I've been scammed!!!!!!! Before it was too late and saw the previously planted red flags I lost $200 in Zelle payments to someone impersonating a real You-Tube channel host. I filed a...

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Before it was too late and saw the previously planted red flags I lost $200 in Zelle payments to someone impersonating a real You-Tube channel host. I filed a complaint with my bank, who says there's almost no chance of getting it back (but are investigating) and put a fraud watch on my credit report. Some of you may be thinking "Geez, I lose $200 every time I go to Vegas," but to me, that's 80% of a paycheck in my job working at a school bus company. I feel more like I got robbed at gunpoint. I thought only old people fell for scams....oh, wait...I'll be 60 in June, so am old (haha, though not really). I'd only used Zelle once before about 7 years ago to send some money to my dad. Apparently, it's either not traceable or at least not secure. I feel like an idiot.

anotherview Loc: California

Thanks for telling us about your experience with a scammer.

planepics wrote:

Before it was too late and saw the previously plan... (show quote)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If it wasn't easy to get scammed, the word wouldn't exist.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

It should be reported to You Tube at the very least.

BebuLamar

You want to give 80% of your paycheck to a youtube channel host?

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

BebuLamar wrote:

You want to give 80% of your paycheck to a youtube channel host?

No, I didn't WANT to give 80% of my paycheck to a You-Tube host. I got hoodwinked by an imposter, not the real you-Tube host. It's a long story, but I thought I had won something expensive and needed to pay for shipping, which got increasingly pricier. After it was too late, I became suspicious and wouldn't send him any more money and by that time his/her texts became more rude and unprofessional. Hindsight is always 20/20. The syntax they used and misspelled words were something I probably should have noticed right away, but AT THE TIME it seemed legitimate.

jerold222 Loc: Southern Minnesota

Youtube impersonator scams are running rampant. Apparently youtube does next to nothing about it.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Don't feel too bad... We all get hoodwinked very easily now days. I fell for a post this morning on FB general feed ( BTW, WHERE were the fact checkers ), about all the view being fired by Musk. Egg on my face and had to do some deletions from embarrassment.

BebuLamar

planepics wrote:

No, I didn't WANT to give 80% of my paycheck to a ... (show quote)

Oh I see that you thought a real youtube host award you something but want you to pay for shipping? OK.
Well when someone gives you something but wants you to pay for shipping it's fishy already.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

planepics wrote:

Before it was too late and saw the previously plan... (show quote)

Bummer!!
The safest way to send money is a direct bank to bank transfer or a wire transfer by going directly to, Say Western Union office.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

I am always receiving notices that I have won something or have qualified for something. One thing I have noticed every time is their inability to write correct English. The only response I give is to delete the notice. I don't respond to anything from someone I don't know. I'm 82 and can't afford to send money for anything. I don't even respond to pleas to send money to save Christians that are being killed all over the world or to feed starving Jews in Israel.

BebuLamar

It's different if an UHH has something and want to throw it away but you want it so you pay for the shipping. But if someone no matter who want to give a gift but doesn't want to pay for shipping that makes no sense.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Zelle is OWNED by the banks (my bank, Bank of America, is a major owner, I found out)! I lost money to a "seller" and since the only requirement to accept money is an email address, the money is untraceable. The bank will tell you that there is nothing they can do - and yet they keep promoting it! I foolishly assumed that since my bank was promoting it that it was safe. They need to stop it. That will probably take a class-action lawsuit.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

BebuLamar wrote:

It's different if an UHH has something and want to throw it away but you want it so you pay for the shipping. But if someone no matter who want to give a gift but doesn't want to pay for shipping that makes no sense.

Like I said, hindsight is 20/20. At least I didn't lose my whole retirement savings. There are always articles in my AARP magazine about people who've lost 10s of thousands of dollars or more in love letter schemes, a relative is sick or in trouble with the law, etc., etc. I guess maybe it's what Dave Ramsey calls a "stupid" tax.

PS when I was investigating after the fact, I found that this app, "Telegram" which probably 100K or multiples have downloaded and used was invented (or headquartered) in Cambodia based on their telephone #. I IM'ed them from Facebook, but found out that it was 1:45 in the morning over there. Nobody has responded yet. I wrote You-Tube a message this morning on their "help" section. Hopefully someone will get the message.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

sb wrote:

Zelle is OWNED by the banks (my bank, Bank of America, is a major owner, I found out)! I lost money to a "seller" and since the only requirement to accept money is an email address, the money is untraceable. The bank will tell you that there is nothing they can do - and yet they keep promoting it! I foolishly assumed that since my bank was promoting it that it was safe. They need to stop it. That will probably take a class-action lawsuit.

And then the only winners will be the lawyers!!!