04-16-2025, 02:12 AM
Interesting day today, not in a good way. I checked emails thus afternoon and saw one marked “invoice”. I opened it and saw a charge from paypal for $489.88. Now I didn’t order anything. The invoice had a phone number for customer service so I called it. An Indian voice answered and I told them I ordered nothing and to cancel the order. I was told they would but I needed to get a refund. He had me put a piece of software on my computer. I’ve had to do that before so I didn’t think it odd. Ultimately I filled out a form, I was brought to a command prompt where I was to insert my amount to refund. That I did think was odd. I was also told not to insert the full amount just $400, even odder. I did so even though I thought it odd, but the scam wouldn’t work if I had typed in the correct amount to include the cents. Now the scam started to pick up speed. The $400 instantly turned into $40,000. And I could see that the transfer had taken place. Needless to say I was surprised and wanted to get the money back to the rightful owner. Now the hook was set and I was fully in the scam. I called my bank to make sure the money was in my acc’t. It was. The scam artist told me so that neither he or I would have to pay a 21% business tax if I took it out as cash we’d skip the tax and he would tell me where to send it. But not all of it ‘cause that would raise red flags, just $10k. “So how do I get the rest back to you?”, I asked. “A little at a time, we’ll figure it out.” I was told. So I went to the bank and couldn’t find withdrawal slips. But the teller called me over and gave me one to fill out right there n front of her. No doubt they’d seen this before. At least that was my take after the dust settled. So I filled it out and she checked my ID and such. Someone I took to be security came up and asked me what was going on. The teller I had talked to over the phone also came into the conversation. I explained what was going on and was told it was a scam. What would happen in a few days or a week was that after I sent the $ the transfer would be cancelled and I’d be left holding the bag, out the $40,000 of their money and on the hook for the $10,000 I sent. It was suggested that I just leave the $ in the acc’t and it would fix itself in a few days. So I had the withdrawal slip destroyed and left. Then the scam artist kept calling my phone, so I blocked all the #s he was using. Then he started to call my land line, so I unplugged it. The I called the cops to report it. Nothing they could do except make a report but I felt I had to let them know.
FWIW, I knew I didn’t type in $40,000. But the scammer did type it in and claimed that the key stuck. Remember the software he put on my computer? So the $40,000 is sitting in my acc’t. I think I’ll keep an eye on it to see when it disappears.
Just in case, I changed passwords and I looked for the software but I had deleted it from my tray and it wasn't installed in the computer, I checked in the control panel.
What a dirtbag. Using our honesty to steal money. Lowest of the low.
Brian
FWIW, I knew I didn’t type in $40,000. But the scammer did type it in and claimed that the key stuck. Remember the software he put on my computer? So the $40,000 is sitting in my acc’t. I think I’ll keep an eye on it to see when it disappears.
Just in case, I changed passwords and I looked for the software but I had deleted it from my tray and it wasn't installed in the computer, I checked in the control panel.
What a dirtbag. Using our honesty to steal money. Lowest of the low.
Brian
