Like a Dummy ! (I Fell for a Scam)

     I won't make any excuses. I do know better. If something is too good to be true, it probably is, but in my defense, I've seen these types of things in the past, and they were real.  I have been shopping online for a guitar, and I finally bought one through eBay. When you do anything online, the internet talks to itself, coming up with really cool (and not so cool) things that either match what you're looking at or are related to it. Today was no different, and yes, I fell for it. I'm a dummy.

    I was on Facebook when a post from a well-known company caught my attention - they were giving away a certain model of guitar to make room for the newer model. I thought, "OK, it's legit" because it had the logo of a well-known company, and they do sell an enormous amount of guitars worldwide. They could, if they wanted to, sell off the latest model for next to nothing and get you to send them shipping money. It wasn't beyond the pale of what could happen; except it was NOT a real offer. It was a scam.

    After thinking about it for a minute, but not verifying online, I paid the $14.87 for shipping after "qualifying," and yes, I knew that the qualifying thing was a rouse; everyone qualifies. They just need information for their books. I gave false answers because my age and household size are no one's business. The fact that I talk about it all the time is one thing,  but to answer the question on a form is another. I'm old, and I have a kid still living with me, but she's a roommate, so I can't spank her anymore.

    Five seconds after I hit the send button, my phone pings. It's the bank. They detected fraudulent activity. They called me about 4 minutes later to ask if I had made the purchase. I told the truth, yes, I had, but I didn't want it to go through if it was fraud.  The man explained that since I agreed to the purchase, it couldn't be considered fraud, but I should monitor future transactions, as they might attempt to charge it again. OK, I can do that. Then it bothered me; why had I been so dumb? I could have checked first before buying the thing. I knew better, but since it was just $14.87, I figured it was no big deal.

    Listen, if it's too good to be true, it's not real.  I don't have to get a new card, but I'm going to on Monday. I'm going to go into the bank and get a new card just in case. I don't have to, but it's better than wondering if these jerks will try to do it again a month later, two months...I'm just going to get a new card. I looked at my transactions, and the bank didn't let that one go through. That's good. I really like those people. It's actually a credit union, not a bank, but I like them. They've always had my back.

    It's really sad how other people use and abuse folks. They literally sit around and design websites and social media tactics to steal from others. You know they aren't saved. They don't have Christ, and that's the worst of it. These people may get my money - some did in the past. I have Jesus in my soul, in my heart, my mind, my life. I'm the true winner here. I will send up a prayer for these morons, hoping they can stop their corruptness long enough to listen to the truth, because it really does matter. There will come a day that each of us dies - I want them to see Jesus with a smile on His face when it's their time to die. 

    My word of wisdom for the day is "VERIFY".  Just do a quick Google search if you think something seems a little too good. I may be a good thing, it may be real, but it could also be a lie. You don't need to go through the trouble or the hassle. It's not fun. I wish I could say this is the only time this has happened to me, but it's not. I have always been a bit too trusting. I need to work on that, which is the saddest part of all.
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest.com