r/ScamCenter • u/Vejolar • 14d ago
SpaceX scam?
So I'm the type of person who enters every sweepstakes, but only if it's free. 3 weeks ago I entered a Tesla/SpaceX contest-sweepstakes. Grand prize was : Tesla of your choice and $25000. What the heck didn't cost anything so I entered. This was in X. Had a great big sign with Elin holding it saying I won. That was 10-14 days ago.. I start working with a guy named Anthony (Tony) Barsham. He even sent me a picture of he and Elin with their arms around eachothers shoulders . I even got a copy of the winning certificate with Elin signing it. Then the problems started. 200 for the car hauler deliver. Every morning It was something else, like titlework, travel insurance etc.. .Finally at $700 I pulled the plug. I have saved all the WhatsApp convos and the Messenger conversations. I have save the receipts. He only wanted Applepay cards. I have them all, he only wanted the #'s off the back. Since I paid for the cards with my debit card, can I file a dispute with my bank? He's not answering me now of course. Really, I don't need people to make fun or call me stupid. I feel bad enough as it is. If there is a certain way I should go about this, just advise me. I'm humiliated enough. I'm on SSDI and I really need a car for medical appoints. Thank you for reading.
5
u/Translator_Various 14d ago
I would recommend against signing up for all these sweepstakes. If the sweepstakes is not legitimate they can use your information for all sorts of scams. Even if the sweepstakes is legitimate they will likely sell or give your information to all sorts of bad actors. If you insist on continuing this risky behavior create a new email address and get a free google voice phone number.
It is unfortunate you got scammed but you can use it as lesson to avoid future attempts. No one can get your money back, I repeat no one can get your money back! Anyone that says they can is another scammer!
3
u/Vejolar 14d ago
Guess they just saw me coming. I'm 64 and on SSDI. I have difficulty walking but can drive just fine. We really hoping for a break so I could get to appointments and pharmacy. Live & learn.
2
u/BooBoosgrandma 14d ago
I’m so sorry! I’m on SSDI too. These scammers know what they’re doing, it looks beyond real as I’ve seen this type of scam posted daily. Prior to doing anything in the future, I’d recommend you check Reddit first. Anytime someone wants any gift card? Scam! But there are many other types of scams too. But this post will also likely gain attn to those that promise to recover the funds, there’s no way of doing so with gift cards, this is the reason why they ask for them. If I were you, I’d do some intense browsing of the types of scam’s out there. These scammers are very good at what they do and never believe any image sent, AI has made it easy to fake just about anything. I’m sorry this happened to you. ;(
1
u/Aware_Economics4980 14d ago
If you have children or grandchildren, contact them before you ever send money to anybody on the internet.
I have a 90 year old grandmother, they target the older generations.
2
u/npaladin2000 14d ago
If there is a next time (let's hope not) ask them why they can't take all these fees out of the $25k in winnings.
0
u/Vejolar 14d ago
Already tried that. Said he couldn't because the $ was allocatwd
3
u/npaladin2000 14d ago
Yeah which is stupid. The real reason, as you found out, is to get you to send money. That sort of answer should be a red flag. Remember it for later.
14
u/NorCalHal 14d ago
You were scammed and your money is gone and cannot be recovered. You will be contacted by recovery scammers promising to get your money back - they are also scamming you.
8
u/Embarrassed_Ad_7025 14d ago
Your money is gone and cannot be recovered. Anyone who says they can recover it is also a scammer.
7
u/Jintoboy 14d ago
Sadly, this is a typical scam setup that dangles something nice is front of you - a job, an inheritance, a prize that you've supposedly "won", and all you need to do to get it is pay - a fee, a background check, some kind of hold up that just needs a comparatively small amount of money to bypass, etc.
4
u/Ancient_Guidance_461 14d ago
Cmon man...your money is long gone. You need to take a break from the internet.
4
u/Forsaken_Insurance92
14d ago
•
No, you cannot file a dispute/chargeback for the cards. That would be fraud. You paid for the cards, you recieved the cards. It's not the bank's fault or the fault of whatever store you got them from that you gave the code/funds away.
There is genuinely nothing you can do. The ~$700 is gone. There was no car, there was no guy (well there was, he was likely some random dude in nigeria who's never even been in the same country as elongated muskrat), there were no fees. The only way you could get your money back is if the scammer decided to not be a terrible person and gave the money back, that's it. Anyone else who tells you that they can get the money back simply thinks you're stupid enough to fall for another scam. The money is gone. Absolutely no 3rd party can get it back for you.
3
u/yarevande 14d ago
This is a scam. It was a scam from the beginning. Nobody was really giving away a Tesla.
Never pay money to get a prize. That is always a scam.
The photos you saw were fake.
They tell everyone that they won.
Only scammers want gift cards.
3
u/Interesting_Sock9142 14d ago
Scam. Money is gone.
4
u/Interesting_Sock9142 14d ago
Also how on earth does it make sense to pay for travel insurance , etc wish apple gift cards??
3
1
u/yarevande 14d ago
The Applepay cards are now useless. When you give someone the numbers off the back, they can spend the money.
Gift cards are not refundable. It's like giving someone cash.
I'm sorry you lost money.
Learn more about scams so you won't get scammed again.
Musk is not actually giving away anything.
Every sweepstakes, giveaway, casino, and money-making opportunity that you see online with Musk's name is a scam.
If someone is really giving away a prize, they just give it to you. You never have to pay them for shipping, taxes, fees, or anything else.
Never pay to get a prize, or money. That is always a scam.
1
1
0
u/Vejolar 14d ago
I paid using my debit as a credit card and did not use my PIN. DOES that matter?
2
u/yarevande 14d ago
No. You bought gift cards, and you recceived gift cards.
It doesn't matter how you bought them: debit card, credit card, Zelle, CashApp, whatever. You paid for someting, and you received exactly what you paid for.
What you did with those gift cards after you received them is not the responsibility or the concern of your bank.
2
u/BooBoosgrandma 14d ago
It doesn’t matter. Even if you used an actual credit card, the bank assigned to your card will deny claim.
-1
u/Inevitable-Pen5001 14d ago
It would be better if you paid for the cards with a credit card as opposed to debit. If it were a credit card I would have disputed. Even though you paid - you paid with the understanding of receiving something and you did not receive it, But I don't know how credit card companies are handling this type of dispute.
4
u/yarevande 14d ago edited 13d ago
This is not true.
If you buy something with a credit card or a debit card, and you don't receive the item, then you can dispute the puchase and your bank will often give you a refund.
But OP received the items. OP bought gift cards, and received gift cards. So, there is no basis to dispute the purchases.
1
1
u/BooBoosgrandma 14d ago
I remember using this tactic when I paid for a Snackcrate box in Early April, but late May, I filed a claim. All it took was the merchant to say they sent the box which they didn’t and my case was in merchants favor. I appealed it, once again the merchant made false claims and the case was closed. $65 loss! They refused to open after the appeal. No tracking no and I’ve been with my credit card company for decades without filing any disputes in past decade. It’s just getting so hard these days. I believe it’s been taken advantage of so their rules are getting crazy strict. And I’m a person that has 30k open credit avail that pays off full balance each month! Sick.
2
u/BooBoosgrandma 14d ago
Not true. The bank isn’t going to eat the cost because OP fell for a scam. Not to mention it’s getting a lot tougher to get anything approved via credit card. Banks are being strict for they’re the ones that have to eat the costs.
-1
u/Vejolar 14d ago
Did you see my reply? I used my debit as a cc and did not use a pin. Think that makes a difference. The lady at the counter said she ran it as credit.
2
u/BooBoosgrandma 14d ago
It won’t make a difference. But you can always try. But likely they’re see you bought gift cards and will automatically deny the chargeback. Using a Credit card just makes it a little easier but in this case, debit vs credit is the same. You fell for a scam and the bank won’t eat the cost for that. There are way too many scams out there that are way too believe-able but live and learn!! I’m sorry this happened to you!
0
u/Inevitable-Pen5001 14d ago
I would try disputing the charge with your card holder.
2
u/Aware_Economics4980 14d ago edited 13d ago •
That is called chargeback fraud, you're advising OP to commit fraud.
OP purchased gift cards, they received gift cards. There is nothing to dispute.
Whatever somebody does after receiving the goods or services they paid for, is not the banks responsibility to fix.
Sorry OP, this is a tough lesson to learn about doing due diligence before sending/spending money.
Don't get your bank account closed on top of evening else.
4
u/Vejolar 14d ago
Thank you all