Hi! Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Unfortunately, it’s that time of year, seasons change, holidays, and the scams seem to come out of the wood work a little more. I had 2 attempts within the past 1 1/2 weeks. Just horrid!! Please be aware, and take your time doing anything with purchasing and offers made to you.
My first incident happened when a woman contacted me about an item I had shown with my blog on Facebook. She asked if still available, showed a picture, and then I confirmed with her which items, and their availability’s. Things moving along, corresponding, gives me an address to calculate shipping cost, and so on. She then asked if I take Venmo, or Zelle. I confirmed Venmo, and gave her total with shipping to send. She notifies me it was sent, and have I gotten notice. I check Venmo, didn’t see anything for money sent, money pending, or anything. I then check for an email, and there was something from Venmo. Customer is contacting me also. Did I read it, did I understand it, etc. Had to deal with not having a business account, and receiving money from business to personal. I was being asked to send $300 to the customer, send proof to Venmo money was sent, and then I would get the $300 back along with the $32 for a total of $332. Could she trust me to send the $300, and I would send it back? After going through some things the money was actually sent through PayPal. Copy of transaction sent. Then…I get a notice from Venmo copy received, dealing with business account that I was going to need to send $400 for a certificate verification. I would then receive $732 total. Course I have a customer pushing me a little more because she’s out all this money till I pay it all back. Yes! I was very nervous, very worried, and all of a sudden feeling sick to my stomach. So, in between correspondence with the customer I started to google this kind of issue, and I was also sending copies of the emails to Venmo explaining what had happened.
I found incidents on Google and Reddit with stories matching very close to what I was dealing with. At the end of all of it they had said how you have no fees, or deposits you will pay with Venmo,, Zelle, PayPal, and different payment platforms used. So, I am finally responding to an excited customer being a little pushy about paying. I told her I did not have that kind of money. I had researched this issue, and I was seeing reports of it being a scam. Course, she wanted to know who was saying something like that. She proceeded about me paying, and during all of this reminding me she is a Christian woman, she quoted a passage, and I am being accused of stealing from her. I told her that actually I was the only one with verification money was issued, I was stolen from, wanted my money back, and then sent her copies of things from the internet search, and copies fromVenmo response that the emails were not theirs, were fake, and told her she was scamming me, and I wanted my money back. She blocked me at Messenger, and I lost all contact with her. I did report all the information I had about her with names, emails, address, and so on with Venmo and PayPal.
Unfortunately, a week later I had another inquiry about a sale, availability, shipping cost with their address, and so on. Things all said, and done he asked for my PayPal information to send me money. He told me he sent it, to watch PayPal, and let me know when it was received. Few hours later…because I had appointments all morning…I contacted him about no notice received for money. He responded asking if I got the notice from PayPal regarding the business account, and it looked like there was a fee in order for me to receive all of the money with what he was being charged, and the deposit I would pay. Could I be trusted that he pays the fee, and I would reimburse him that cost. I responded with LOL!!! You are a scam, and that you should make your money honestly instead of stealing from those who work for a living. Darn!! He blocked me right away with messenger too.
After all of this, me putting notices out on Facebook about this particular scam, I came across a question from someone in 1 of the groups I follow. She was not sure, something didn’t seem right, she was questioning things, and wanted to know if anyone else thought maybe she was being scammed. Almost same issues as what I dealt with. Yes, I shared things with her and for others to also see what was happening. Scammers have been busy because quite a few others had stories to share of attempts they had dealt with themselves, or a few of them losing money.
So, again I am sharing what I know, and reminding others that it’s bad with the holidays approaching for us. Please, be aware of things, watch what you do, if you are uncomfortable…question it. Follow your instincts, and check things before you give any money. There is no harm in doing that, and people should not get upset about it. Well, if they are being questioned, or caught with their scam I’m sure they will get a little moody, and get upset. To bad for them. Better to be safe than sorry. We work for our money, and stealing money from others is a horrible way to make money.
Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I hope I could help you a little with being a little more careful during this time. Take care everyone, and be safe!
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