How To Not Fall Into The Scammers God-awful B.S. When You Hear These Magic Words.

Summary

The website content provides a personal narrative warning against various financial scams and offers advice on how to recognize and avoid them.

Abstract

The article, authored by Jo Ann Harris, recounts her personal experiences with different types of scams, including Facebook messages offering government grants, fake checks for "Mystery Shopper" jobs, and Publisher's Clearinghouse scams. Harris emphasizes the importance of skepticism when encountering offers that seem too good to be true, such as unsolicited government grants or unexpected windfalls. She advises readers to be cautious of requests to cash checks and send money to multiple places, unsolicited contact from long-lost acquaintances, and to verify the legitimacy of offers through research and consultation with authorities like the U.S. Postal Inspector. Harris's story serves as a cautionary tale to prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.

Opinions

The author believes that scammers exploit human vulnerabilities by promising too-good-to-be-true opportunities.
Harris is critical of the persistence and deceitfulness of scammers, highlighting their willingness to impersonate long-lost friends and legitimate organizations.
She expresses concern over the potential consequences of falling for scams, including financial loss and legal trouble.
The author advocates for personal vigilance and proactive measures, such as reporting scams to the appropriate authorities.
Harris suggests that anyone can be susceptible to scams, especially when under stress or in a vulnerable mental state.

It happens all the time! They don’t think people have become more aware of them.

They just trick you by pushing your “needy” buttons. Don’t fall for it. If it is too good to be true; it probably is.

I got hit up just this morning on Facebook. Someone D.M.ed me at 6:15 a.m. Suspicious! Nobody in their right mind, my age, would do that. And I had not heard from this person in over 50 years. She asked some innocuous questions then . . .

“Have you heard the good news?”

I said, “No, probably not, what?”

She said the government is giving away $100,000 to people that apply. I thought, yeah, sure! She commenced to say, “If you follow this link and talk to this agent, he can get you started.” She sent a photo of the agent and his link. I thought, “Naw, ain’t doin’ that!” And I broke the connection and unfriended her. I saw later, randomly, that this person had sent at least six more requests. I finally muted him/her/it.

A similar thing happened a few years ago about signing up for a grant. The person that messaged me said the UPS man was standing on her doorstep right now handing her a check. I was curious but did not follow through on that.

Another time, I was living in Florida and had signed up for “Mystery Shopper” because I was looking for some kind of work. The next thing I know I received a FedEx package with a check for over $3,000 and a letter giving me directions on what I needed to do next. I checked it out and researched the bank it was drawn on, etc. and it all looked legitimate, but it wasn’t. I even took it to the bank and had them make sure it was legitimate before I deposited it.They thought it was a good check.

Being the fool, I am, I decided to deposit it. It bounced or was returned, of course, and the bank threatened to close my account. The letter I received said I should cash it and send the money immediately, via UPS, to three different places. That’s what felt strange. I never got any money and if I had followed their directions I would have been out more than $3,000 and left hanging.

Another example of their deceit was when I received some mail from Publisher’s Clearinghouse and opened it as usual because they send entries to their lotteries. This time I received a check for $7,000 and it said it was to cover legal fees on my winnings which I would receive soon. I was to deposit it after calling a specific phone number to give my winning number. I called the phone number but it said something like “there was trouble with this number.” I couldn’t get through. After I did that they would send me what I won.

I was disappointed. I showed my son. He looked it up and found that it was a scam as well.

I told PCH about it and they replied that they don’t do that. They said I should report it to the police, or BBB, or Postal Inspector which I did. Nothing came of it. But the phone number doesn’t work so maybe.

Why me? Last December, I received messages from people I hadn’t spoken to in at least seven years. I wonder what all that was about? I sent them a “hello” and “glad to hear from you”, but that was all. I assume, it really wasn’t the person IRL (in real life).

The “magic” words are: Cash this check immediately and deposit the money here, here, and here. Also, “handing me a check, right now” or “click this link and apply.” No-no-no-no thanks. It’s quite sad the lengths they will go to to get your personal information. Don’t fall for any of it. Report it to the U.S. Postal Inspector if you receive this type of thing. I was caught the first time because of pressure and my mental state of stress at the time. Don’t let it happen to you.

A friend of mine was telling me about a lady who did fall for a scam and she ended up in jail, not the fraudsters. This could happen to anybody.

It’s so frustrating the lengths these criminals will go to to get money and your identity.

Jo Ann Harris is an author, parent, book devotee, writer, copywriter, and film fanatic. She is an autodidact who learns about everything and rows her own boat. She grew up and worked in Atlanta, Georgia and lived there for sixty years. She writes articles about love, hope, personal life stories, advice and poems. She is a published author with an article in Woman’s World magazine in October 2017.