The online scam that almost ruined my life.
This is not one of the success articles you normally want to see. But I felt someone needs to hear about a scam that can literally cost you your freedom so I am going to share my story.
About a year ago I decided to start finding part-time employment online as my career of 10 years at an Insurance company had ended. My department was being replaced and a different position was offered that I just wasn't interested in. I decided to pursue schooling in the medical field as a nurse. Even though I am older than high school students, I always wanted to help people in some way. But I still needed to earn a living so why not try the internet at home while attending school. Others do it why can't I?
I came across a few websites that offered to pay you for taking surveys. I thought this was easy enough. So I began doing them every day every spare minute I had. I must of done thousands of them. Then I realized a month had gone by and there was no talk of when I actually was going to get paid. There wasn't even a place on the site to show how much I had earned. I figured I was wasting my time so I stopped doing the surveys and proceeded to see how else I can work online.
A few weeks later I received a Federal Express envelope in the mail with a letter thanking me for doing the surveys and a check for a little over $1000!! I could not believe it. It stated on the letter they had many other opportunities for me. We then started emailing back and forth. I thought to myself, " I hit the internet jackpot of working from home and getting paid". Boy was I wrong. It was actually the beginning of a nightmare.
I took the check and deposited it in my bank. It cleared about 3 days later and I paid my bills. Approximately 1 month later, there was a police officer at my door asking me to come with him for questioning on a bad check. I immediately knew it must be that check because I didn't any other checks. I brought the letter and envelope with me to show where I got it from. At this point I was confused as to why the bank hadn't contacted me first and why would they clear the check? I was very confused but very confident the officer would see I was scammed.
After giving my story the officer then told me I was being charged with felony fraud. I just about died right there. I never had a criminal record and felt my life was over. I couldn't believe this was happening, how was this even possible? I didn't actually go to jail, he was nice about that. I got a ticket and court date to come back. I was assigned a court appointed lawyer who told me I should of never been charged. I went thru so much just trying to wait for court dates. My lawyer wasn't moving as fast as I needed him to. I was scared and I couldn't to obtain any employment while a criminal charge was all pending. There goes my nursing school plans out the door!
Finally, after 8 months of investigating and finding out this scam had been done to thousands of people trying to get their bank info, a judge decided I was wrongfully charged and dismissed the charges. I felt it was only right to pay the money back as it seemed like dirty money anyway. The charges are actually going to be expunged from my record like it never happened! God was with me!
I was so afraid to go anywhere near the internet. Once I started to come back online, I somehow seen an advertisement about affiliate marketing. I dug into and wanted to give it a try. I honestly don't know how I got an email about Wealthy Affiliate. I think I even emailed back asking if this was a scam. LOL. It took me to research WA for about a month before I would even go onto this website. Once on I was still skeptical. Since it was free to join I went ahead and within a month in a half I upgraded to premium.
I have been thru so many heartaches and tragedies , that I think it's a breathe of fresh air to be a part of an honest, helpful, online community as Wealthy affiliates.
I'm on my 3rd month here at WA, no I haven't earned one cent of cash yet, but I have learned so many tools to help me start my online success that is worth more than what I bargained for. If your stressed and want to give up and think the grass is greener on the other side of Wealthy affiliates, think again because you might run into something out there that will ruin your life! I did end up geting my NYS License for Certified Nurse Assistant too!
Recent Comments
174
Wow! I am so sorry this happened to you,but I am glad it brought you here! The very best to you!
Karin
Hi, Dawn, you will be so pleased that is behind you time to move on, and you have definitely landed in a scam free zone here in WA,
All the best and thank you for the reminder.
Hello Dawn, I'm very sorry to hear about what happened to you and I am really surprised that it went so far, that seems wrong in itself! I'm very pleased that everything has ended well, you are now on the road to success.
Enjoy your day.
Roy
Good to know all ended well...
and that it is all behind you now
Thank you for sharing. Great warning!
oh wow, what a story - that's so horrible:(
But I'm glad you made it here. This place really does work, if you follow the training. That really is the key, but it's so hard to do - it really is.
xx
Thank you for sharing this incredible and awful story...but with a happy ending that you are now with us on WA. At least you found an authentic platform and you are amongst friends.
Congratulations on your NYS Certified Nurse Assistant too!
Wishing you happiness and success on the journey,
Colette and Philip
Thank you so much! Yes happy ending. I really enjoy it here at WA. I am slowly learning the how tos of this business but I sure know a ton more than when i started 3 months ago! I love the nursing too I am doing homecare right now, so i have alot of spare time to go thru the training here and I can't believe how helpful everyone here is! Seriously there is someone always ready, willing and able to give an answer! great success wishes to you also !!
Thank you for sharing that experience. Glad to hear that you got out of it. May success here help to make that a distant memory.
It was a tough decision to share but people need to be careful out there! I thought I was pretty smart but I got scammed. I am glad its over and Thank you for the encouraging words ! This is def a distant memory.
My gosh that is a nightmare of a story. I am glad you came through it all and we have the pleasure of your company. I have been scammed several times but never had to go through a scenario like you had to. I wish you all the best here at WA.
Being scammed is the worst feeling ever! I'm so glad you had only minor scams! Thank you for the best wishes i wish you well too!!
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The law is supposed to protect the innocent, not to harm and to scare them to death. The people who are running the juridical system are abusing it for their own benefit. Little has changed since the middle ages. We will find freedom and peace, good luck and all the best.