Have you ever been scammed or robbed online/in real life?

jeanjolie

I'm excluding any type of violent burglaries or robberies as those tend to make people more vigilant. I'm more interested in silent identity fraud/financial fraud which is so often devastating as so much gets lost yet to others and even the individual who is the greatest victim of the rime, it usually looks like nothing has happened. I'm sure you're aware of the advance fee scam by Nigerians (i.e 419 Scam) where Prince 'Obokotranny' informs you of a forgotten heritage line and the amount of money he'll share with you if only you'll send some $5,000.

Most elderly people fall for those but I'm sure the middle aged crowd have been outwitted by other types of innocuous scams by letting their guard down here or abroad. No shame in admitting it as it's better to feel embarrassed about losing money than it is to have a false sense of security when travelling with lots of cash.

So what's your story? Hopefully we can help people avoid them.

Noveight

I've never been scammed online. I did receive a phone call from a "Microsoft engineer" with a dodgy eastern accent once but I sent him packing.

Raging_Ninja

About 9 years ago there was a pretty large chip and pin skimming thing going on in Galway - people pretending to be engineers added a device to a number of POS devices to record credit card and debit card details.

One day I got a phonecall from the bank saying they were cancelling my card and to physically present myself to the bank with ID to withdraw cash.

Several thousand were affected, but while people I worked with had cash stolen from their accounts they never got around to stealing from me. Everyone would have gotten their money back though.

Stigura

The greatest rip off known to man: Andy Kelly on 'The Hunting Life' forum :mad:

tracey turnblad

My sister signed up for a free trial of cranberry tablets turned out she'd signed up for a years subscription paid for in advance

tupenny

I've been scammed but 100% my own fault, trusted some bitch from limerick that the dough was in the post (she sent pics receipts etc) and i mailed her on tix for a concert. Only worth about 40quid so no massive loss but annoying all the same
Anyway, as I said, own fault. Live and learn

ygolometsipe

drunk me, knows my pin number... I don't stand a chance against that reckless bast***

tomwaterford

This isn't an urban (rural??) Myth

But an elderly neighbour,distant relative

During when the radio etc were all on about going broke etc circa 2010,took his life savings out and someone pretending to be a gaurd called and asked him to bring out the money etc (unsure of the circumstances)

But they made off with the money leaving him heartbroken and distraught