In a world rife with online scams, victims often find themselves feeling helpless and defeated. However, one Malaysian woman turned her unfortunate experience into a triumphant story that has gone viral.
The woman, who goes by the X handle “Mom of KL,” or @/amuse_gueule revealed how she cleverly managed to recover her stolen money.
She had ordered an item from an Instagram seller that never arrived. After discovering via Facebook reviews that the seller had scammed others as well, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
The Big Brain Move: 20 Transactions of 1 Cent Each
Rather than admitting defeat, she made 20 transactions of 1 cent each to the scammer’s account.
She added the word “scammer” in the payment details of each transfer.
To her surprise, this tactic proved successful—the scammer reached out and refunded her money the next morning.
Why This Method Works
While her approach may seem unconventional, many theorized its effectiveness. Repeated small transactions can reportedly trigger red flags with banks and law enforcement.
Scammers often fear that such activity could lead to their accounts being frozen or investigated.
A commenter under her post explained: “Bank and police track scammer accounts (with suspicious activity). Accounts can get blocked too. Good move! If anyone else gets scammed, try this tip.”
Others suggested that adding incriminating words like “scammer,” “drug,” or “murder” to payment details could further increase the likelihood of the scammer’s account being flagged.
“You can just put “drug” on the payment note. It’ll freeze their account”
However, some warn that such wording could also draw unnecessary attention to the sender.
Netizens Share Their Experiences
The post quickly gained traction, inspiring others to share their own stories and attempts at reclaiming stolen money.
Users shared that they had been scammed out of over RM200 on Instagram and regretted not knowing about this trick earlier.
Another user also user shared: “I got scammed RM200 and haven’t received it back. I tried making a 1 cent transfer with the scammer’s details, but nothing happened. Maybe I need to try harder.”
Some, however, raised doubts about the universal effectiveness of this method. Scammers may even benefit from this trick and get 20 cents back in return.
Lessons Learned and Precautions
While the woman’s clever approach has earned plenty of praise, it’s a good reminder for everyone to stay cautious when shopping online. Always check if a seller is legitimate and avoid making payments outside trusted platforms.
If you do fall victim to a scam, your first step should always be to report it to the authorities and your bank. This gives them a chance to investigate and might help you get your money back.
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