SCAMMED!

In school, first you learn the lesson and then you’re tested.  In life, first you’re tested and then you learn the lesson.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

 James 1:12

How many of you have thought you could never be scammed? 

You probably thought, like I did, that the efforts to scam would be evident and easy to spot.  For instance, I never answer calls when I don’t recognize the caller’s phone number.  Also, I automatically delete emails and text messages from unknown parties whose vague headings say that I’ve won something and need to claim it.  Or attempts are being made to deliver something to me, but more information is required.  Or there’s something wrong with my (whatever) account, and I need to update my personal information as soon as possible.  In short, I am not a fool; I am alert to my surroundings and cautious regarding any unknown circumstances.

Despite all that, I was caught in a major scam and lost all our savings.

I want to share what happened so you can learn from my mistakes.

It started out with my computer being frozen by a virus.

I was on the Internet at a legitimate website when suddenly, my computer froze.  A blue screen appeared with a written and audible warning that a virus had infected my computer.  It said not to shut down or try to restart it and to call a number given for Microsoft Defender as soon as possible to remedy the matter.  Microsoft Defender seemed legitimate to me (I had forgotten that I have Windows Defender, not Microsoft Defender), so I called the number on my screen.

A friendly gentleman with an Indian accent (I’ll explain later why I mention his accent) assured me he could help me resolve this issue.  He told me he’d need access to my computer, so I allowed him to install an app called InstaViewer.  He ran several scans, which showed nothing amiss.  Then he said he needed to run one more scan of the network.  It turned out this scan showed that the IP address for my bank had been compromised.  He said it was quite possible my identity was stolen.

I was upset to hear this.  This tech person said that according to his protocol, he would need to contact my bank’s fraud department and ask them to take this case.  He placed me on hold and, after a few moments, returned to say they would take the case.  He gave me a man’s name and said this man would be my contact at the bank’s fraud department and to expect a call from him shortly.

I was called by “Ron” from the bank’s fraud department.

“Ron” also was a very friendly gentleman with an Indian accent and reassured me he would help.  He said our savings account was hacked, and my identity was likely stolen.  Two large withdrawals had been made over the weekend (this was Monday) from China for gambling and pornography.  He said the bank tried calling me to verify these withdrawals but couldn’t reach me.  Hence, they emailed me, and I authorized the withdrawals via email.  I was greatly alarmed!  Neither my husband nor I had received a telephone call from the bank, nor had I received any emails asking me to authorize these obviously fraudulent transactions.

Further, I could not see these transactions on our savings account online.  “Ron” said that was due to the transactions originating from China, and if we hurried, we might be able to counteract them.  He said the fact that the hackers were using my email made it evident that my identity had been stolen, and we had to act quickly.

I was now in a distressed state.

“Ron” told me he needed to contact the Federal Government because the transaction to our savings account was international, having been done from China.  He placed me on hold and came back shortly to say the protocol in this matter was for the “Feds” to set up an alias account at a branch of our bank in another state.  We were to immediately wire all the money in our savings account to this alias account.  This was to prevent the hackers from being able to track our money any further.  Once this was done, a new secure savings account would be opened for us, and the funds would be transferred. 

I was told this was probably an inside job.

“Ron” told me to get to the bank immediately to make this wire transfer.  He also instructed me not to say to the banker that this transfer was being done due to fraudulent activity.   “Ron” said the “Feds” suspected this was an inside job, and they were close to being able to capture the culprits.  He said if they ask why I’m making this wire transfer, just tell them it’s for business purposes.

The banker doing the wire transfer for me asked again and again if I was sure I wanted to make this transaction.  She was highly suspicious, and I was frightened by the warning that this was an inside job.  So I just told her yes, I was sure I wanted to do this.

“Ron” kept calling me for two weeks.

For two weeks following the wire transfer of our money to the alias account, “Ron” called me every day, often several times a day.  Each time it was to give me a status update on how things were going.  The transfer of our funds was held up for various reasons:  the process was very complicated; the new secure account took longer to open; the Feds were holding things up because the hackers had lodged a complaint (!).  During each call, “Ron” was sympathetic and reassured me everything would be all right.  He even transferred me to the bank’s “transaction department” to reassure me that the money was in the alias account waiting to be transferred to the new secure savings account.  But also, during these calls, “Ron” kept asking about other money we might have in IRAs or other bank accounts.  He felt we should take steps to ensure that money was secure.

I finally see the light.

After talking to several close friends and my son and daughter-in-law, the scales finally fell from my eyes, and I saw the truth.  I don’t think I was totally blind the whole time, but at some level, I was afraid to accept the reality that I had been scammed. 

I contacted the legitimate fraud department of my bank.  They confirmed that the wired money had been withdrawn from the “alias” account the day after I wired it, and the account was closed.  All our savings—quite a significant amount—was long gone.  There was nothing the bank could do for us, and even though we reported it to the police, there was very little they could do either. 

I was humiliated and ashamed.

As you read my account of what happened, you probably spotted a dozen red flags that I missed.  Missing every red flag as I did, I was left feeling humiliated and ashamed.  How could I be so stupid?

But these men were professional thieves and knew precisely how to play on my fears and emotions.  I was robbed by them as surely as if they had mugged me on the street.  The police, the people at the bank, and everyone I talked to told me it wasn’t my fault.  No need to feel guilt and shame.

Also, I mentioned the fact that both men had Indian accents.  Over the years, I’ve talked with many people with Indian accents on the phone regarding tech support or other kinds of customer support; without exception, they have always been sincerely helpful.  So, based on my experience, I trusted these two men.  It never occurred to me they were out to hurt me.

Where was God?

In my last post, “Doubt or Trust,” I wrote about the faithfulness of God and how He is entirely trustworthy.  I wrote that He will never fail you, even when things look bad, and you have doubts.

Do I still believe that?  Yes, I do!  But in my next post, I’ll tell you about my struggle—of faith and of depression—due to the aftermath of this trauma.  Please join me next Wednesday.

And I pray something like this never happens to you!  Be careful out there!!