I got scammed yesterday. Thankfully, they got away with nothing, the debit card has been cancelled, and my accounts are secured again, I've not come across this scam before - and I'm just happy that I spotted it and rang the bank immediately as soon as I realised. And that nothing was taken. Still, may they have a 1/100 chance of stepping on a Lego brick every time they take a step.
So, here is the anatomy of a scam. Learn from my mistakes.
1) List some things on Facebook Marketplace. I've done this hundreds of times with no issue.
My adds are fairly non-descript. Pick up from the Inner East or post at the buyer's cost. I use postage satchels. I also have the big words, PAYPAL preferred. No bank accounts, no other information given other than an email address. I've not had trouble with this before.
2) Somebody contacts you about the item. Appears legit. The intended buyer asks if this is the item. Yes, I say. And what about shipping. I explain that I'm using postage satchels and will not be able to give tracking numbers and postage until Tuesday. They get irritated by this. First red flag. Most of Australia is on a Public Holiday on Monday - but they kept on. Okay - a bit strange, but I leave it.
I must also preface this with the fact that I was in the hairdresser's chair at the time and I've not been feeling great for the last few days thanks to an ear infection. So rundown and distracted. Still, there is no excuse.
3) Next thing I know they say they've paid me through some AusPost app. I explain that I'd prefer them to use PayPal, because at least with PayPal, things are anonymous and secure and no account details are shared. They keep at me that they've paid me and tell me to look at the link. I said this wasn't how I did business, but they kept at me.
A message came up with an AusPost Banking link. Looked real on first sight. Maybe the post office had a banking app now?
I've done enough scam training. Things weren't sitting right. But stupidly, I clicked on the link and entered some details.
4) The buyer was keeping at me. I kept telling them to hold their bloody horses. I asked if they could cancel this payment and use PayPal. They were most affronted by this, saying that they'd spend all their money and if they cancelled, they wouldn't get all their money back. They also wanted postage details. I'd explained - public holiday. Post Office isn't open until Tuesday. This chick is pissing me off.
I call bullshit. What do they say about this? Create a sense of urgency? Yep. Alarm bells are ringing. My darling hairdresser keeps working on my mop.
5) Then I get a text. Somebody called Jessica Gonzalez has added their details to my ING account. They want me to clink another link and verify that I was going to put $689 into some Crypto account. What the! Shit. Scam.
Here is where my luck came in. The details they received were for a debit card which has about $50 in funds sitting on it, so they wouldn't get any funds. Secondly, without the verification number, nothing was going to be authorised - I've got secondary verification set up. I got onto the app, cancelled the card and then immediately called the bank.
And I felt like an absolute fool.
In the meantime, I let the scammer rant away at me... may as well let them think they're getting something.
6) The woman on the phone at the bank, Rebecca, was fantastic. I was also wandering around Aldi checking out crap as I was doing this. She was ordered, kind, conciliatory and very thorough. My pin numbers were changed, a new card ordered, extra security put in place, the banking app deleted, my phone checked for malware, and as for Jessica Gonzalez, her details were wiped from my contacts.
The scammer was still ranting at me to accept the payment over Messenger. I used a patient tone saying I'd get to it when I was home from running my errands. They didn't like this. Sucks to be them.
7) Once my banking was completely sorted, went back to Facebook Market place, blocked the scammer, reporting to the powers that be for what they were, and the dress went back to being available.
Phew.
Yes, hands up, I was distracted and foolish - NEVER CLICK THE LINKS. It's the first rule.
Secondly, I'm vigilant with regards to monitoring my accounts. It's done daily and it takes a few seconds. I've picked up scams on my main credit card quickly. It was also good yesterday when asked about items on the card I could say what they were and when they were - and that all of this palaver had happened in the last hour. There are people who don't see this stuff for weeks and have their accounts drained.
Thirdly, trust your instincts. If a buyer is acting pushy, going against your boundaries (I said PayPal! You don't have it - get it or find another seller to harass.) cut them off. Which in hindsight, I should have done immediately.
I'm feeling lucky. Stupid, but lucky.
Lesson learned.
And to the scammers, may the fleas of a thousand camels nestle in their pubes.
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