I remembered how I was scammed a few days ago. I looked for an online job since, I have nothing to do for the time being. I joined upwork.com and freelancer.ph. After making bids and submitting proposals, someone with a username of kavyasinha contacted me in freelancer.ph and told me to email [email protected] for the typing job details.
I emailed and learned that the account was a man, Richard Taylor. He, then gave me a file of the details and showed me a sample image to be typed. He let me choose a plan for the job which was actually offline after asking where country I am from. I was supposed to choose a plan and deposit a refundable security fund before I could start to work.
The plans are (Plan P1) 25 pages/ 4 days, (Plan P2) 50 pages/ 7 days and so on. I was supposed to receive $ 5 per page and I can tell them if I want to take a break from work. Since I was new to this kind of job, I asked my friends if it's a legit job. One of them told me if I was doing a captcha-typing-kind-of-job and told me it was a bogus. Because it's not that thing, I thought it was a good deal and I paid the deposit. But I still had doubts. I even asked a fellow steemian if it's a legit thing.
So I received my job. I got 25 pages of images to be typed in 25 notepads within 4 days. If they just took off and never replied, I'd probably be sure that it was a sham. But I received the typing jobs. I was hopeful.
My other friend was also looking for a job and I suggested him the one I was working on but I told him to wait before I got my payment to make sure. Well, he didn't listen to me and the guilt was on me when I learned I was scammed. I passed the finished typing jobs before the deadline and waited for the response. I waited and waited. Emailed again and waited. I'm still waiting. But nothing.
"Shame." "What a waste." "I should've been more careful." - These words were all running through my mind since yesterday but what can I do? What's done has been done. I may never want an online or offline job ever again. "At least, now you know. Now, we know." My friend said. Now, I know. It wasn't my first time to be scammed, anyway. Well, the others aren't really that big but still it was swindling.
Once, there was an old woman who approached me asking the directions and told me to accompany her to the sakayan (the area where you can get a ride either a jeepney, a bus or a van). I went there with her and she spun a web of lies to get money from me. I knew what she was doing but I was actually hurrying and she won't let go of my hand until I gave her more. That was terrifying.
I just saw this post by Malaysian City Life about how Lim Kuan Cheng thanked an unknown honest Malaysian who returned his wallet after the latter found it leaving it at the LRT information counter. He added in his message, "Faith in humanity restored."
But, is it really?
I've been living in a world where people are fooled or fool others while some choose to trust and hope. Believing in the goodness of mankind but is there really anything left? Is there still goodness within people?
I posted my Art #7: Migi after re-watching Kiseiiju: Sei no Kakuritsu. And I'll always remember Hirokawa, the mayor. He was killed even if he's not a parasite. He left this words, though:
In comparison, humans are the true parasitic vermin infesting this planet. Or should I say, parasitic beasts?
It was the episode where the Special Force eradicated all the parasytes. They were killed without a fight. They were all helpless. People can be beasts but they're also weaklings, getting eaten by greed, power and money. Their human but not humane.
I guess, humans can be such feeble creatures, too. All I can do is pray for them. I hope I helped someone when they received my money. I pity the greedy because they can't be satisfied.
