My Story of Internet Fraud and Scams

Yesterday I woke up feeling great. I was making headway and some of my final papers. I was preparing for graduation. I was looking for a job. I was thinking that life was pretty good. But all that was about to change, because I was about to discover that I had been the victim of Internet fraud that would leave be $4000 in debt.

When I got the email from a woman named Helen Smith saying that she would like to sublease my apartment for the full cost, I was ecstatic. I'm short on money to begin with, and after graduation I was hoping to cut my costs by finding someone to sublet. I was so excited that my judgment was probably a little clouded … well, I guess I was completely blinded. Ms. Smith informed me that she would be coming to Bloomington to attend a meeting, and that her sponsors would be funding her trip. She said that they would send me a check for $4000, and that the excess money would be to cover her travel expenses. I was to send the money via Western Union. I was a bit skeptical; it all seemed a little too good to be true. But getting my expenses covered? I was way too excited. When I received the check in the mail, I deposited it. Three days later, the check appeared to have cleared and the money was deposited into my bank account. Feeling that everything was free and clear, I then withdrew $2700 and sent it Western Union to my supposed- Ms. Smith. I was very excited that everything had come through. I paid my rent for the summer with money and even went out and bought myself a band new Trek 1000 road bike. I could hardly believe my luck … I should have been far more skeptical.