If my poor judgment can help even one person not make the same mistake(s) I made, I have no problem telling the world just how dumb I was for falling for something so stupid and probably super easy to figure out if I were using my brain. I was taken 3x in the past 6 weeks online by would-be scammers, and it cost me very little because my bank is really super good at detecting with their AI when my purchasing history seems shakey to them.
When I signed up to use Patreon a few years ago, I was taken for over $100 by a parasite, someone, or a company that hangs back and/or attaches their site to the one I was supporting. The artist I was following and supporting had zero idea it was happening, and to be honest, he thought (or still thinks) that I'm bananas because I can't support him through Patreon anymore. I tried, but it happened a second time and then again with another Patreon "influencer." I was happy to help; both were in Scotland and were 100% unaware of the dastardly deeds of the parasite. The only solution was to give up my credit card number and get another card. Well, when it happens on that site more than twice, I'm not using that site anymore.
It happened AGAIN, but this time, it was when I went to TEMU and WAYFAIR to buy items I thought were really cool. The problem is that Temu, Wayfair, and Shein apparently have third-party vendors who pay those sites to allow them to sell on their platforms. Walmart does as well; I found that out when I ordered a saddle, and a friend of mine bought her father's casket from Walmart's website. Anytime a third-party vendor is involved, they can take your card's numbers and try to gauge you later!
In early December, I went to Temu, and they charged me for something I didn't buy and never sent it. I had to cut up the card (or, as the bank says, "capture" it) and get another card. This was the 2nd time in about a month. Then...today...it happened AGAIN!! I am fed up with these people. I had NO IDEA that Wayfair was that way - but it is. I saw something on drastic sale, thought it was true, it wasn't, but because I bought it instead of them initiating the purchase or charge, my bank told me I would either have to capture the card again, or let it go - but lose the money I put in for the purchase. I'm going to go to the bank tomorrow after we get off at noon and get a new card...again. UGH!
I'm just glad the bank is willing to work with me. I know it's my money, so they have to, but still, it's a pain in the backside, and I hate putting them through it. They are super sweet, and they don't care, but I have to go back into everything I pay online and update the card numbers! It's so annoying!! I just did it 2 weeks ago! From now on, if I can't buy it at Amazon, I will not buy it. Amazon has never, not once EVER, taken my card numbers and used them against me. There were times in the past when I bought things that weren't delivered on time, but they were delivered. If I had a seller not sent something, they would have refunded my money quickly.
EBay, Etsy...not anymore. I hate that. According to my banker, I was told that using CASH APP to pay for things is safer than PayPay, but I don't use PayPal anymore either. I've twice burned there as well. People just make me sick; they really do. I'm over here trying my hardest to work and earn and be honest, but unfortunately, not everyone is that way. I can't tell anyone else what to do, but I can tell them what happened to me. They don't want it happening to them, but that's cool -- I won't ever spend another dollar at Wayfair, Shein, Temu, eBay, Etsy, or anywhere that uses a third-party vendor to ship or sell their wares. Nope!
Photo Credit: LoansCanada.com
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