'Stupidly naive' woman falls for Telegram scam, pleads for return of her $7,000 but ends up transferring another $3,000
A woman fell for a Telegram scam and an initial "investment" of $1,000 turned into $10,000 that she can't get back.
Stomper Faith blames herself.
"I have been scammed via Telegram because I was stupidly naive," said the Stomper.
"As the invitation to invest was offered in the group where former teachers use to apply for jobs, I trusted it and was convinced into transferring cash into accounts provided by the scammer."
This was in December 2024.
"The initial amount was $1,000, which on that day itself, yielded more than $10,000 that I wanted to withdraw," recounted Faith, who was exchanging messages with someone named "Chloe".
"But I was told that I needed to put in another $6,000 in order to effect withdrawal. Full names and account numbers were provided for me to deposit into."
However, after transferring the amount as instructed, Chloe told the Stomper she had made a profit of $65,000 and needed to pay a $16,000 "profit tax" to withdraw the money.
Faith baulked as she didn't have the funds.
She messaged Chloe: "Illogical and completely absurd to urge me to keep topping up and adding more to effect withdrawal. You can keep the profits but return my $7,000, please. I need it for my hubby's medical bills. Have mercy and pity an old retiree."
The Stomper was eventually convinced to transfer another $3,000 as she desperately wanted to believe Chloe's promise to return her capital.
"To date, I have transferred a total of $10,000," said Faith.
"I was too gullible and trusting."
She contacted the banks to no avail.
"Can someone please help me? I don't want the so-called earnings anymore. I just hope to have my money back," said the Stomper, who has since made a police report.
In response to a Stomp query, the police confirmed that a report was lodged, adding that investigations are ongoing.
"Already six months have passed since I got scammed," said the Stomper.
"An officer called and told me to wait for many, many years, by which time I would be in a coffin."
Faith said the scammer is still visible and active on Telegram.
"The authorities can't do anything about this?" asked the Stomper
"She is still so convincing and actively getting results. So why are my funds not given to me, but she kept asking me to put in more and more money?"
By sharing what happened to her, Faith hopes to save potential victims from the same fate.
"I saved so hard to build my savings, yet was tricked into losing the money," she lamented.
