Finish the sentence for me: “If it sounds too good to be true…” The last couple of years I’ve had someone I know personally get their hard earned money snatched from them by sly scammers online. The ones I will be describing targets folks who’s a bit older and some even near retirement age. The first example happened to a close family member of mine a year ago.
“Congratulations! You’ve won 1.5 million dollars through publishers clearing house. Please call this number to claim your prize.” This was the letter received by my Aunt “Hannah”
Hannah: Hi, I received a letter stating I’ve won 1.5 million dollars. I would like to claim my price.
Scammer: Great! Congratulations. You are so lucky. To claim your prize you have to realize there are taxes involved. Please send a check for $1500 for tax purposes.
Hannah: Woah. I didn’t know about that. But I don’t have any money right now. I have bills to pay.
Scammer: Well ask a friend or a family member since you will be rich anyways! Just send it via Western Union and you are set to go.
Two days later.
Hannah: My family wouldn’t loan me the money and when I did get the money from my friend, Western Union turned me down and refused my request.
Scammer: Oh wow. Well do you have a credit card?
Hannah: Yes but I have a balance on the card.
Scammer: Do not worry Hannah! Just give me your account info and we will take care of it for you. Once the balance is zero, take out a cash advance and send it via Money Gram.
Hannah: Really? You’ll pay the whole balance?
Checks the next day and balance is at zero…
Scammer: Was the balance zero? Perfect! Now you can send the money and get your 1.5 million dollars!
Hannah: Wow thanks! I just sent the money via Money Gram here is the special confirmation number.
Scammer: Thank you! (Hangs up) Sucka…
The $1500 is gone forever. She goes to check her credit card balance and her balance came back PLUS the $1500. A scammer’s magic trick. Aunt Hannah never got her millions and when she reported the incident, the authorities couldn’t do a thing to help her.
This happens all the time.
When you get scammed, it’s an indescribable feeling and numbness you feel inside.
Like you’ve just been violated.
But you can’t do a thing.
You feel cold.
Don’t be a victim like Hannah. DO NOT fall into the trap of money greed or the fantasy of love. Scammers are pros and will use it to take every last dollar you have. Not only has this happened to my family and close friends, it happens to people I don’t even know.
I was a former relay operator for the deaf.
Nigerian scammers would take advantage of the deaf community’s relay system and make thousands of calls to people and business. Their main goal was to cast their fishing line and reel in the big fish. As a relay operator, I was forced to listen to the conversation step by step and watch as this scammer take this poor ladies credit card info she willingly gives to him…
The scammer was in love with her but his poor dear ole brother got in an accident and need to get surgery and then they can finally be together…
I listened to the same lines over and over.
I couldn’t do a thing.
I was helpless.
I was just a ghost in the conversation and it was against the rules to intervene and warn the person that they are getting scammed.
Months later, we finally got the clearance to warn the receiver about the call being a scam and they just hang up.
So please be very cautious when it comes to strangers asking for money. Call the authorities if you do receive these calls and give all the information you have on them. The only way for them to go away is to wise up, have a keen smell if things seem fishy, and to not fall into the trap of GREED and FANTASY.
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