Scams Are Everywhere

Three times in the past, I felt slightly irritated by One Local Bank employees asking me to sign statements that would assure the Bank that I was not being cheated out of my money by some shady characters. After reading about all kinds of financial schemes, I was able to understand the Bank’s actions. Still, I felt slightly apprehensive about being treated as a person without a full grasp of her faculties. After all, I am an intelligent, educated, and experienced woman who avoided any phone or mail scams. Well, my latest experiences forced me to challenge that assumption. I realized that when confronted with “traveling contractors” who suddenly accosted me during my front yard work alerting me to the imminent danger that would fall upon me if I don’t immediately fix the problem for $6,000 or $4,000. I stated that if the work is above a thousand dollars, I would need a few estimates. The “traveling contractor” seemed to relent and reduced the price to a “mere” $900. Not realizing that it was a trap, I agreed. And soon enough I was told that the damage is so severe that $4,000 more is needed to complete the project. Realizing how badly manipulated I was, I wrote a check for an agreed amount of $900 and demanded that they stop everything as it is and leave. However, a few minutes later the “traveling contractor” knocked loudly on the door. I didn’t want to talk so my husband did. Big mistake. My husband who never before had been exposed to manipulative fast talk upon hearing about the imminent danger and 50 percent discount was unable to withhold the pressure and overcome his own confusion so he agreed to additional $2,000. Thus, we spent $2,900 on the work our house might or might not need. We spent on the work which might be worth $2,900, or more, or less. We spent $2,900 to lose trust in “traveling contractors” and in our own ability to deal with them. This event allowed me to better understand the actions of OneLocal Bank and its employees.

Maria Hrabowski

Norwood

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