer charged a large amount on my Amazon account. He told me to go to my computer and take a look. I did. He told me to type in some numbers which would remove the charge. I did. The numbers allowed him access to my account and he immediately went to my credit card info. That's when I became suspicious. Fortunately, my bank and card info was outdated. He asked for current info, but I hung up. I posted the story on FanStory just as you have, hoping to save someone else.
Your story is a public service announcement. Thanks you for sharing. Best wishes in the contest.
Comment Written 27-May-2023
reply by the author on 27-May-2023
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Thank you so much for your kind rating and comments. Your experience sounded much more complex and I'm so pleased it turned out well for you. Next Wednesday I'll ring the bank to find out where I stand. Nothing guaranteed at all. Take care Debbie
Comment from Ginda Simpson
What an alarming story and thank you for raising the alarm. Now of a "certain age" and not that savvy when it comes to technology, this is of great concern for us seniors. I really appreciate that you have shared this.
reply by the author on 27-May-2023
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What an alarming story and thank you for raising the alarm. Now of a "certain age" and not that savvy when it comes to technology, this is of great concern for us seniors. I really appreciate that you have shared this.
Comment Written 27-May-2023
reply by the author on 27-May-2023
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Thank you so much, Ginda, for this! And I'm so pleased that my story represents a warning to you. As a family we get bombarded with scams and discuss them and think we're up to speed with it all. But I've never had anything like this with the messages sounding so much like my daughter. That said, all the warnings should have rung some bells in my stupid head! Take care and enjoy the weekend! Debbie
Comment from Goodadvicechan
I hope you will get your money back.
I can sympathize your situation. I am sorry the you didn't personally call your daughter to verify. You missed the chance to detect the scam earlier,
I encountered a similar situation. My bank held a large sum on my account for no reason.
There are more and more scams. We need to be alert at all times.
Thanks for sharing .
reply by the author on 27-May-2023
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I hope you will get your money back.
I can sympathize your situation. I am sorry the you didn't personally call your daughter to verify. You missed the chance to detect the scam earlier,
I encountered a similar situation. My bank held a large sum on my account for no reason.
There are more and more scams. We need to be alert at all times.
Thanks for sharing .
Comment Written 27-May-2023
reply by the author on 27-May-2023
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Thank you so much for your kind rating and comments! This is all much valued. We talk a lot about this kind of thing as a family because we get bombarded with the stuff and I still can't believe my foolishness! Take care Debbie
Comment from royowen
Yes. We've been warned here, and it's becoming a fairly common scam here, don't worry, I think we can all fall, but unusual activity such as this, children behaving out of character, yep. It's. Common thing on Facebook, identity theft, one has to be careful answering friend requests, beautifully written Debi, sorry about that, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Yes. We've been warned here, and it's becoming a fairly common scam here, don't worry, I think we can all fall, but unusual activity such as this, children behaving out of character, yep. It's. Common thing on Facebook, identity theft, one has to be careful answering friend requests, beautifully written Debi, sorry about that, blessings Roy
Comment Written 26-May-2023
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Thanks so much for your kind rating and comments, Roy. I was clueless and distracted. We talk about this sort of thing all the time because we get bombarded by the stuff but never in this form. I have to wonder how safe the phone will be soon with all this voice recognition technology likely to be exploited. Take care and bless you, Roy, for your thoughts. Debbie PS Have never been on Facebook. This site is the closest I've got to social media!
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Oh my goodness, what a complex, clever fraud Debbie and I am so sorry that you were hooked like this. Something similar happened to me when I received an email from the BBC licensing authority and I gave them all my details, including my Mother's maiden name!
It was a Saturday and I didn't realise it was a scam until I received exactly the same email on Monday and I was immediately suspicious. I contacted my bank and they cancelled my card and issued me with a new one and there were no repercussions, except that I have been targeted by scammers from all around the world since! My in box has been buzzing for the last two years!
We think we are smart enough to spot scammers, but when it comes to family we just try and help them and believe what we read and never question it. How sad that you may lose your money Debbie.
A fine post to warm others to be aware where they send their money and to always double check first, love Dolly x x x
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Oh my goodness, what a complex, clever fraud Debbie and I am so sorry that you were hooked like this. Something similar happened to me when I received an email from the BBC licensing authority and I gave them all my details, including my Mother's maiden name!
It was a Saturday and I didn't realise it was a scam until I received exactly the same email on Monday and I was immediately suspicious. I contacted my bank and they cancelled my card and issued me with a new one and there were no repercussions, except that I have been targeted by scammers from all around the world since! My in box has been buzzing for the last two years!
We think we are smart enough to spot scammers, but when it comes to family we just try and help them and believe what we read and never question it. How sad that you may lose your money Debbie.
A fine post to warm others to be aware where they send their money and to always double check first, love Dolly x x x
Comment Written 26-May-2023
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Thank you so much, Dolly for your lovely rating and comments. I think my name is likely to be passed around quite a few hopefuls now. The thing is that we, as a family, discuss all this sort of thing because we get bombarded too and, yet, I completely fell for it. It'll take a while to regain any faith in myself now, I think! Love Debbie
Comment from Mintybee
I am so sorry for your experience. I hope you are able to recover your money. You told your tale well. There are two things I'd fix. You say third mistake twice. You have it here, ""Course I can." (Third mistake)" and in the paragraph starting "And so he did." The second thing I'd take another look at is the length of the last paragraph. It's a bit long. I'd break it up into two, just because ending on a large block of text after a story of short paragraphs feels stylistically odd. This story kept my interest because I was groaning at every red flag you missed. I kept reading, hoping for a happy resolution at the end. You did a good job of getting the reader to sympathize with your desire to help your daughter, while also having the reader grow exasperated with how many chances you had (numbered and laid out in an orderly fashion) to realize what was happening. Well told.
Mintybee
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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I am so sorry for your experience. I hope you are able to recover your money. You told your tale well. There are two things I'd fix. You say third mistake twice. You have it here, ""Course I can." (Third mistake)" and in the paragraph starting "And so he did." The second thing I'd take another look at is the length of the last paragraph. It's a bit long. I'd break it up into two, just because ending on a large block of text after a story of short paragraphs feels stylistically odd. This story kept my interest because I was groaning at every red flag you missed. I kept reading, hoping for a happy resolution at the end. You did a good job of getting the reader to sympathize with your desire to help your daughter, while also having the reader grow exasperated with how many chances you had (numbered and laid out in an orderly fashion) to realize what was happening. Well told.
Mintybee
Comment Written 26-May-2023
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Thank you so much for your kind rating and really helpful comments. I had so much trouble trying to get the text right because it didn't like spacing too much so I think when I got to the end it was almost a relief just to feel I could let it run without manually altering words/lines etc (not very technical speak there I'm afraid). I really appreciate all you've said and will go back over it now and I would give you a reviewer nomination vote if I only had one left (why are they so sparing with them?) Thanks again. Take care Debbie
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I understand. Formatting can be touchy. I'm glad I was helpful.
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No, you've been great! So many people I think skim over posts but you did a wonderfully thorough job for which I'm very grateful especially as it's not my usual genre here.
Comment from Sally Law
I'm so sorry! Scammers are everywhere and opportunists. I had one recently text me and said my car was repaired and ready for pickup. (I'm blind and don't drive anymore.) I texted back and said nothing more than, "wrong number." It took me days to get rid of him because he was a used car salesman.
I think I would have done the same as you. A snapshot is even more scary in my opinion. I would never send one to a total stranger. No telling where the pic would go.
So sorry you're anniversary was spoiled. :(
Sending you my best today as always and best wishes for the upcoming contest.
Sal XOs
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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I'm so sorry! Scammers are everywhere and opportunists. I had one recently text me and said my car was repaired and ready for pickup. (I'm blind and don't drive anymore.) I texted back and said nothing more than, "wrong number." It took me days to get rid of him because he was a used car salesman.
I think I would have done the same as you. A snapshot is even more scary in my opinion. I would never send one to a total stranger. No telling where the pic would go.
So sorry you're anniversary was spoiled. :(
Sending you my best today as always and best wishes for the upcoming contest.
Sal XOs
Comment Written 26-May-2023
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Thank you so much for your kind rating and thoughtful comments. I've actually called myself every name under the sun by now so there's nothing much left for my kids to call me! Take care Debbie
Comment from Elizabeth Henderson
Excellent account of a sad situation. As the mother of an adult child who is always in a "fix" for money, and is constantly losing her phone, I could certainly see how this could happen. Don't beat yourself up over it. It's good of you to warn us of this scam. I do hope you will recover your money and I hope you had a better rest of your anniversary!
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Excellent account of a sad situation. As the mother of an adult child who is always in a "fix" for money, and is constantly losing her phone, I could certainly see how this could happen. Don't beat yourself up over it. It's good of you to warn us of this scam. I do hope you will recover your money and I hope you had a better rest of your anniversary!
Comment Written 26-May-2023
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for your lovely rating and comforting words. I thought the only thing I could do was own up just in case it might help someone else. But I'm so embarrassed! Take care Debbie
Comment from Debra White
Oh Debbie...!
It would be so easy for us to go hard on you for leaving yourself open to being scammed, but you were thinking with your heart and trying to fix things for Kate. I truly hope that Santander manage to track the scammer and you get reimbursed.
There's so many people out there taking every opportunity to rip us off, I'm paranoid to even answer my phone if the call is an unknown or withheld number. I also question myself over every link before I click it, just in case I make myself or my information vulnerable. It's so wrong that we have to be suspicious about everything...
Good luck in the contest.
Best wishes as always, Debra x
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reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Oh Debbie...!
It would be so easy for us to go hard on you for leaving yourself open to being scammed, but you were thinking with your heart and trying to fix things for Kate. I truly hope that Santander manage to track the scammer and you get reimbursed.
There's so many people out there taking every opportunity to rip us off, I'm paranoid to even answer my phone if the call is an unknown or withheld number. I also question myself over every link before I click it, just in case I make myself or my information vulnerable. It's so wrong that we have to be suspicious about everything...
Good luck in the contest.
Best wishes as always, Debra x
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 26-May-2023
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Dear Debra, thank you so much for your lovely rating and thoughtful comments. This scam is so obvious in the cold light of day and I can't still believe how stupid I was. As a family, we discuss these things quite frequently and, like you seem to be bombarded. By the way, I just want to repeat that I found the simplicity and eloquence of your verse yesterday truly inspired. It's stayed with me and I will look forward to more to follow. I think your practice and skill at haikus have come into their own in your ability to condense words and produce really evocative lines. Thanks again. Take care and have a good weekend! Debbie
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You're welcome, Debbie x
Comment from Paul McFarland
I hope a lot of people read your piece. It is a good warning about one of most heinous crimes going. The penalty for this crime is not severe enough. Many older people are left destitute as a result of these scams.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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I hope a lot of people read your piece. It is a good warning about one of most heinous crimes going. The penalty for this crime is not severe enough. Many older people are left destitute as a result of these scams.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 26-May-2023
reply by the author on 26-May-2023
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Thank you so much, Paul, for your kind rating and thoughtful comments. It's been a very embarrassing experience but I thought, if I repeat the texts absolutely verbatim, it may just help someone to avoid this hurt in the future. I wonder now with all this voice recognition technology (which I had to use when reporting the crime), how safe telephones will be in the future if the con-artists get hold of it! Take care and have a good weekend, Debbie
