'Am I going to have to work at Walmart?' fumes bank user after $900k 'ripped' from account – she'll never see cash again | 8Q1215F | 2024-04-25 19:08:01
A SENIOR feared she would have to work in Walmart after her husband lost thousands of dollars after being hoodwinked into a timeshare scam.
James, 76, was deprived of $900,000 after receiving a call from a so-called real estate firm about his property in Lake Tahoe, California.
He and his wife Nicki, 72, had retired before the money suddenly vanished.
"You know, when you work for so many years and save so you can enjoy your senior years, and then have it just ripped away from you," she told The New York Times.
It left her wondering if she would need to find work.
"Am I going to have to go work at Walmart now?" Nicki asked.
The couple forked out $8,000 on a vacation home but were willing to sell up.
They received a call from a representative offering to carry out the sale in October 2022.
James and Nicki thought the property would be bought by Mexican businessmen.
They claimed they would pay $22,000 for the home, per DailyMail.com
James first sent money that he thought was going to cover off border transactions.
He thought he would be reimbursed.
But James was then allegedly threatened with fines if he didn't pay up.
He received a call from someone claiming to be a representative from Mexico's financial intelligence unit.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> Around $900,000 was wired to the fraudsters in total.
The money was sent to several accounts in Mexico.
James borrowed around $150,000 from his daughter.
He even put his home on the market to raise the money.
James still owed more than $150,000 and was looking for ways on how to get the cash.
He even toyed with the idea of getting a second mortgage but was shut down by his kids.
<p class="article__content--intro"> As scams become more sophisticated with the use of artificial intelligence, it is important you know how to spot a scam: </p> </div> </div> James ended up regretting that he didn't listen to Nicki.
"She's p****d about the whole thing," he told DailyMail.com.
The FBI is among the law enforcement agencies that have warned about the risk of timeshare owners falling victim to such scams.
Owners should be wary if they receive a call out of the blue from someone interested in the property.
Unscrupulous scammers are known for pressuring their victims.
Timeshare owners should research the different parties involved in any deal.
The FBI encourages owners to reach out to an attorney who can advise.
"Though timeshare scams have been perpetrated for many years, the consequences on the victims remain real and serious," James Smith, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Field, said.
"When opportunities appear 'too good to be true,' it's often because they are."
FBI agents have warned that Mexican cartel members are known for impersonating sales representatives.
More >> https://ift.tt/y2FHzkA Source: MAG NEWS