Woman Lost Last $100 After Wiring It To Scammers Who Claimed They’d Kidnapped Her Cousin – CBS Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) — Suppose you bought a name saying a drug cartel had kidnapped your cousin – and to save lots of her, you’ll want to ship cash, instantly.
What would you do?
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It’s all truly a scary rip-off that price a Chicago lady in an enormous method. CBS 2’s Tim McNicholas unraveled what occurred.
Serving to household is second nature for Helen Presley.
“I’m a house care aide for my grandmother,” Presley mentioned.
So when she bought a name saying her cousin was kidnapped, she put her cleansing on pause at grandma’s home.
“They mentioned: ‘Don’t name anyone else. Don’t do something, as a result of in case you do, we’ll assault, sexually assault your cousin,’” Presley mentioned.
A person informed Presley to go to the closest Western Union and switch hundreds of {dollars} to somebody in Mexico, the place his supposed cartel was based mostly. However Presley solely works part-time and doesn’t have hundreds of {dollars}.
“I used to be utterly terrified,” Presley mentioned. “I didn’t know what to do moreover observe their directions, as a result of I didn’t need her harmed.”
So as an alternative, she despatched her final $100. That was cash she was saving to repair the injury to her automotive from a current storm.
She sat in that very same automotive ready for the abductors to drop her cousin off at a Walgreens. They by no means did – as a result of they by no means had her cousin within the first place.
“I waited about an hour or so earlier than I referred to as my cousin – and she or he mentioned she was high-quality,” Presley mentioned. “So I noticed it was a rip-off.”
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Then she reached out to Western Union, and realized she couldn’t get a refund.
“It’s heartbreaking, nevertheless it’s not stunning,” mentioned Teresa Murray, a shopper watchdog with the U.S. Public Curiosity Analysis Group.
McNicholas requested Murray what we might inform folks to get them to keep away from these sorts of scams.
“By no means, ever, ever pay somebody that calls you on the telephone with present playing cards, or wire switch, or Bitcoin, or something like that,” Murray mentioned.
However right here’s the place the water will get murky.
Presley mentioned the decision was so convincing as a result of when she first picked up, she thought she was speaking to her cousin. She heard a girl with an analogous voice who even knew her cousin’s title earlier than the person took the telephone.
“In addition they had my telephone quantity, so it feels prefer it was any individual that presumably knew me or knew my household,” Presley mentioned.
And that’s a thought she will’t scrub out of her thoughts.
Our knowledgeable tells us in case you get a name like that, simply cling up and name the member of the family instantly.
We requested Western Union to remark, however they by no means did.
On its web site, the cash large outlines more than 20 scams, and has a quiz that will help you keep away from such rip offs.
