Gift Card scams on the rise.
An investigator we spoke to today said he has processed 50 of these just in the last few months, himself. And he's just one investigator for this area.
I've said before I've caught hubby before he made a final mistake with the scams a few times. Well, yesterday wasn't one of those days. We got cleaned out of everything but $100, I'm embarrassed to say. Hubby never said anything about a phone call or anything going on until nearly 5pm. They told him, specifically, NOT to put his wife on the phone. Told him that should have been big red flag number 1, but... (sigh) he missed several others thru the multiple phone calls.
They didn't get a hell of a lot of money, because we don't have much at any one time. I had been saving towards the next round of insurance bills, tho, and so that savings account got cleaned out ($1700+). And about 3/4 of our checking account. Grandson is trying to help with what he can, but he's between monthly paydays. Problem is, I'd only gotten two account billings before all this happened. Phone and the three utility companies are still to be paid before the end of the month. And of course, the cat and dog food (and our food). I'm at my wits end trying to figure out what to do and how to dig out of this mess.
The gift cards have been used already (of course), so there's nothing to be done about refunds. Company says "sorry, but..." The police were quite polite and caring towards my husband while taking the report, and I'm grateful for that, but they're no help otherwise. I don't know much about how the scam completely went down, only that they presented themselves as from the FBI. Hubby has gone inward on himself and I'm trying not to make him feel worse than he does, while instituting some changes regarding purchases, phone calls, and bank withdrawals for him to try to protect us. It's so disheartening. We were doing well enough that this weekend we were going to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary at Renfest. But to know that he's passed that point of elderhood where I have to watch nearly everything he does - in short, be his caregiver - is hard. I've cried as much about that as losing the $2000.
To top that off, my Mom had a seizure related to her congestive heart failure, and she was admitted to the hospital yesterday. Having both Mom and hubby on that elderhood spectrum and still try to keep MY marbles functioning and taking care of both is driving me nuts. Thank the gods for my cats!
Anyway, I've never done anything like this, but if anyone can spare a dime to help me make the bills this month, you have no idea how much I'd appreciate it. Grandson set up a GoFundMe, which I've never done before. I'm trying not to feel too embarrassed or ashamed that this has happened, but it's hard not to feel that way. Please... I know the blessings I have around me, despite the hardships, so I'm not begging anyone to give. I know there are times I give when I shouldn't. Please, don't be like me (gryn). But if you have a little to throw my way, I'll send you some good karma!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-for-grandparents-facing-financial-strain?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=customer&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_ft&attribution_id=sl%3Aa91b2f8c-561c-4734-96f0-bfc4b56da2db&fbclid=IwY2xjawFhlHJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWwqYqs0wTuY8jh_d4j6OQ6paex7_Bv54T5U8v5HisJ86MEC-UycJ6ivnw_aem_aT2oJRKvL4ASH36-soHADQ