Curiosity is the seed of knowledge!

How I became a Prey!

by Sanman Thapa, published on 1/24/2024

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On the afternoon of Monday, January 15, 2024, I found myself immersed in the MLK Day celebrations airing on TV. As I lounged on the couch, captivated by the events unfolding across the country, our house phone rang at precisely 2:27 pm.

Ordinarily, I would have allowed the call to divert to voicemail, but fate had me positioned near the phone this time. Glancing at the caller ID, it displayed our credit card company’s name and phone number. Given that we held two cards from that Bank, my curiosity prompted me to pick up the receiver.

The caller identified himself as from the Fraud Department of our credit card company. inquired about my wife by name. I informed him she was unavailable and offered assistance, identifying myself as her husband. The caller then asked for my name and inquired if I was the authorized cardholder, questioning charges on eBay, Walmart in CA, and Starbucks.

Upon inquiring about the compromised card, the caller verified our card, he provided me the last four digits of the card numbers and said that he would file a dispute on behalf of us. To establish my identity as a non-primary cardholder, he requested my name and address, which I provided. Subsequently, he asked for the complete credit card numbers, to which I complied. He proceeded to disclose the remaining balance and upcoming minimum payments. He praised my efforts in paying off a significant portion of the balance, including the exact amount I had paid last, leading me to trust the legitimacy of the interaction.

Thereafter…everything went down…

If interested, here is a link for our phone conversation.

Upon ending the call, I eased onto the couch, my eyes locked onto the television that my wife had on. An unsettling sensation twisted in my stomach as I began to replay our conversation in my thoughts.

The realization hit me like tons of bricks—I had fallen victim to a mugging or scam. Panic surged through me, propelling me off the couch and into the office to retrieve my cell phone. Attempting to log into my bank account via the Mobile app, my password proved futile. Swiftly, I changed the password, gaining access to my checking account. Confirming my suspicions, I discovered three MoneyGram transactions totaling $2365.

My heart raced as panic set in; I frantically sought the bank’s contact number. Once connected, I reported the incident, and they took prompt action—canceling my current card, issuing a replacement, initiating a dispute, and reassuring me of a thorough investigation within 2-3 days

Moving swiftly, I accessed my other credit card account, revealing unauthorized five charges totaling $6978.16. I promptly locked the card through the mobile app and initiated a dispute—a relatively straightforward process.

Turning to my third card, I monitored the account, witnessing charges appearing on the wallet app. Before I could change the card number, over $1000 had already been charged. After replacing the card number, I reported the security breach to customer service, resulting in the locking of my account with a stipulated waiting period of at least 90 days.

I experienced a moment of panic, but my wife reassured me that I had quickly taken the necessary precautions. Despite her reassurance, that night was filled with anxiety, making it impossible for me to sleep. Resorting to melatonin, I went to bed around 11:30 pm.

However, by 2:30 am, I found myself wide awake, replaying the entire episode in my mind – berating myself for falling into such a trap. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognized the warning signs. Restless, I tossed and turned for 45 minutes until the anxiety became overwhelming.

Unable to bear it any longer, I decided to get up. It was 3:20 am when I descended to the kitchen and brewed a pot of coffee. As the coffee brewed, I hurried to my computer desk and powered it on. Fueled by panic, I began clicking through internet browsers.

In my frantic state, I initiated a Google search on how to report identity theft. Numerous results appeared, with LifeLock at the top of the list. However, scrolling a bit further, I discovered The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)IdentityTheft.gov.

The website was extremely user-friendly, guiding me through each step seamlessly. It prompted me to input essential information, including compromised credit and debit card numbers, corresponding amounts, and the actions I had already taken. Once all the details were provided, the website generated a personalized next step called: “Your Recovery Plan.“

• Contact your local motor vehicle office.
• Scan your computer for viruses and malware.
• Tell your friends that your account was hacked.
• Review your credit reports for fraud.
• Consider placing an extended fraud alter or credit freeze.
• Restore access to your account or delete the fraudulent accounts.
• Call all your compromised credit card companies and report the fraudulent activities.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.

Following FTC’s recovery plan: on the afternoon of January 16, 2024, I accessed https://dmv.ny.gov/, and the website presented me with the necessary steps to replace the license.

Upon returning home, I immediately contacted the fourth credit card fraud department to report the incident. The representative asked for specific information to establish my identity. Additionally, they required confirmation from my wife to verify that the primary cardholder was present.

After verifying all the credentials, the representative informed me, “Sir, I need to call one of your phones to verify your information. Please hang up and wait 2-3 minutes.” Subsequently, a call rang once, but I only heard a dial tone upon answering. The second attempt yielded the same result.

A suspicion crossed my mind – could the scammer have redirected all calls from our home phone? Taking immediate action, I accessed the settings of my cable, internet, and telephone provider. As anticipated, the scammer had activated the call forwarding feature, routing all calls to their phone number. Upon dialing that number, it rang a few times before redirecting to a voicemail: “This TEXT mail subscriber is not available; please leave a message after the tone.“

Acting promptly, I changed the forwarding number and disabled the call-forwarding feature. Reflecting on our earlier phone conversation, I recalled the scammer’s request to dial *and certain number, inadvertently activating the call forwarding feature, I did not realize until now.

After addressing the issue on our home phone, I questioned myself, did the scammer also activate the call-forwarding feature on my cell phone too? I dialed my cell phone from another device, and indeed, it was accurate. It explained why my phone had been silent for two days.

When I informed my wife about the scammer’s actions, she chuckled and remarked, “These individuals are becoming quite sophisticated.” It’s a crafty strategy on their part; when the actual fraud departments called our number to verify transactions, the scammers would get the calls, not us, and they could confirm and verify any transactions.

Looking back at the whole ordeal, I realized how I was easily deceived and defrauded despite considering myself a cautious nature. It’s tempting to mock others and label them as naive, gullible, or foolish, but the truth is that anyone can fall victim to fraud due to the increasing sophistication of scammers. It’s astonishing how effortlessly one can unintentionally disclose personal information such as date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, phone number, and home address, putting their entire life at risk.

In hindsight, I find myself accusing my own naivety. The frustration lingered as I reflected on allowing someone to exploit me, jeopardizing our financial stability. A wave of shame, self-blame, incompetence, and vulnerability engulfed me.

During a midnight brooding, I pondered the entire misfortune, questioning How did my solemn Martin Luther King Day transform into a nightmarish encounter with fraud? Why did I fail to recognize the signs of a scam? There were unmistakable red flags in the scammer’s phrases and statements that should have alerted me. It seems the scammer detected my vulnerability, my desperate need to protect our finances, and exploited it as a gateway to ensnare me in their deceitful web, rendering me susceptible like a hypnotized subject.

On reflection, I grappled with the realization that I overlooked these warning signs because I could not distinguish the impersonation. The caller’s ID prominently displayed our credit card’s name, creating a false sense of trust. The scammer, however, possessed detailed information about us, including our address, phone number, credit card details, and full name.

Regrettably, I join the ranks of millions who have fallen victim to such scams, and the experience of being exploited is undeniably disheartening. This scammer robbed me of sleep, dignity, pride, and a sense of security.

Conversely, this scam incident has taught me a valuable lesson. Moving forward, I will be more vigilant, closely monitoring my credit reports and scrutinizing my credit cards and bank statements. I will make it a priority to shred any unsolicited mail and exercise caution with any suspicious links.

Ensure the safety of yourself and your family by taking these factors into account: The perpetrators disregard your well-being and circumstances, operating openly and taking advantage of your compassionate nature. In the digital realm, individuals can deceive and manipulate, particularly when concealed behind screens or fake identities. Cybercrime poses a real threat, so be proactive in guarding against becoming another victim like me. Stay vigilant and safeguard your personal information.

Here are some steps you should consider taking:

• Contact the Credit Card company directly: Call the customer service number (not the number provided by the caller) to verify the call’s legitimacy and inform them about the situation. Report the incident and ask for guidance on securing your accounts.
• Monitor your accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. If you notice any suspicious activity, report it to your financial institution immediately.
• Change passwords: Change passwords for all your accounts, especially those related to banking and financial services. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Wherever possible, enable 2FA on your accounts for an extra layer of security.
• Contact your credit bureaus: Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports to prevent unauthorized access. Contact major credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Report the incident to authorities: If you believe you’ve been a victim of fraud, report the incident to your local law enforcement agency and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Educate yourself: Be aware of common phishing tactics and scams. Fraudsters often use social engineering to gain access to personal information.

Remember, if in doubt, always verify the authenticity of the call independently before providing any personal information.

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Here Are Helpful Free Resources:

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.

Visit ftc.gov/idtheft  for prevention tips and free resources to share in your community.

IDENTITY THEFT – The New York State Assembly (nyassembly.gov) provides crucial information.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website authorized by the federal government to issue free annual credit reports from the three CRAs. You may request your reports:

• Online by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com
• By calling 1-877-322-8228 (TTY: 1-800-821-7232)
• By filling out the Annual Credit Report request form and mailing it to:
  • Annual Credit Report Request Service
    PO Box 105281
    Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Note: As of 2/14/2024
I’m happy to announce that my banks have reversed and credited all the fraudulent transactions I reported and disputed. I want to express my gratitude to everyone who took the time to read my story, offer support, or share their own experiences of misfortune. I trust that my account and the insights I provided were beneficial. Wishing everyone safety and security!