I had been receiving these strange calls on my cell phone and I was curious as to who was calling from a three digit number so I finally answered. There was this foreign speaking gentleman on the other end and he told me that I had been chosen, along with 299 other people to receive 3,000 dollars. He said the government had randomly pick myself and others to receive this money.
The gentleman asked me if I had health insurance and I stated that I didn't and he offered me insurance for 19.99 a month. This sound good to me so I accepted. He then proceeded to say that I would receive a free gas card in the mail for signing up for the insurance.
I was next asked for my bank account information so that they could direct deposit the 3,000 into my account, like a fool, I gave them my information and he said I should receive the money around the first week of October.
Being young, and just having moved into my first apartment, I was excited about receiving this money because I needed so much for my new apartment.
I had said I wasn't going to share the info with my mother because I figured she would think something was wrong, but something in me said to call and share my good news with her, and BOY am I glad I did.
It was a Friday afternoon September 27 and the banks had already closed. I called her and when I shared the news with her she said Oh no&
I hope you didn't give them your bank information! And I said Yes, they need it to deposit the money. She said, "you were scamed" hang up and call the 800 number on your bank card. I called the number, they said call your bank tomorrow. I called my mother back and she said to go to the ATM and pull all my money out the account before they were able to get to it. Thank God! They hadn't been there!
Meanwhile, thirty minutes after I pulled my money out, they called my cell phone again asking for the correct spelling of my name. It was a different foreign speaking gentleman. I told him I knew he was fake and to not call me anymore and he hung up.
These people need to be caught and prosecuted to the fullest. I am fortunate that I shared this with my mother and that she was smart enough to recognize a scam when she hears one. I've learned a valuable lesson from
this. I did close my account and opened a new one at my bank. I hope these people are caught soon.
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