Month: May 2024

I got scammed: 5 telltale signs it is a scam (that I missed)

I got scammed thrice and the biggest amount was in 2020 that amounted to PhP 12,500.00 ($250). I repeat, THRICE! The first one was PhP 8000 ($160) but not really a scam but an insurance I was forced to get while the other one was an online purchase of PhP 3250 ($65) but I got it back so not too painful for the other two.

So, here’s my most heartbreaking scam story. The scammer introduced herself as Jo Ann. These scammers steal identities of real good people so be careful on that part when accusing someone.

1. The offer is too good to be true.

I wanted a Samsung Note which was being sold for PhP25-30K ($500-600) second hand at that time. I have been buying from this website (OLX now Carousell) for so long even online and was never scammed that when I saw this posting of this phone at PhP12.5K, I was like…OMG! I found a good deal, I would save half the price! And it was too good to be true but I gave in!

    2. They will try to build your trust.

    I texted the seller shown on the screenshot. She told me she was studying medicine in the one of the most prestigious universities for medical students in the Philippine. She used kind words and even added me on Facebook. I saw that she has 2000 friends and had been to several medical missions and there she gained my trust. She even sent me IMEI of the phone and it was searchable!

    3. They do not want to do a meet up.

    But, the amount was too big for me not to do a meet up. So, I asked her if we can meet even at her place if she was too busy. But, she said she was on a medical mission far away and the phone was with her so she will just ship it. And, because she gained my full trust already, I said yes. At this point I still didn’t have any clue that this was a scam.

    4. It uses urgency tactic.

    I was so happy I found a good deal for the phone of my dreams. The scammer messaged me that she was packing the phone already but would want to get the payment first. She told me that the medical mission would move to another island with no connection nor a shipping courier so she said if I can send the payment. Of course, it was a very good deal I couldn’t afford to lose so I gave in again to the urgency. She sent me the details where I would send the money. And a photo of the shipping label on the “box of the phone”. And that was the beginning of a mistake. I sent the money — PhP 12,500! Half of my one month’s salary!

    5. You will be blocked after the transaction.

    I sent the money and then she told me she will ship it immediately. I was so happy and looking forward to that parcel that never came. The next day, I messaged her asking if she already sent the package and she never replied and I couldn’t access her Facebook account which apparently because I got blocked. And, it dawned me, I got scammed.

    Our family was financially struggling at that time and I cried for a month for being so stupid. I couldn’t talk about it and I just let myself feel what I was supposed to feel.

    If you are going through this, I am telling you, it will be ok soon. You may feel dumb at that moment and it is completely normal. You are not dumb, you just got blinded. And in time, your heart will heal and the universe will give you double if not triple of what you lost. And I hope that the lesson you learned from this experience will make you wiser and not fall again into the scam trap.

    Forgive yourself. This is out of your control now. Focus on what you have control over with.

    These days, there’s a lot of scamming technique I am just witnessing from other people like:

    • pretending your bank is calling you to access your details, never give your bank details especially the three digit number at the back of your card.
    • text message that you won and you have to click the link to give your details.
    • a message that your parcel was stuck in one of the places and the only way to get it moving is for you to pay a small amount using your card and therefore allowing scammers to get your bank details.

    Bottom-line, do not give your bank and personal details on the phone or a link sent by an unknown number. As much as possible if you are buying an expensive stuff, do a meet up and go with someone during that meet up.

    Being intentional: defining the changes you want to make

    If you will go through the posts I made in the past months you’ll see at least 2 of day 1 of XX. Like, I really wanted to create good habits for my future self and the future generation but I keep failing. It took me a year to create the Duolingo habit and that’s one for the books. One thing I realized that keeps me going back to the old habit is not being intentional and forgetting my intents when things become difficult. Because I do not remember my intents, I just let my flight instinct kicked in and escape the things I needed to do.

    Today, I wanted to define the intents of my long overdue good habits that my present self have been long imagining that my future will thank me. Generally, the intent was to build a good routine that will unleash the potential I have in me but I needed to be more specific.

    To have a healthy body:

    • exercise for 10 mins in the morning
    • shower everyday
    • intense exercise at least once a week
    • avoid sweets
    • avoid oily and salty food
    • avoid highly-processed food
    • sleep for 7-8 hours everyday

    *ask yourself:

    before 5pm everyday, have I exercised or showered today?

    each Friday, have I done any intense exercise this week?

    before buying or taking that food in your mouth, is this very sweet, salty, oily or highly-processed? If yes, say NO to it FIRMLY.

    To have a healthy mind:

    • meditate everyday for 5 minutes first thing in the morning
    • focus work for straight four hours – remove distractions
    • read a full journal article everyday
    • read non-academic book for 15minutes everyday
    • meditate for 5 minutes before going to sleep

    *ask yourself:

    before scrolling mindlessly in the morning, have you done meditation?

    what is keeping me distracted?

    should I protect this work hours?

    have I read a journal article today?

    did I use any of my 15 minutes to read something not related to acads?

    before going to sleep, have I meditated?

    To have a healthy work-life balance:

    • work with intention, attention and focus for at least 40hrs a week
    • talk to family and friends at least 2-3x a week
    • give yourself a mindful rest on one of the weekends not thinking of anything
    • if you work your best, treat yourself on a vacation without feeling guilty

    *ask yourself:

    today, have I worked at least 8hrs intently with my full attention and focus?

    this week, have I talked to a friend? my bf? or family?

    what am I thinking while I am resting?

    did you do your best for this month/s?

    You are free to use this template. Write your answers everyday on a physical paper to remind you of these habits that you are trying to create.