One thing I never expected a scammer to steal from me was my confidence in my own good character.
There was a period, not so long ago that I got a message from a number claiming to have sent some money to a wrong account. She told me that she wanted to enter someone's else details, but had entered my detailed by mistake. And using my number as my opay account, she had call same number and asked me to send the money to her immediately because it was a business money she needed it urgently. I opened my account, checked my balance, checked my history but there was no new credit alert or added money to my available balance.
Still on the call and I told her, but she insisted that it has gone through and if she can share a screenshot with me through message. Then she wanted to manipulate me by saving I want to deny not receiving the money in my account. She sent the screenshot, I checked then what she said unsettled me more than the screenshot she sent.
I did not want someone I didn't know to fell I was making a false impression or being dishonest, especially over the amount she mentioned which wasn't that much and was not mine. For some seconds, the thought of proving that I was a good person started flowing through my mind than proving the story she was saying.
I dropped the call, held to my customer care section, opened the chat and log in my complaint. The person who attended to me said there was no payment from their end too and the screenshot was not enough evidence that the money has entered until I see alert, so I should not send anything to her. She called again, explained what happened then she stopped calling.
I had lost nothing financially,vsi I recovered nothing. But there was this uncomfortable situation about the whole encounter that I felt, the good man in me almost made me accept a responsibility that I did not transact and was unable to verify, simple because a stranger I did not know called, lied and accused me not to pretend I did not see money.
This type of scam has been going on for a while now which I did not know and it can be frightening. They are always direct unlike others that will promise wealth if you invest. This was so simple, ordinary abs direct that was making me feel selfish after some things she had said. What I have noticed is that most of these scammers can turn someone's wish to do the right thing into pressure to do the wrong thing quickly.
I have not lost believe in helping others. But I am much more better wiser now that I no longer confuse kindness with active before I have established and see the fact with my eyes. Sometimes, the fairest reply to give is not to rush, take a pause and be patient even when someone is waiting for you to feel guilty.
Thank you for reading.
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