What I tell everyone about this scam now

When friends joke that "only idiots fall for scams," I tell them what happened to me—calm, specific, minimal drama. Shame keeps scams profitable; stories chip away at that.

I lost money to a fake employer who mailed a cheque and asked for "software refunds." I explain the timing, the PDF letterhead, and why my bank briefly cleared funds before reversing. People listen when the beats are concrete.

Speaking up after victimisation feels like advocacy. I do not debate victim-blaming line by line; I share red flags—upfront fees, overpayment tricks, secrecy rules—that anyone can recognise.

The first times I spoke, my voice shook. It gets easier when I focus on mechanics instead of self-attack.

A coworker froze mid-wire at a branch because she remembered my story. That pause repaid something money never could.

Some people still smirk; I leave those conversations without defending my dignity to strangers.

I frame it plainly: humans under stress decide fast, and scams engineer stress. I wish I had heard that before I paid.

• Your story protects someone—tell it without turning yourself into the punchline.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.