I need a hug…

Big hug to you xx

I have never experienced a time when scams have been so rampant. They come at us from computers, phones and door knockers.

You must forgive yourself.

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Again, thank you all.

Hi Secondwind

I was also scammed shortly before Xmas. It is awful and humiliating. I didn't want to talk about it either. Close family going on about how they would not get caught like that. Sending you hugs. It gets better but hurts to think about it.

A hug from me too - it is horrible to have these things happen, and it does make you feel upset, foolish and all sorts of negative emotions. This is because you are human, decent and honest, unlike the scammers. I so hope you feel much better soon. x

Secondwind

I really appreciate all your kind words and advice - thank you.
Germanshepherdsmum I began the process and opened an account, but got stuck in a loop. I’ve since learned that you can ring them, so I must pick up the threads. Thank you.

Please do pick up the threads.
My daughter was scammed …. Stupidly answered a text but realised immediately and phoned her bank. Then the scammers phoned her again pretending to be her bank and when she rang the bank to check of course the scammers were still on the line and she lost a few thousand pounds.
She went through the usual channels but her bank and the receiving bank both said they hadn’t been negligent because “they warned people about scams”.
She finally went to the Financial Ombudsman and was fully refunded because there was absolutely no way she could have known that the second call wasn’t from her bank - she phoned the bank to check but the scammers were still there.
They are thieves and this is theft. Turn every stone possible to get your money back.

Empathising with others doesn’t always come easy. When my Mother had just died and I met friends, I had people immediately launching into great detail into how their Mother had died, rather than saying AW.
Empathising is walking in someone else’s shoes, not telling them your story. But at the same time, I think you were a bit hard on your friend as she failed to give you what you needed.

Here is another hug from me. At some point, all will fall for something, scam, “free” deal, too good to be true. Lesson is learned and is not repeated. When it comes to money, don’t trust anyone unless you are standing in their institution face to face. Read all the fine print before making any decision.

A hug from me hoping you're feeling a little calmer about your dreadful experience. I get the feeling that it's only a matter of time before we are all tricked one way or another by the very clever scammers if we're not super alert.

(((HUG)))

A late hug from me. You poor thing. Awful for you to go through that. 🥰💐

A hug to you
I know how it feels, it happened to me too
Don’t be hard on yourself, scammers are so sophisticated
I hope something can be done to get your money back

I think you are very brave coming forward with your story. Most people would withdraw in shame. This is becoming more prevalent- scammers are becoming more savvy and creative in dealing with their suspects. And many do walk right into that trap.

I believe you will be rewarded for your pain, and your willingness to share what happened to you and how you’ve been dealing with it. May not be able to recover $, but it was a lesson learned. Hold your head high and know you can be of help to others - in what to look out for and avoid the trap.

We’ve all been I situations where we’re feeling sorry for ourselves and need lots of hugs. Sending one across the pond.
Cheers!
USA Gundy

Sending you big hugs. It’s so nice to be able to get it off your chest on GN. We can distance ourselves if need be,yet we can share problems.Hope everyone has helped you to get your
confidence back. Deep breathe, shoulders back and get on with your life.These scammers are evil.We are all vulnerable.x

Hug and cuddles it’s not your fault we regularly get one saying it’s wor with Nat West looks so realistic but Nat West never heard of them Reported it to which

Hugs from me too.

I was nearly scammed tonight so a warning from me too that they try and say they are family and need an urgent bill paying.

I had a long post prepared but lost it. GRRRR

So this is a quick heads up to all. Watch out for the same.
Tomoro I will report it. I just tried 2 tel numbers and an online report but gave up on them all.

Thank you all for your responses. They are very much appreciated.
With regard to my friend’s response - yes, I did tell her that I’d have to ring her back as I simply couldn’t cope with the conversation at the time. I told her that I’d ring her next week, which I shall.
It’s a hard lesson and these criminals are so callous with no regard to the consequences of their actions at all.
I hope all of you who have been scammed yourself or know someone who has been scammed have been able move forward in some way, as I am beginning to do.

Don’t blame yourself! I thought I was pretty savvy and suspicious but I nearly nearly fell for a WhatsApp scam purporting to be from my son. I got almost as far as transferring money but then I contacted my son direct who said it wasn’t from him. I had a lucky escape but I felt vulnerable and bad for months afterwards.

So very sorry for how you're feeling. It could so easily happen to any of us as these scams get more and more sophisticated with new ones emerging all the time. Like others have said you're friend was probably trying to be helpful/sympathetic but you certainly didn't need to hear about how she'd avoided scams etc. Do try hard not to beat yourself up about this, easy to say I know and difficult to do but we all make mistakes.Hope you are soon able to feel a little better about all of this.

Hug from me too ... try not to eat yourself up with it ... sure lots of people have been ... people to blame the scammers not you ... so clever & convincing ... chin up ... think positive ... tomorrow a new day ... God bless ...

Big hug from me xx

Many thousands of people like you have been scammed. The scammers are getting better and better at it which is why it worked. It's horrible but the shock will pass with time. You need some sort of a treat or something to distract you from it. Try to stop thoughts about it repeating in your head and then the 'groove' in your brain will fill up again if that makes any sense! Big Hug from me too!

A big hug and flowers from me 🤗💐

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

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