PTSD

It wasn't that I was gullible
Yes it was
The phone woke me up on my day off
But I was actually feeling pretty good
I had my doubts when a man came on the phone with a broken English accent
But I wanted to play along
Mistake
Maybe I should have taken my morning meds
As I talked to him I went further down the rabbit hole...
16 months before my computer crashed and burned after visiting a porn site
Screen flashing like an epileptic fit with warnings of FBI involvement
No way of turning off the computer.  I bought their security system
$1,000 for a 3 year contract
Giving them full access to my computer
Over the next year they gave me dire warnings of a trojan virus
Promising more complete protection for another $1,000
I said no.  I wasn't gullible.
Yes I was
Nothing from them for months
Then a few days ago
The phone woke me up on my day off
I answered the phone
Mistake
It wasn't that I was gullible
Yes it was
Thinking I could navigate my way out of the rabbit hole
He was going to refund me my $1,000
Their company was shut down by the government because it was unsafe
They had taken out a loan from a credit card company for $3,000 because they had no money
Said I had to make an arrangement with their loan company to put $3,000 in my checking account
Then I would reimburse them the $2,000 which they would use to pay back their lender
Once again I gave them full access to my computer
It wasn't that I was gullible
Yes it was
They navigated me into my Chase account
And put $3,000 in my checking account
Then they said I needed to repay them
If I had doubts before, now it seemed legit
They wanted me to repay them with $2,000 in Apple gift cards
Made me drive to the nearest Apple store, which I couldn't find
I found Best Buy
I went in twice to pay with my credit card
It was rejected the first time and went through the second time
I gave permission every step of the way
Four $500 gift cards.  I checked the balance on each
Every step of the way in spite of warnings
Back in my car, he had me scratch off the numbers for each and read them over the phone
Drove home
Got another call from him.  He seemed frantic.
Only one of your $500 cards went through
You must get us the remaining $1,500
He made me go out to the Apple Store, which I finally found
I tried twice, but they wouldn't let the transaction go through
The man was getting frantic again.  You owe us this money
I started to pray
Then a friend called.  She could tell I was completely panicked, so I told her what was happening
She said it's a scam.  Don't answer the call.
She saved me from giving another $1,500 in gift cards
Had me drive to a Chase bank she trusted and met me there
I talked to the bank manager and he checked my online account balance
The $4,500 more I thought was in the account was not there
By taking complete control of my computer, they could pump up my balance
So now I have a $2,000 credit card bill I will have to pay
Because I approved the purchase with Best Buy and my credit card company
Filled out an FBI scam report
I remember my dad  being scammed.
The same one who sexually abused me
I am my father's son
seismic to my core
Funny how scams and abuse go hand in hand
No it isn't

Denis Streeter    8/22/19