I'm ashamed to admit I was scammed on the internet. Filed report with FTC this

[sinkingfeeling]

Last edited Wed Aug 23, 2023, 04:31 PM - Edit history (1)

morning.

On Aug. 12, my son sent me a text with a link to a beautiful craft storage cabinet that he saw on Instagram. I clicked the link and up popped the cabinet offer on Bed Bath and Beyond. It was discounted about 60% and I thought it was because of their declared bankruptcy. We were getting ready for a trip, so I quickly read the dozen of product reviews, picked the color and shipping method, ordered the thing, and paid with my debit card.

Later that day I got a 'funny' looking email with my order number and a button to 'view order details' and a Bed Bath and Beyond email address for contact. What was suspicious was it was sent by "Official Authenticity Guarantee". When I clicked to view the order, it went to www.christmater.com and a totally blank page. I fired off a note to the Bed Bath and Beyond email address and never received a response. About then I was extremely doubtful this was legit.

Monday, I clicked on the original link my son had sent me. This time it took me to a fake Wayfair site with the same beautiful cabinet offer. Different contact information of [e-mail]. Again Google can't find such a site. So I called the real customer service lines for Bed Bath and Beyond and Wayfair to inform them of the fraud. Wayfair sent me to the FTC to file a complaint.

I then talked to my bank. They filed a report and wanted to cancel my debit card. I asked that they not do that until I see some type of unauthorized use of it.

I feel like a fool. I'm usually so aware of fake sites. The FTC will mark it up to my age, 75. Just thought I'd warn everyone again to be careful out there.

[Quakerfriend]

1. So sorry! I too just fell for an online scam!

-Bought a dog bed on moeikr.shop using my credit card.
-Got an email verifying my purchase but, no estimated delivery date.
-Decided to look at the site again & googled it only to find
several sites reporting it as a scam.
- Notified our CC co. & they have blocked payment. 😫

I’m going to be more careful to verify the validity of every site now!

[kimbutgar]

2. I made the same mistake back in May ordering off a facebook ad for a surplus

Laptop. Lost $32 but will NEVER order from a Facebook ad ever again. If I see something I go to eBay and sometimes find the same thing discounted and I buy it there.

[badhair77]

3. Several weeks ago our local tv news warned of this scam.

I’m sorry this happened to you and I hope you can get a refund. There are scammers everywhere.

[debm55]

4. Don't use debit cards use a credit. I found this out last year when I was using my debit card and it

was used by someone in Ohio to buy almost $80 worth of goods from Victoria's Secret. I called the bank told them that as at hat time I was 67 my Victoria's Secret days were long gone. I wanted them to stop payment , but they told me they couldn't on a debit. Stop payments can only be done on credit cards. It had to be fought out between Victoria's Secret and my bank. The bank shut down my debit and got me a new one. I never use it anymore. Stop payments are only done on credit cards. Sorry this happened to you. I hope it can be fixed.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. I was in Australia last November when 3 charges showed on my debit card back in

the USA. Called and had my debit card canceled which was bad since it's also my ATM card. Always get foreign currency through ATMs rather than exchanges. My bank returned every penny of those charges. Of course, they couldn't get me a new debit card right away (took 15 days for it to arrive at home address). Thank goodness my room mate from Canada had gotten a lot of Australian dollars, so I put our dinners and admission fees on my credit card and she paid me back in Aussie cash.

My bank will question many charges and send me a text for confirmation or denial. That's the reason I asked them not to freeze the card yet.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Hope you don't have a lot in your debit card account

It could be cleaned out.

[SCantiGOP]

6. You may be making a mistake

in telling them not to freeze your card.
I would ask them not just to freeze it, but cancel it and send a new one.

[debm55]

7. My bank told me you can not freeze a debit card. But you can freeze a credit card. I never use a

debit card anymore for that reason. I was told it would take 5-6 weeks to get my money back. Actually, Victoria's Secret gave the money back. The person who used my card was never charged or caught. Which I think is a darn shame.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. See my reply #8. They just cancel the debit card immediately when unauthorized

charges appear.

[debm55]

10. Yes they did that. But the problem is getting the money back into your checking account. That may

take awhile. Some stores use it as a business loss and just give the money back.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Mine was less than 24 hours.

[PuppyBismark]

11. Never use a Debit Card

Banks just love debit cards. They cost them less to process and dramatically reduce their risk. A credit card significantly reduces the card holder’s risk as charges can be stopped immediately or refunded after an investigation.

Another risk is that a thief can drain the card holder’s account completely.

The only benefit to a debit card holder is protection against over spending your bank balance. Credit cards do have high interest rates so the card holder needs to pay in full.

All card holders should set alarms for their cards.

[debm55]

13. Agree.

[Irish_Dem]

14. I've been getting scam calls about Amazon today.

A recorded voice saying my Amazon account has been charged over $1000 for an iPhone and earbuds.
And that I must talk to their fraud department asap.

I almost went to the prompt to talk to the fraud dept.
But I thought better of it.

I found out it is a known scam and there is no such charge on my credit card.

You are not a fool, it is everywhere.
I came this close to doing the same thing you did.

[Skittles]

16. never respond to prompts or links

if you're ever unsure, always contact them yourself

[Irish_Dem]

18. Right I never do, but for some reason this sounded legit.

But I didn't hit the prompt. Thank goodness.

There have been too many warnings that companies will never call you.
They will send and email or letter if there is a problem.
And then you should call them yourself as you state.

The point is that if a cynic like me can get almost get roped in,
then how many others do fall for it.

[Skittles]

21. they are good at what they do

yes

[Irish_Dem]

22. Yes the recording sounded just like Amazon customer service.

[Skittles]

23. with AI, the scams will get even more sophisticated

yes indeed

[Irish_Dem]

24. Yes won't take long for crooks to use the new technology.

[debm55]

15. Don't feel ashamed. They are very good at what they do--being thieves. That's why we have to be

careful.

[Skittles]

17. no need to feel shamed

you're doing the right thing, reporting it and warning others

also, people of ALL AGES get conned, yup

[mitch96]

19. I almost got scammed the other week. The old "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is"

The price was great and it was not that much. When I purchased the item with my credit card it took me to a web sit asking for APPLE PAY. I don't have apple pay, just visa.
I just figured it was a mistake. Then I get an email to APPROVE my visa to pay thru Apple pay.
?wtf? I don't want Apple pay.
So I call Visa and they said there is a tentative authorization to pay Apple pay thru my Visa...
Ahhh no. The gent at Visa said the request for authorization came from China...
Ahhh no. Turns out they wanted to be an authorized secondary account holder.
Ahh no.
I cancelled the card an put a block to not allow any Apple payments thru my Visa account..
The ad and the vendor has disappeared from google..Hummm. I consider my self lucky.
m

[LisaL]

20. Why are you waiting to see unauthorized use of the card?

Makes no sense to me.
What if they drain your account? What are you waiting for?

[StoolPigeon]

25. This is important

Don't wait! The bank can get a new card to you within days.