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Being scammed...

Well I have just had my first experience with someone trying to scam me. It really made me mad! I have listed some furniture on Craig's list and immediately had half a dozen replies. Being so excited with all the interest probably outweighed my judgement. Luckily, counsel from friends and a knowledgeable PayPal employee prevented the worst - me loosing $950. 

I received a full price offer on some dining room furniture. The pieces are in good shape and my offer is about half of retail price so I didn't think too much about it even when they didn't want to see the furniture. This person was willing to deposit the money in my PayPal account. He informed me that he was depositing my portion plus enough to cover shipping costs/fees. So when I looked at my iPhone app for PayPal, it actually showed a pending transaction, but only for my portion. When I questioned the man on this, he informed me PayPal was holding out the amount for the shipping and as soon as I sent this same amount via Western Union to his broker, then PayPal would release the remaining funds.

Now to be truthful, I did not have a good feeling about it from the beginning, but I was wooed by dollar signs. Thankfully I listened to that small voice and called my girlfriend's husband who knows more about eBay/PayPal than anyone I know. He told me he had never heard of the scenario I was describing. I asked him if I could call PayPal and he said yes. So after getting through a lengthy automated selection, I spoke with a young man named Edward. I explained the situation and Edward states, "I understand exactly what you are saying and I am very glad you called because you are being scammed. Do not have any further contact with this person!" Even though I hadn't felt right about what I was being asked to do, I was still shocked. Edward went on to say that there was no pending transaction on my account and Western Union is a very common scam technique these people use. They get your money and you never see any of theirs.

Thanking Edward profusely, I emailed this character and stated, "I have called PayPal and there is no pending transaction. I have been told you are scamming me. Shame on you!!!!! Do not contact me any further!!!" Well he did send another email denying anything, but I quickly assigned it to my spam folder and deleted everything I had from him. Funny thing, I haven't heard another word from him. Honestly, I was disappointed. Not just with him , but also from not selling the furniture. We really are trying to downsize before this move and selling furniture will help defray costs and help pay down some debt.

That is what can happen to you over and over and over again when you allow worldly desires to outweigh godly counsel, the Holy Spirit's leading and heavenly goals. The bible has over 2600 verses on finances. Crown Financial Ministries teaches you about God's view of money and how it is to be handled. We are told "Money is a primary competitor with Christ for our affection" (Crown Lifegroup Manual, pg 10). The bible tells us "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Matt 6:24 NIV).

Through this entire scenario I was warned in many ways - the small voice inside me, my girlfriend's husband, not talking to my husband about it, and the PayPal representative. If I had chosen not to listen, then I would be no better than the man trying to scam me. Proverbs 12:1 says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." (ESV) My point, be cautious in your financial dealings, don't look to get something for nothing and always keep your motivations in check.

In His service
Mally


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