From September 9, 2022 until November 11, 2022 I was the victim of hackers and scammers. A PayPal bitcoin charge was emailed to me for $499. David William, PayPal Security PPL147, told me to call the number on the back of my debit card at my bank. I was connected with the fraud investigator, Ethan Smith, at Bank of America. He told me I had been hacked, and that he would help me by securing all my money. At the time, I did not know that Mr. Smith had control of my computer and phone and all the information in my life. He would call me, and the phone would show a Bank of America identification. I found out that this is called spoofing.
These men told me that they believed the hacker was at my bank branch and I had to keep this a secret .I was also to follow all of their directions as my children and family “were at risk.” The stress exacerbated my multiple sclerosis. Over the course of two months they emptied my bank accounts and walked away with one million dollars. There were even times when they told me to place money in crypto machines to keep it secured. They even created a bank account in my name where they perpetrated what seemed to be a shell game. Of course that transaction had my IP address-it was done from my computer.
PayPal has sent me to collection as it looks like charges made and paid for with my bank account were made by me since they had my bank account information.
The police gave me a case number but refused to give me a report. I made a report to the FTC, FBI, and several other agencies including the secret service. I am embarrassed, feel utterly stupid, and spend my days crying. I have found out there was so much that I didn’t know that I should have known. I try not to go out because I still wonder if I am being followed as the hackers suggested. My service dog feels my stress and with all the paperwork and changing of passwords and trying to write notes attached to other notes, I find myself unable to focus.
In the midst of this, Hurricane Ian took my fence, my roof, and more, but the house is intact so I suppose I am luckier than others. I tried to find a lawyer who would help me pursue the banks to help them understand I was hacked and scammed, but that seems to be a dead end. The problem is that there are so many people like me who don’t know what they don’t know.
I am not looking for pity, but for any avenues I have not pursued or anyone who knows where I can find help. I am learning...I can make four meals out of one pack of hot dogs.
