I fell for a task scam. I didn’t find out it was a scam until after doing everything that was required, the money that was promised, well didn’t happen because it’s a scam. You can find out more about these on Reddit, which is where I found out that I’d been scammed. Now after I found this out, I also found on Reddit supposed recovery hackers that state they can help you recover what you have already been scammed out of. I trusted Reddit, like a fool. Yes I realize that I have doubly been a complete idiot and got scammed twice.
I need to go back to how this all happened. I am in my mid-fifties and have been struggling financially, emotionally for 9 years now, since I lost my partner in late 2015. In 2022 I found myself out of work and desperately looking for work. Sadly, ageism is real and after 6 months and 60 applications (even applying to goodwill as an associate- seriously looking for anything) and still no job. I decided I needed to go back to school and try and reinvent myself in a new career. I obtained my estheticians license in late 2023, and again applying to find work, and again was struggling to get hired anywhere. So I struck out on my own. My 77 year old mother decided to help me by opening a credit card and putting me on it as an authorized user.
I had worked hard to build my own credit for many many years, but in 2022 with not being able to find work, I couldn’t keep up and my credit score went into the toilet in mere months.
Struggling to get the business up and running I have been keeping my eye out for odd jobs anywhere I could find. I saw an ad running on Instagram for a job. This turned out to be the task scam. I now see these ads everywhere, now that I know what they are and report them every time I see them. They’re in Facebook marketplace, Instagram, and I’m sure so many more.. they’re literally everywhere.
I used the cash advance on the credit card in the task scam and then the recovery scam, I used simply the credit available.
My shame has been quite overwhelming because the balance now is so great that it is affecting my mother’s credit, and she is retired living on social security.
If all of this was only affecting me, I wouldn’t be here asking. My home, which is a 20 year old motorhome I purchased last year with money I received from the sale of my apartment, which I couldn’t afford to keep. I felt it was the cheapest way I could live given my situation over the last couple of years. I purchased a thousand trails membership and with that I am able to stay a few weeks at a time, then I dry camp the time I need to be out, then start over again the cycle.
It’s not ideal but it has kept a roof over my head.
Since being scammed I have seriously considered selling the motorhome to pay off the balance and just become homeless. It’s the only thing I own of real value. I am still trying very hard to get my esthetician business off the ground and that will continue.
But what is most important to me now is fixing this debt. My mother trusted me and I feel I have let her down. One can wonder how someone can fall for these scams, but as you see here from my own admission, it happens when one is desperate. That is how they get you.
My mother isn’t angry with me, she knows how trusting I am, but this is stressing her terribly and affecting her health, which scares me. I am fortunate to still have her and I want to be here for her. Not be a burden to her and a source of shame and embarrassment.
Please. Any help anyone can do will be truly appreciated.
The scammers got about $10,000. 5k with the first task scam, and 5k with the recovery scam. If anyone needs proof, I’ve got it. I took screenshots of all the pages in the task scam, including their supposed “terms and conditions”, as well as all communication with the recovery scammer.
https://www.paypal.me/love4yourskin