So, I'm a hobbist from years back but I've been away. Tried to do a booking late-morning. Sent some texts for some providers I'd narrowed from a site and got a couple responses. So far so good. I started setting up with one and she asked for payment of half up front. Now, I've been gone for years and I should have done research before getting back out there but I thought maybe the game had changed. I was always a cash guy. Options given were zelle, cashapp, apple pay. They'd already guided me to a hotel lobby but I balked at sending money before meeting her. So we agreed to cancel.
I picked up with another and as we were setting up, I got the same thing: pre-pay half, same options. I should note here that both providers were marked as "verified" on the site (not TER). Because this provider was asking the same thing, I went against misgivings and sent the money via apple pay. Got a text notification about a minute later saying the amount had been refunded. Meanwhile the provider is saying she saw the payment (and had asked for a screenshot) and then said she saw it get reversed, asked if I reversed it.
I'm embarrassed to say, I didn't at this moment realize I was being scammed. I sent money again, this time through cashapp. Lo and behold, another reversal message, FROM THE SAME NUMBER. And too late I realized I was being scammed, had been successfully scammed actually.
Lesson learned. The scammer then tried to get more out of me but I just told them I realized what was up. They're scum but I'm the idiot who sent money into the void not once but twice.
Anyway, I tell that story because I am now doing what I should have done beforehand, **ASKING QUESTIONS**:
What's the deal now? Can I assume the moment cash isn't an option that I can write the exchange off as a scam (aside from the obvious tell of demanding money up-front sight unseen)?
-- Modified on 12/21/2022 6:44:04 PM