How I Almost Fell For A Scam (And How You Can Avoid It)

Receiving a phone call from an unknown number can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when it’s not just a wrong number, but a scam trying to manipulate you into handing over your personal information or money. Unfortunately, I recently experienced just that, and I want to share my story to raise awareness and help others avoid falling victim to similar scams.

The First Call: A “Package” From Shanghai

It all started one afternoon when I received an unexpected call from a number I didn’t recognize. The voice on the other end identified themselves as a representative from “customs” and informed me that a package sent from Shanghai, China, under my name, was being held for inspection. According to the caller, the package contained fake driver’s licenses and passports — highly alarming information that immediately put me on edge.

The caller went on to say that I needed to resolve the issue as soon as possible, or else there could be serious legal consequences. They urged me to cooperate and let them help me sort it out. My first instinct was to be cautious. I’ve heard of these kinds of scams before, where criminals try to create a sense of urgency to get people to act impulsively. They often threaten you with legal action, creating panic, and then ask for money or sensitive information to “resolve” the issue.

In this case, the caller seemed to follow the usual pattern. They assured me that I needed to speak with their supervisor to resolve the matter. I told them outright that this sounded like a scam, and I suspected that they were about to ask me to buy gift cards or give away personal information. The caller tried to calm me down and insisted, “No, no, we don’t need gift cards. You just need to speak with my supervisor.”

While I remained skeptical, the caller’s persistence got to me. I agreed to speak with the supervisor, thinking it might be the best way to confirm if this was, in fact, a scam.

Speaking to the “Supervisor”: More Red Flags

When I was transferred to the supervisor, the tone of the conversation became more forceful. The supervisor claimed that the issue was urgent and needed immediate resolution. They repeated the same story: a package had been flagged at customs with fake identification documents under my name.

I explained again that this seemed like a scam. I told them I was wary of such calls and wasn’t comfortable proceeding with any further conversation without verification. The supervisor attempted to convince me that this was a real issue and that they were only trying to help me clear my name.

After a few minutes of back-and-forth, it became clear that the supervisor wasn’t going to get me to comply with their scam. As I continued to stand firm and refused to provide any personal information, the supervisor finally stopped trying to manipulate me.

In a very abrupt tone, the supervisor ended the call, as though I had wasted their time. That was the moment I knew for sure this was a scam — they didn’t care about resolving any issue; they were just trying to pressure me into giving them something. I was relieved that I hadn’t fallen for their trap, but the feeling of unease lingered.

The Second Call: Same Story, Different Day

Just a week later, the same phone call came through. This time, I was already prepared. A different voice on the other end of the line told me that a package from Shanghai was again being held in customs, containing fake driver’s licenses and passports in my name.

I immediately recognized the pattern and knew exactly what was happening. I told the caller outright, “This is a scam. I’ve received this exact call before.” The caller, likely surprised that I wasn’t falling for the bait, immediately hung up the phone without another word.

That second call was a clear confirmation that this was indeed a scam operation. They hadn’t even tried to engage me further because they knew they wouldn’t get anywhere with me. It was just a reminder that these scammers are persistent and will continue to target people as long as they can.

The Lesson Learned: Stay Vigilant

What struck me the most about both of these calls was how expertly the scammers tried to manipulate my emotions. They created a sense of urgency and fear by claiming that fake IDs and passports were involved. They knew exactly how to push the right buttons to make someone panic and feel like they had to act quickly.

The call felt so real at first — the urgency, the specific details about customs and my name — but all of it was a setup. They wanted to pressure me into either giving up my personal information or, as is often the case in these types of scams, buying gift cards or making some kind of payment to resolve the “issue.”

It’s important to recognize the red flags when faced with these kinds of calls:

1. Unsolicited Calls: Legitimate organizations, like customs or government agencies, rarely reach out to you unsolicited via phone calls. They will typically communicate through official channels, such as mail, and give you time to respond.
2. Urgency and Threats: Scammers love to create a sense of urgency, often threatening legal consequences to make you panic. They want you to act impulsively. Legitimate organizations don’t work this way.
3. Requests for Payment: No legitimate service or government entity will ask you to pay for something using gift cards or other unconventional methods. If this happens, it’s almost certainly a scam.
4. Supervisor or Escalation: Scammers often escalate the situation by offering to transfer you to a supervisor. This is another tactic to make you feel like you need to comply, or they claim the supervisor will “help” you.

Final Thoughts

If you ever receive a call like the one I experienced, don’t panic, and don’t give out any personal information. Hang up and report the call to the authorities. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Remember that scammers are getting more sophisticated, but staying vigilant and trusting your instincts can help protect you from falling victim to these deceitful tactics.

It’s a shame that scams like this are so common, but sharing our experiences can help others avoid similar traps. Stay alert, and don’t let these scammers win.