Community

Community Scam Stories

Real experiences shared by people who have encountered scams. These stories are published with permission and reviewed by our editorial team. Names and identifying details may be changed to protect privacy.

Bank impersonationMargaret, Florida

I almost sent $3,000 to a scammer pretending to be my bank

What happened

I received a call from someone who said they were from my bank's fraud department. They knew my name, the last four digits of my card, and even mentioned a recent transaction. They said my account had been compromised and I needed to transfer my savings to a 'secure holding account' immediately. Something felt wrong, so I hung up and called the number on the back of my card. My bank confirmed it was a scam.

Warning signs

The caller created extreme urgency and told me not to tell anyone, including family. They also asked me to stay on the line while I went to the ATM.

Lesson learned

Your real bank will never ask you to transfer money to keep it safe. Always hang up and call the number on the back of your card — never the number the caller gives you.

Job scamDavid, Ohio

A job offer that seemed too good to be true — because it was

What happened

I was contacted on LinkedIn by someone offering a remote customer service role paying $45 an hour. The interview was entirely over text message and I was hired within an hour. They sent me a cheque to buy equipment and asked me to wire the remainder to a supplier. The cheque bounced a week later and I was out $800.

Warning signs

No video interview, hired immediately, asked to handle money before starting work, the company had almost no online presence.

Lesson learned

Legitimate employers never send you a cheque and ask you to wire money back. If a job offer involves handling money before you have officially started, it is almost certainly a scam.

Technical supportAnonymous, Texas

A pop-up told me my computer was infected — it was not

What happened

A loud alarm started playing on my laptop and a pop-up covered my screen saying my computer was infected with a virus and I needed to call Microsoft immediately. I called the number and the person asked for remote access to fix the problem. Fortunately my daughter walked in and recognised it as a scam before I gave them access.

Warning signs

The alarm was designed to panic me. The pop-up could not be closed easily. The 'technician' wanted remote access and payment in gift cards.

Lesson learned

Microsoft, Apple, and other technology companies will never contact you unsolicited about a virus. Close the browser tab, restart your computer, and call a trusted local technician if you are concerned.

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