20 Comments
User's avatar
A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

YIKES!!!!

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Believe me, I yelled that!

Natalie Aguirre's avatar

Sorry that part of this is based on your experience. I hope you got it all straightened out.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

It’s sorted. I only have a few more gray hairs. :-)

Richbee's avatar

Death and taxes. Life hits.

Hardly a day goes by. Stolen ID. Watch stops.

You just want to wind up and pitch fork someone aloft

into Hell's half acre.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Yes. There has to be a special niche in Hell for the scammers! Thanks for reading and commenting. Greatly appreciated.

Richbee's avatar

Dante’s Inferno has added a new bolgi domain for just that purpose.

Olga Godim's avatar

That is so sad, that some people would do that. Thank goodness, I don't have any millions.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Really rotten people, indeed. We're all vulnerable to hacking these days. I don't have millions, but I'd like to choose what I spend money on.

Janet Alcorn's avatar

Great piece! Please tell me there’s a part 2.

Rebecca Douglass's avatar

Everyone's nightmare! Though I think she'd have a case to hold the bank liable for the theft.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Evidently, the bank puts withdrawals into a holding place. That’s why you see “withdrawals pending” on your statement. If you catch a fraudulent transaction within 24 hours, that money goes right back to your account. I check my account almost daily. Takes a couple of minutes and puts my mind at ease. Also, the bank is monitoring that account. There are some protections for consumers, but you have to be vigilant.

Rebecca Douglass's avatar

However... when someone stole my bike, I wrote a story about a bike thief discovering the saddle was actually a demon. With teeth. It was very comforting!

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

I’m imagining that saddle and the unprepared rider! You have a very scary side to you, Rebecca! Great for a writer.

Jeff's avatar

I have had my debit card compromised three times over the past two some years. It's always frightening, but has always worked out after a spell of high blood pressure and a racing heart rate. Good writing.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

It’s the anxiety and the feeling of vulnerability that are the worst. Well, that and not having the funds to cover your bills. I think of myself as a pacifist, but being scammed peeled all of that philosophy back and revealed my more primal nature. Thanks again for engaging with me here. Always appreciate your visits.

Steve Elliott's avatar

Visions of Johanna killing someone!!! Great story that had me queasily checking my account.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

I now do that daily. Also, I’ve switched to bill pay or Zelle to pay bills. It has been an adjustment, but I feel more modern now. :-)