Calvin wanted to know how much money I currently had in my bank accounts. I told him that I had two — checking and savings — with a combined balance of a little over $80,000. (…) His voice took on a more urgent tone. “You must have worked very hard to save all that money,” he said. “Do not share your bank-account information with anyone. I am going to help you keep your money safe.” He said that he would transfer me to his colleague at the CIA who was the lead investigator on my case
🤦
On a Tuesday evening this past October, I put $50,000 in cash in a shoe box, taped it shut as instructed, and carried it to the sidewalk in front of my apartment, my phone clasped to my ear.
I’m sorry, but this type of scam has been reported on for enough time that you’re a fucking moron for falling for it. How much time can pass between scams becoming what should be common knowledge and people still getting suckered without reading about them? I’m exagerating, but this is like falling for the Nigerean prince emails at this point.
The man on the phone knew my home address, my Social Security number, the names of my family members, and that my 2-year-old son was playing in our living room
idk - when somebody knows all your personal information, says they’re monitoring you and is actively telling you that you and your family are in danger - being rational is very difficult - it may not seem that way in hindsight but everyone thinks only a moron falls for scams until you’re the one that gets suckered
I read that self-laceration is typical; half of victims blame themselves for being gullible, and most experience serious anxiety, depression, or other stress-related health problems afterward. I heard about victim support groups. I went to therapy.
“Everyone was so patronizing,” she told me. “The response was basically ‘It’s your fault that this happened.’”
Also yeah blaming victims sure is helpful…
