Still dealing with the trauma of being scammed – heartbroken

I feel so sad. My heart is heavy. I worked hard to save money for a business that would help me make extra income. I was excited. I was ready to start my dream. But now, my money is gone. I got scammed.

It started with hope. I found a company called Galaxy Embroidery selling a big embroidery machine. They said they would deliver it to my home, install it, and teach me how to use it—for free! It sounded perfect. Too perfect.

The Warning Signs I Ignored

At first, I was careful. I checked their website, but it wasn’t working. I looked for reviews, but I couldn’t find any. That made me nervous.

I told them I was scared. They sent pictures and videos of happy customers. They spoke politely. They reassured me. They even sent a real invoice with a company name and bank details. I started to trust them.

Then they asked for 60% of the money upfront (R22,800). They said I could pay the rest (R15,200) when the machine arrived. This sounded fair. So, I paid.

The Moment My Heart Broke

After paying, I waited. And waited. And waited.

First, they said the truck was busy. Then they said delivery was delayed. Then they said I had to pay the rest before they could send the machine.

My heart dropped.

I refused. I told them we agreed that I would pay the rest when the machine arrived. They pushed me to pay. They kept messaging me. They tried to rush me.

That’s when I knew. I had been tricked.

I felt sick. My hands were shaking. I wanted to cry. My hard-earned money was gone.

The Pain of Losing Everything

I sat on my bed, staring at my phone. No more messages from them. They stopped talking to me.

I checked their business name again. Nothing real. No proof. The bank details they gave me were from different banks. It was all fake.

I had lost my money. My dream was stolen.

Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

If you are buying something expensive online, please be careful.

1. Never pay a lot of money upfront.
2. If a deal sounds too good, it is probably a scam.
3. Check for real customer reviews.
4. If you feel unsure, trust your feelings.
5. Scammers will rush you. Don’t let them.

I feel so much pain. I worked for this money. I trusted them. I believed in my dream. And now, I have nothing.

If my story helps even one person avoid this pain, maybe this was not for nothing.

Be careful. Scammers are everywhere.