WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED - How I got my Money Back
97NOW WHAT TO DO
I was scammed a few times. That is why I am writing this Hub Page. I hope I can help or save someone before they get into it too deep.
I was like everyone else that is out there looking for that get rich fast scheme. I have tried a few and failed each time. But I have also learned a lot of what not to do. You can get your money back! Go on read.
- When you think you have found a good deal make sure you research them first. Google them, bbb.org, there are also scam sites
- Save all the emails between you and them. Do not sign anything they may send in the mail until you have gone through the trial period and know for sure it will work.
- Keep a record of dates and phone calls. Ask for the name and write it down
- Print the page that has all the legal agreements and offer expires. They will come in handy.
I was almost scammed for $5,000. There was a period of 3 days for you to think it over and if you decided it was not for you then you call and cancel. When I tried to call and cancel of course I could not get a hold of anyone. I did leave a message on the voice mail and told them I was calling to cancel and it is in the allotted time period. This went on for a few days. Finally i called and said I was turning them into Better Business Bureau. He called me back said it was all cleared up I was canceled.
Well, when we got our credit card bill there it was, they charged us $5,000 plus the charge of a web page ($39.95) we were suppose to be using. My husband and I were going crazy. We did not know what to do. We didn't have $5,000 and we could not afford it added to our credit card.
Since being scammed before I had done a lot of reading of forums and scambusters web pages. I knew to keep records of everything . To print the legal agreement, warranties and guarantees. Take names and phone numbers to the people I spoke to. Document everything.
Your credit card company will be glad to help you. The fraud dept. doesn't like these scumbag scammers either. When I called my credit card carrier they hooked me up to the fraud dept. They were very good to me and helped me get out of that mess.They brought up about the allotted time in which I had to cancel but I had done it in time and that was because I printed off the legal agreement and saw I had the 3 days. I had all the phone numbers. names and dates I talked to these people documented and was able to give the info to the fraud dept. I NEVER signed my name to anything either.
It took a few months but the credit card company with the fraud dept got it cleared up. So don't just give in to these scumbags and let them have your money because you may think there is nothing you can do or you might feel embarrassed. I am proof $5,000 worth that you can get your money back. No need to feel embarrassed it happens to a lot of people.
JUST DON'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!!
PLEASE PEOPLE ....... IF IT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE....RUN THE OTHER WAY!!!!!!!
BBB BUSTED
- Better Business Bureau Busted
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MARKETING SCAMS
- HAVE YOU BEEN SCAMED?
Beware of online and infomercial swindles for making money from home. Especially, if they promise you will earn thousands of dollars monthly; they are rarely factual. I give examples of some of the unscrupulous programs, which can quickly empty your
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PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT SO I CAN VISIT YOUR HUBLoading...
I'm glad you wrote about this. I've almost caught myeself falling for a couple of scams. But I went to Ripoffreport.com & looked em up. Lo & behold, a long list of treachery! Glad you got your money back.
Pat writes: over the past 2 weeks I have received more than 1 email every day that supposedly is from a bank or building society The text is the same each time, and is asking me to update my personal details. It's a trick to get information about my real bank account. Beware.
Thank you for your comments and info
Thank you for the information. You havew help more than you know.
Thank you for sharing your story. I think this happens to a lot more people, but they are too embarassed to tell.
This could be true Donna.
Thank you Jill. It is good to know I helped someone. That is why I told my story.
Thank you for the information and sharing your story. I am sure this will come in handy.
Thanks for the great tips
Great advice! I've been scammed by those whose offers were not as good as they claimed (ahem... stores online....). I am now working on paying off a debt because I took out a loan for their "AMAZING (NOT)" offer. I couldn't get the support I needed and everything I asked about was going to cost me "extra". I figured out later that I could do all they claimed to do on my own with less effort, less money, and without the horrible headache.
I wish I'd been more cautious and I'll be sure to follow your advice in the future!
SEO, thank you for stopping by. I wrote this hub to help people.
lovely, thank you for stopping by
I too had been scammed. i wish i had read this first.I also like the links, for work at home jobs. I will rate up
Gail, thank you so much for your comment. Sorry to hear that. It happens to the best of us.
I have also seen a scam where cashiers are fudging your receipt so it says you want money back when using your debit card. It says on your receipt that you asked for cash back then they pocket the extra money. It is wise o check your receipts after each purchase before leaving the store!
thank you Kelly for the tip!
great info. I did not know the one about calling yoour credit card holder and putting a stop on the payments and further payments. Great job granny
Glad to help Shirley.
I don't know how these guys sleep at night. Thanks for the information.
Five thousand smacker-renos? Wow, I bet you learned your lesson! Man, those predatory a-holes wanted to draw some blood, didn't they? Thanks for the warning. Later!
Kosmo, thanks for stopping by. Yeah it was bad
lighting, thank you for your comment. It was hard to find away out of it. That is why I wrote What to do if you've been scammed. I did not know the credit card companies will help you.
Thanks Granny's House, because we were losing our home (there are so many snakes out there feeding off people who are trying to prevent losing their home) This guy was speaking to my husband and wanting $1500, and then more later- I told my husband he was lying- so I went to BBB and there the company was with complaints against them stealing $3,500- so my husband gave them an ear full- haven't heard from them again. Great Hub Granny's House, thank you for sharing-
You are so lucky you checked this guy out before you gave him money
Important hub. It does not feel good to be made a fool of. I know this well. People can try to regain some of their power by following this information.
2besure, I sure hope what to do if you've been scammed will help people. That is why I did it. Thank you so much for stopping by.
Tina
Good post. Another tip: tell other people about your experience (such as on HubPages or an online scam site) so they don't have a chance to prey on more people!
Good stuff Granny's House. I do a lot of this stuff all the time too. James
MMG, thanks for the comment and stopping by.
Ok get this i was scammed for over 100,000 by what is called the "Nigerian 419 AFF". I am in big financial trouble! Talking about getting screwed.
itjustlife!
wOW, YOU CAN GET HELP. dON'T GIVE UP AND LOSE ALL THAT MONEY
Great hub! I never believe anything like that online. It sounds too good to be true. Thank you. Good job!
tim, thank you for the great comment.
Good work! The problem with the internet is it allows scammers to hide behind fake addresses and names. I always use an extremely low limit card to limit the damage in all transactions. That really helps reduce your headaches if you are scammed. Afterall, with a low limit (500 bucks) card, they can't charge up 5 K in the first place.
Thank you for this info. I’ve bookmarked this – will have to read it a few times to get it settled in my brain – in order to protect myself from spammers automatically.
penny, thank you for your added tips. That is what I was hoping for when writting this hub.
Martie, I am hoping for people's ideas and tips so this hub can save others from being scammed.
Good stuff. Thanks for sharing!
I am lucky enough to have not fallen for a scam but I have been very close.
I recently found out about the Ashmax system through a friend and I've started doing that.
Have a look www.thinkandgrowrich.ws it has worked for my friends its quite a new system but it works with companies that have been around for years.
Thank you so much for sharing this hub since I am a newbee and hubs such as this one are priceless.I am bbokmarking this one into 'My most useful hubs.'
Im have only just comw accross you on here and I am looking forward to reading more of your work.
Take care Granny's House.
Hilda Warner from blak girl publishing is a despicable human being she scammed me out of my money knowing I'm a twenty year old homeless girl.
very informative hub..I'm glad you got back your money. I really don't think I could handle being scammed out of $5,000. I was scammed $149.50 and it was such a painful experience. I have to work very hard for my money so there was no way I was going to let them get away with this. I was relentless in my pursuit to have my money refunded to me, I wasn't going to take no for an answer. I did get back my money but this is something I would never like to experience ever again. You gave some very good advice if followed should help or prevent others from becomming victims...again very informative.
barby, so sorry to hear what happened. That is why I did this hub. I hope it will help. Thank you for sharing your story with us
I was just scammed out of around 5,000 dollars or maybe more when it's said and done. I feel so stupid!!! I hope the people who did this get caught. I always thought I was too smart to get conned, but I see now it can happen to anyone. Not sure where to turn for help.
fatty, call your credit card company fraud dept. They will stop payment
Very good hub here with your personal details. I think sometimes we tend to get scammed because we are 'too nice' and hence also too trusting. Sometimes we need to get stiff when we begin to suspicion something is not right!
Thanks for sharing your story.
just curious to know if you have ever heard of dating site scams. where you meet someone on the dating site, and later he tells you he is being sent to Africa, and weeks after being in Africa, gets sick and needs money?
Please any help would be greatly appricated. This guy has gotten me for over 6,000. Plus he was supposed to fly here to be with me four times now, and four times now has had some problem or another as to why he always misses the plane leaving Africa.
tracy, do not send him anything else. I don't think you can get your money bach though
can i still get my money back from a scam if it was paid western union? god i feel stupid
Try calling the attorney general
Very good information and I so hope people will take it to heart and use it. With this tough economy, scams are on the rise. Articles like this can help people put a stop to it :)
nell79, nice to meet you and thank you for commenting. I hope What to do if you have been scammed will help save someone from these scumbags
It's good to hear that you fought back and won, hooray for you! Though I can't help but to think about all the people that get frustrated and get to the point to where they feel that they have no more options available to them, then finally just give up. I'm sure these scammers are counting on that and probably are getting rich off these people(victims). It's so refreshing to hear your story and I'm sure people in this situation will gain strength and be encouraged by your Hub. Thanks for sharing your story.
Becky, the best thing you and everyone that reads this to do is pass it around and share it. Hopefully it will help someone
Thank you for taking the time to comment
Granny's House THANKS for your such a valuable information!
I'm also their Victim , it was Bizzy Baby Talent agency ,and now i'm trying to help other parents, if you do not mind i'll leave my link here so others can read What kind of agency it is and how they collect $$$ from parent!From my side i'll post your link on my wall.
Thank you:
Hub URL:
http://hubpages.com/hub/BizzyBabyzTalentAgencySCAM
Short Hub URL:
I received an email for a job, didn't suspect anything really. They sent me a check for $1500.00 I took it to the bank it was drawn on asked the guy to check it out. He said it was all good so I cashed it because I didn't want to deposit it into my personal account(another bank). I did what was asked, ordered the software, sent the money to get registered and today I received a letter from the bank check was drawn on saying check no good, Refer to Maker. Now they want me to repay them the money which of course I don't have since I did what was requested and I have been unemployed for quite awhile. How can I handle this matter and why doesn't the bank go to the company if someone is forging their checks?
Stupid, you need to go to your district attorney or attorney general in your state and see what can be done. They will direct you to what to do. It was a scam! Do NOt send them anything. Report them. If the bank says the check is ok, oh well, they said it was and cashed it.Also, it came in the mail, it could count as some sort of mail fraud.
PLEASE from now on PEOPLE IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.... DO NOT TRUST IT. RUN AWAY......
Wow... I did a lot of research into Bizzy baby talent and all I found were good reviews as well so when I got the call from Steven Hall I was super excited...Well, a couple months, no emails and 145$ later I finally find this site. It is a total scam feel so stupid for falling for it. has anyone found any way to get recourse?
brandy, you will have to do a search on Google to see what others are doing.You can also go to
http://hubpages.com/hub/BizzyBabyzTalentAgencySCAM
Look there to see if she has the info you need. Good luck
I have been scammed by 1MRS Trading. I payed for a high quality second hand clothes and they sent me the lowest quality used clothes existing. Merchandise, transportation, customs clearance and other expenses cost me more than $11000 USD. I was promised the Cream1-st and Cream2-nd quality, the managing director of 1mrs trading Michael Kurland is a scammer, he refuses to admit what he has done. He refuses to compensate my loss. Can anyone tell me what to do? my email: achiko_achiko@hotmail.com
Ugh I so dumb!! I fell for a scam and lost $1300 ... i know it may not seem like alot to some people but im a single mom of 2 so every dollar counts. I am so mad and hope I get my money back. I've already contacted an attorney.
Diana, do not give up. They should not get away with it
kethy, do not answer it. It sounds like a scam. NEVER give anyone your personal info in an email unless you know them well
Esther Sicard is wanted by the Nassau police. This girl tried to get a publishing deal with blakgirl
publishing.com which she could not afford. Her scamming begins with "I'm a 21 year old homeless girl." She is a liar! She refuse to get a job in order to have a place to live. She created a voodoo book called "Angels In Haiti", calling it a "children book". In actuality this is a book based on Haitian voodoo definitions, not suitable for children (and i can prove this). She signed a publishing contract and then she canceled the contract after the project got started. No one stole money from her. The Nassau police has a file with her picture in the precinct. She is known to travel with her mother and cousin,from Queens to New Jersey. What happened between Esther Sicard and blakgirl publishing.com is that she got beat at her own scam. Her intent was to have her book published by blakgirl publishing.com so that she could later go to court after the books were printed stating that blakgirl publishing.com ruin her book so that she could sue the company. The police knows about this girl. The project was originally $1700.00. Because this girl said that she could "not afford" the cost of the project, she was only charged $750. Had The project went through, blakgirl publishing.com would have had to put its' own money into the project to have the books printed. This is how much Hilda tried to help this girl. She has harassed Hilda to the extent that the Nassau Police put a device on the business phone and heard the disgusting remarks and threats that she made toward Hilda. Esther if you read this all that I can tell you is to please take a business course and learn business laws and ethics. And stop trying to make everyone believe that you were scammed, and stop crying. You made your bed hard now lay in it. I know, how about getting a 9 to 5 so people like me and others who really work for a living don't have to pay for your public assistance. And thanks for the publicity you have given blakgirl publishing.com. There is no such thing as bad publicity. blakgirl publishing.com is doing quite well.
Hilda, thank you for the warning. I am going to leave Esters comment so that others reading this will know what is going on.
Tina
I was scamed for all the cash from my SSDI check and more. over 1100.00 please help me.
James,you have to get in touch with the SSDI and your District Attorneys office
I hope you find help there
I found a place that helped me a lot. Client First LLC. They have a site at Clients R First and they did not charge until they got me my money!!! Well worth checking out!!!
Thank you for posting this info. I will look into it
It's always a gfood idea to read everything before you just dive into something. It is best to print and have everything from a company when you decide to buy from them. It's kind of like an insurance policy. When you have the companies words on paper documented it's a lot easier to fight any scam they are trying to run on you. Great tips thanks for sharing.
News, the best thing you can tell people, if it looks or sounds to good, run the other way!
who do you call if you cannot get your money back?
Jan, If you have used all resources to try and get your money back and it did not work, I guess you are screwed and need to learn from it.
Tina
hi i am glad you got your 5000 back.
iv just been scammed out of 4000 dollers today i feel so stupid i seen a jeep on gumtree and emailed the guy he said he was in perth at the moment and would be back in 5 days so he said if i wanted to buy it he would go through ebay to sort it out and he emailed and said he would put it up to buy now so he emailed me a link to ebay everything was the same as the ebay page and we got emails back and everything was fine he then said to put the money into western union and put it to me that ebay was like a middle man well i only realised when i got an email saying dear and my full name not my ebay name that it was a scam i now feel so stupid that i wasnt more careful and didnt realise that ebay only doses pay pal he told me it was ebay protection to go the way he said i feel sick 4000 dollers how stupid i was anyways i then called ebay and they had no idea what i was talking about but they say this is happening alot lately like hello tell people or do something try do something about it she was useless to me aswell i have gone to the local police station and he told me to print everything i had which was all emails i then went back to the police and he just took the western union number and i left with all the emails and he told me to look at the link he sent and i said is that all you can do and he said yes i then just walked out very annoyed i have never dealed with a member of the police that was so rude and unhelpful any of the members of the police i have dealed with for differant things before have always been happy and very helpful i have send a report to gum tree and ebay about the scam and rang victoria police and send an online report and they gave me a number to call tommorrow they are alot more helpful i now realise i will prob never get the money back but i want them caught as far as i know u have to give id in western union so there is a start and surely there is cctv im hoping the police will look into this but i would just like to know if you have any advice for me I know that the police have a lot more things to deal with before this so i want to know if there is other people to help i dont want this to happen to anyone else the jeep is still on gum tree and over 500 people have vist the page i hope noone else falls for it.
thanks anything will help
Clair, so sorry it is buyer beware. You NEVER send anyone cash! Unless it is a close family member. There is no way to put a stop on cash or track it. That person may use a fake or stolen ID to pick the money up.
You said you let Gum Tree know and they should have taken the ad down
someone please HELP. how do i get my money back from a bad school? I am still waiting for a externship, but nothing is happening. I owe 8,000 of tuition back, this school is a mess. I have no job in what i am studying nor extern
I was just scammed out of $450 just 2 days ago threw a real estate/western union scam..
Anyone who is looking a apartment be aware of anyone asking you to send your deposit threw western Union even if they say they can get the money because you use a friends name instead of the "landlord". Its a nightmare. I Lost the money which he should have never been given access to since I did NOT put the money in his name, and now he wont stop harassing me for more money $1500 to be exact!
i was just scammed out of 700 dollars thru a western union rental scam...funny thing is i AM Nigerian and my dad currently lives there....i saved the reciept and emails...but ironically the guy called me and is still playing along saying hes gonna send me the keys....am i screwed??? ill probably never see that money again huh...
I think we have all been scammed once or twice. Glad to know you got your problem resolved successfully!
I would like to know if you were ever able to look into the company Clients r First LLC that was mentioned on your blog six months ago. Probably mentioned by the person running the company not an actual client. I have contacted them about recovering money but am not sure if they are a scam. Please help if you can with any information
Hi i read what happen to you now Im in the same spot and i feel like Im going crazy i have noclue on what to do please
e mail so i could tell you more my e mail is Sarath2kou@gmail please contact me
I've been victimized by a 'Secret Shopper' scam. JMK Mercantile, Inc. a supposed company out of Tacoma, WA,sent me a bad check, which I stupidly cashed, and now I'm out $2000.+ I had a bad feeling, I did try to investigate, but couldn't find anything on the company. I needed the money, so I decided to take a chance and got stung.
I am the person who posted the comment. My email address - achiko_achiko@hotmail(dot)com
This issue has been resolved
I have no more complaint about the matter
The managing director has payed his duties fully
I ask you to erase the comment
If you have questions you can contact me on me email:
achiko_achiko@hotmail.com
achiko_achiko AT hotmail dot com
just like fran54-i got scammed on a secret shopper deal. 2500$ worth. i too also needed the money and didn't stop to think about the scam possibility. My credit union informed me this morning that i now owe them that money back. I had just under 100$ in my account to pay my car payment-now i have nothing until this gets paid back. I am a mother of two and i am surviving on the child support my ex sends me. I have been unemployed since august, but i am to start a new job after the first of the year. i do feel so dumb and so frustrated! i am already late on my rent and other bills-i don't know how i am going to survive this set back. i really need help in getting this straightened out!! but all i get is tips on how to avoid the situation.
DONT EVER SIGN UP FOR GIRLS DATE FOR FREE ALL SCAMERS AND WEB SITE GIRLS LOOKING TO MAKE A BUCK DANCING IN THE RAW FOUND A GIRL SAID NEW YORK BUT ENDED UP IN U.K.TOOK ME FOR A LOT OF MONEY IN THE THOUSANDS WHAT A FOOL I WAS BUT SHE\HE WAS VERY CONVINCING STAY AWAY WARNING SHOULD BE CALLED GIRLS SCAM FOR FREE
I went to a monster truck show last week. I entered in a ballot for a door prize. They called me back and said I won a 10 day trip to Florida and the Bahamas. They then said that if I paid $298 for 2 ppl, I could take 2 ppl for free. I didnt realize it at that time that I had been scammed. I went on the internet after I got off the phone to see the resort they gave me, but it didn't exists. Instead I found a website with people talking about the exact same vacation deal, and even the same guy that called me. I didn't know weather to be mad or ashamed. I know I will NEVER put my name in any drawing ever again.
My Husband a vietnem veteran and i got scamed this last month by an online payday service that sold our information overseas. Who hit our account several times before noticeing.We tried to stop it they changed names and hit again. Finally our bank closed our account!This hit us hard,I have learned my lesson on any online stuff.
hi, granny's house, i had gone to a modelling agency in uk- Hurlingham studios and i was asked to pay 300 pounds to put together a portfolio. i put down 50% as deposit on the day of the photoshoot- this was on the 7th of March. i called 2 weeks later, (becos i was told it would be ready then) and was told i would be contacted if my portfolio was ready. ive not heard from them till date. i intend calling them next month though.
i just read that fake agencies ask for payment to compile portfolios. thats what they did
i want to ask, is it possible- and how do- i get my money back and cancel the portfolio, cos im beginning to doubt their genuinity.
pls reply to oseadene@yahoo.com
thank you
If you have been ripped off or scammed and lost money, contact CLIENTRFIRST.COM They can help, NO CHARGE unless they get your money!
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today i received sms said that i won 900000 pound and their send me an email, i had a financial hardship at this moment so i thought it tru so i gave them my real name date of birth phone number address and what i do for living. There asking me pay $1200 before their can release the prize. and after their ask me pay for the legal fees, i think something wrong here. i will not pay them any money, am so stupid but lucky i didnt give them my bank detail but their got all my detail, am so worry dont know what to do if anyone who been in this kind situation please help me, cause my whole families is very worry inclouding my boy. please help i will thankful all sugesstion pleas
I think I am being scammed! Paypal have recd extra money from someone purchasing a horse from me and the lady wants me to send it to Nigeria! This I will not do as if genuine she could have used any number of English transport companies. Paypal have refused to refund the money to her even though I believe it to be fraud and feel unable to progress with the risks involved. The money has not been put into my account as I have refused to confirm the transaction because of my worries. I just dont know what to do! Can anyone advise, please.
Great tips. You are so lucky that you got your money back. Useful and voted up!
I feel so dumb and embarrassed. Got babysitting scammed!!! So upset. I'm a college student and I thought this was legit. Never again. Lost 2,000$$$.
Dolores Monet Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
Glad that you got your money back. It's amazing the tricks these people come up with. I don't think I'd recognize a scam if one came up and hit me over the head. Thanks for sharing.