I Got Scammed the Day After the Election
A very short story with a light at the end
Looking back it’s so obvious, but it all happened so fast.
This morning (November 6th, 2024) I set up a long table in the middle of our office’s bullpen to create a space we could come together, grieve and conspire for the future. We’re in despair. The vibes are not good. So when I get an email from my boss (who is out at our other office) saying that he needs my phone number for a work task, I jump up and say yes. I need something to do. I quickly respond with my number and he says that he’d like to do something nice for our office.
“The thing is, I'm planning to surprise some of the staff with gift cards for work well done throughout last week and I'd like you to work with me on it immediately.
However, your confidentiality would be appreciated so we don't ruin the little surprise. Bbbvfgg”
A lot of people would have paused on the gift cards. If it were any other day I WOULD HAVE TOO. This predominantly women led office has been anxiously waiting for this election to be over. It’s well within boss’s character to do something nice for the people about to get their rights stripped away.
I’m instructed to go to the nearest grocery store and send photos of the displayed gift cards. I get to Whole Foods, he chooses eBay gift cards with which he wants $200 on four of them. I would be reimbursed by the end of the day.
In retrospect the eBay gift cards are suspicious. But I’m still pretty new. This man would know what his coworkers of YEARS would want so I was not going to question his choice.
After two declined transactions and an approval text to the bank, my credit card is charged $800.
At first I didn’t even read the instructions to send the card information. It was being told to “stay somewhere not crowded” and to do it “without causing a scene” that set off all the alarms. Bitch you got scammed.
Whole Foods customer service couldn’t do anything for the embarrassed girl crying at their counter. They told me to call my bank and file report with the gotdamn NYPD. I hope this is the only time I’ll ever have to call Eric Adams’ boys.
I sit on a ledge off Wall Street where tourists, finance bros and groups of kids latched to ropes walk by and stare for a bit too long. I laugh through tears with Sean over the phone who tells me “hey, the worst thing is that you’ll have to buy $800 worth of stuff from eBay.”
I return to my office, with what feels like my tail between my legs, and find out everyone knows someone this has happened to. The boss who I thought was texting me offers to reimburse me. Co-workers join my besties and I at a bar after work to recount and laugh through the longest day of our lives. Sean spoils me at home with a beautiful meal that I should have taken a photo of.
It’s 78 degrees in November and everyone on my list may be getting vintage trinkets for Christmas this year! We’re wiping our tears and getting up. We do what we can with what we have, and we do it with people we love.
they’re getting better