It was December 2021 when I got scammed to the tune of £25k in a bitcoin sting. I feel incredibly ashamed even writing these words. However, even though it’s very embarrassing to own up to the fact that I made a set of stratospherically bad decisions, I also think it is important for everyone to know how easy it is for us to fall for the endless scams that are out there.
None of us think it will be us. We all think we know everything there is to know about being scammed but it turns out we may be more vulnerable to flattery, to interest, to get quick rich schemes than we think we are. At the time, I was in emotional distress.
My marriage had broken down and I had had to sell my family home. I wanted to take my children on holiday and was struggling to admit to myself and to them that I was broke and could not afford the lifestyle we had become accustomed to. I wanted to believe that I could triple my money in a week.
More than that, I was in a child-like state when it came to money – and had been for all of my adult life. I never took it seriously, spending as if it had gone out of fashion and being careless with my finances. I was one of those people who used to let bills pile up on my desk and refuse to open the envelopes because I was “frightened” of them.
I barely ever checked my bank account. I was in total fear and denial around money. Read Next I have no savings, I spent it all having fun - now, at 46, I’m taking control of my finances I’ve never been part.