I went to a new specialist that my primary doctor referred me to. After a few days I received an email from that clinic regarding payment. The window gave a link offering to view the balance. My thought was, “This is a new year. I’m going to get this little bill paid right up front and not let it ride.” I had gone through the same procedure many times before to pay other doctor bills in the past. So, I clicked on the link, and instead of a balance, it gave me the steps to fill out my personal information. My thought was, “Oh this is a new doctor, so I’ve got to give this information out to get set up with him.” I also had this thought, “I don’t like to put my social and all this personal information in here, but people do it all the time, I’ve got to just trust it is okay.” So, with a grind in my gut, I proceeded to fill it out. Then I got to the “balance”—two dollars. Whoa! That’s not right. I called the phone number given. Disconnected. I had just step-by-step fallen victim to a scam. It all looked the same as the real thing. I called the doctor’s office. Then, I went to my bank (I had to wait fifteen minutes for them to open up). The bank had already put a “hot card” flag on my account. I went in as soon as they opened and I got a new card and a new number. I then spend the rest of the day calling the attorney general’s office getting advice on what to do, and social security (on hold for hours) and the three major credit bureaus to freeze my credit accounts. I was gun shy to clicking on any link. I told that to the man at the attorney general’s office, that I don’t trust any web site or link. I asked him, “If I pull up Experian or TransUnion, or Equifax, how do I know it is a real site?” He gave me the exact address of each and assured me I could navigate these sites safely. Well, lesson learned. Personally, I like to look at someone in the eye and hand them the money and get a receipt handed to me showing the transaction. Those days are just about gone. We have to adapt. We have to work smart. It is the same in the realm of the things of God. There is a lot of fake stuff in the name of the Lord that will rob you of blessings and leave you empty. It looks real, sounds real, but it is less that what Jesus paid for and provided. An encounter with Jesus will transform your life with cleansing by the blood and God’s life coming in you. What Jesus provided for will empower you with the Spirit of God coming upon you in supernatural power. Don’t be scammed. Follow Jesus Christ.
Scammed!
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