A frightening thing happened to me recently! While I was trying to sign up for a book signing at a local venue I sent a DM to two people who were listed under the venue. I heard from one of them shortly thereafter.

SCAM ALERT!!!!!

Now begins the craziness! I explained that I wanted to sign up for this fair at a local place (I will not mention or defame the place). They asked for my name, address, phone number and business which I gave in order to sign up. I asked for more information about the venue, price, table and chair availability, etc. They sent along a list of prices, etc. I next asked for how to pay. They listed several options – PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, etc.

I preferred to use the first one and said so. They then sent me an address. I proceeded to go to PP and put in the address. It didn’t go through for some reason. They gave me another address with the same result, then another and one more with the negative results. Thank goodness! They requested that I put it through friends and family. That is strange too!

I questioned why they kept giving me more addresses. It didn’t make sense. They apologized and proceeded to push me to try Zelle or another form with no results. I think I had my guardian angel looking over my shoulder keeping these transactions from working! Phew! I do keep checking these places to ensure nothing went through! All clear!!

SCAMMERS EVERYWHERE!

I sent them a message of my negative results. Surprisingly they requested I go to a local store and obtain an Apple Card. This was even stranger. I mentioned I knew what went wrong with my transactions but refused to explain and said, I would get back to them later. They wanted to know what went wrong.

While this was going on I received a DM from the second person I had contacted per the venue info. This person gave me different information. I explained to them that I had already spoken with another person about this same thing and the info they gave me was different. The second person wanted to know what the information was. I sent a copy of what the first person sent me for prices, etc. The second person said it was a scam. I thanked them and left. I was fearful of signing up with this other person with the same results!

The next day I contacted the venue but no one was there, just a recording to call a person about the fair, which I did. I had to leave a message with the hope that they would call me back. I am waiting to hear from them and will let you know what transpired. I probably won’t be going to this fair since my husband is still upset about the whole thing. He doesn’t want me to go online anymore to find venues to enter. Sigh! He may be right. My BP has risen over the past couple of days – not a good thing!

BEWARE OF SCAMMERS!

Now I am waiting to hear from the venue so that they will know there is a scam going on about their fair. I don’t want others to suffer the same experience that I did.

I have been scammed before a few years ago while I was paying a bill online with a caller to an internet company when someone else came on the line and took our payment. Well, this person who took the payment was a scammer, we found out later. Our bank, thankfully, stopped the payment and cancelled our credit card! Phew!

Another time, many years ago, someone tried to file for taxes under my name. I took care of that quickly by reporting to my bank, police dept., and tax adviser. That will not happen again! Fingers crossed!

Please be aware that there are scammers out there who are clever in many ways. They latch onto venues like this and divert unsuspecting people to their site to pay. Be watchful and alert to any strange requests.

These people do have my name, address, phone number and business name. I’m sure they will be looking me up to find other ways to scam me in the future. I will be watchful and leery of everything.

It’s a sad world we live in when we have to be careful of everything we say and do or who we correspond with for things like this. I feel vulnerable and frightened now to do anything.

On a happy note I put this butterfly here to cheer me up and hopefully you too! I definitely had an angel watching over me – maybe it was Branyrd! Thank you, God, whoever you sent to watch over this naive person who can’t imagine people doing such evil, selfish things.

Thank you for listening to my tirade. You can imagine how I feel – vulnerable and ashamed that I was so gullible. Sigh! Come back again for the results of my call. I hope they call me soon. I am on tenterhooks and will soon be biting my nails (which I never do)!

I will go exercise now to expel all this stress and anger and then relax and work on my WIP. That always takes my mind off of such things like this. Take care, stay vigilant, my friends.

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!

Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

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