I need a hug…

That was meant to say don’t feel silly

As previous posters have said, please don't beat yourself up. These horrible people are so very convincing. A MASSIVE HUG from me.

Hug from me. I know exactly how you feel regarding not wanting to talk about it / go into detail. A good friend would respect those boundaries and allow you the space to reflect, then to talk about it in the future should you wish. IMO you didn’t need to apologise to your ‘friend’ - it should be the other way round.

Gosh - thank you all for the very supportive replies! They really do help. I never went on line yesterday as I was on a train, in the floods, with the train crawling along so the driver could inspect the track. But that would be another thread…

Thank you all again

🤗 Hug from me! It’s horrible to think that you’ve been duped! Remember there is nothing wrong in trusting people and having a loving heart, but these days we do have to be wary!

A massive squidgy hug from me too. Scammers are Professional A..eh…s I’m afraid, so clever in how they operate
I think that your friend was trying to help and show empathy, although was rather clumsy

Absolutely agree with flixuk

((Hug))

Scammers are evil predators. It sounds like your friend meant well.

A hug from me.

A hug from me. I too was always absolutely certain it would never happen to me… then it did. Can’t believe it still that I transferred a couple of grand over to who I thought was my daughter but wasn’t. When I think about the whole thing there were about four occasions I should have realised what was happening but didn’t.
Luckily I did at last cotton on and rang my bank and was able to stop the payment going through but that was more good luck than good management. My bank, First Direct, were amazing and very helpful and totally non- judgemental. The person I spoke to advised me that there were literally hundreds of people getting caught out every day and that’s just one bank!
Don’t be embarrassed and don’t beat yourself up or you’ve let the scammers win. I hope you aren’t seriously out of pocket from the whole thing but if so let that be your only loss and just hold your head up high. You’re only one of thousands unfortunately xx

I can really relate to this first of all I also was a victim of a scam. I never thought I would be but it happened. It was such that I could not tell anyone not family, no one. I’ve kept it a secret and absorbed the loss of money. I was even blackmailed off by what they would do if I told anyone.. It can happen to anyone given the right circumstances. I am sending you the biggest hug.

Hugs from me too Secondwind. The same happened to me last September. I too was so worried and mortified, thinking no-one would scam me, but they did. I don’t know how but thankfully my bank rectified the fault and refunded me the money, even though it went into my ISA(!) account. They refunded the international charge in December. I have counted myself very fortunate but increasingly wary!

Hi I'm sorry you got scammed - it's easy to be convinced when you're a trusting person. My mum has been scammed a few times by very convincing people. The lengths scammers will go to is shameful. You got caught out. It's not your fault - don't blame yourself. Try to put it down as experience and carry on with your life. Your 'friend' sounds like she knows it all, but she doesn't know how to be a good friend for a start. Take care and move on, there's lots of good in the World too. 🤗🤗

Yes, they are clever and completely heartless. I was scammed a while ago and felt totally embarrassed by the whole thing, just wanted the ground to swallow me up.
As said above, hold your head high and don't let them win by making you scared - it's not a club anyone wants to join but there are very many of us.

Sending a big hug and wishing you nothing but the best going forward

Huge Hug coming your way

We are all vulnerable to this - you are not alone

x

A big hug from me!

Sorry just saw this a great big hug from, I love a hug makes you feel safe 🤗

Big hugs. I t can happen to anyone these scams. A friend who is a FA. Financial Adviser was scammed so it’s not your fault x x

Big hug ❤️ You must fell awful,it’s just like someone broke into your house,your personal space,it makes you feel you can’t trust anyone———-it is not your fault it just shows you are a lovely trusting person.It is really unbelievable how many people are sitting plotting how to steal other peoples money all over the world.Another hug.

Your friend sounds both tactless and, possibly, pruriently curious too.

Big hugs and don’t beat yourself up.

I was scammed last year by a builder who wanted ‘money upfront to buy materials’. My husband, a few weeks ago was seconds away from signing away our life savings and, though he realised in time, it took weeks to re establish our savings and update our cards.

We are not naive people and know about scammers. They are wily and have hearts of stone.

Hugs. Hang in there.

A big hug from me too. But I also think your friend needs a big hug off you. You confided in her , but when she tried to be there for you, you cut her dead. How many on here have added their " it happened to me " or " I know someone " stories, which is just want your friend did.
I truly hope it is mostly your pride and confidence that has been dented and not your finances. It is truly a terrible thing to happen to anyone, I know.
Give yourself time. When you are ready, meet up with your friend and share the details. She may be able to help emotionally if not practically. She must be a special friend for you to have chosen her.

And a big hug from me too - we all need one sometimes and it’s a horrible feeling. Hope 2023 brings you better luck going forward. Take care x

Thanks to all Grans who have admitted being taken in, or nearly taken in, by these rapacious scammers.
For those of us who have (so far) escaped, it's been a wake-up call to be ever more vigilant