Attack Thwarted

 Happy Sabbath,

I am on here later than I intended to be.  I had a good week and great Sabbath.  I opted to sit in the sanctuary to hear the full sermon today and I was not disappointed.  I like when there are speakers who don't sugar coat the truth or tell a feel good message.  There was a word for everyone there and for me it was even more of a warning to stay alert and ready for the troubles ahead.  

I had an interesting week.  I was subject to credit card theft.  I have not been subject to this type of fraud since dealing with my son's father.  So I was contacted via text by a person who attends my church.  They offered a service for me and I thought on it and didn't want to respond but felt obligated to speak to her when I next saw her.  I then decided I would purchase something to try to help her out because I know that she and her child are not in the best of situations.  Red flag number one was that she called me later in the day to try to discuss and get the money but I told her I would talk to her tomorrow after the Sabbath.  

Sunday came and I looked over the site and decided on what I wanted. I thought about purchasing with my credit card but I did not know if the purchase would be credited to her store and if she would get the benefit so I decided instead to purchase the items with cash. I went over to her home intending to give her the cash and head on about the rest of my plans.  Earlier in the day I had gone to the YMCA, purchased a drink for my son from a vending machine, went to Burger King for him to get something as well as Five below and then went to drop off the cash. But this led to me being asked to take her to the laundromat and I agreed.  I took her and her son to the laundromat and agreed to pick them up since when they would finish it would get dark out and not be safe for them to walk home.  I came to pick them up and then she asked to go to McDonald's. I agreed since it was near by.  I drove to McDonalds and let them out. She asked if I was going to come in and get something and I said no because I had already picked up Burger King for my son earlier in the day.  She and her son come back out with their food but she starts asking her son what happened to his tablet.  They go back in the store and return with tablet in hand.

Ok...so the son left the tablet by accident. Nothing suspicious.  I knew she wanted to go to the bank to put the money in and I figured since she was in my car I could quickly take her over there. She told me the bank and she got out and took a strange amount of time fiddling around with her bag in front of my car before she went into the building. She came out and asked about going to Dollar Tree.  Now I had planned on going to Dollar tree anyway after dropping her off as I wanted to get those pomegranate drinks my parents buy all the time that are really nice.  I drove to Dollar tree with her and all of us went in the store.  I went looking for the drinks and I didn't see any of them. My son was running around playing hide and seek.  I heard her and her son in the next aisle over talking about what they wanted to get.  I meet with them at check out and there are other people in the store but in our lane it is just us and she is ahead of me.  She only had a few items that were fairly inexpensive.  Then she tells me she forgot her wallet out in the car and asked if the car was open.  

I couldn't see the car from where I was standing and didn't want a line to form while waiting for her to return so I did what I would typically do. Offered to pay for her things.  She didn't say thank you and immediately reached for another item to add to the conveyor belt.  I didn't notice anything off. She was in front and her son as well. My son was here and there.  I paid for everything with my card and thought nothing else of it.  

I drove them home and went home with my son.  She later sends me a text asking for my email, birthday, address.  I thought her phrasing was a bit weird and I am not the person to tell people my birthday so I only told her my social email address which I respond to most on.  It is newer and does not have junk mail or scammy stuff connected to it in anyway. 

I wake up early on Mondays and start work at 4:30am so when I started moving about around 4am I noticed an alert on my phone that there was a charge for $100 that I did not recognize.  I went into my app and confirmed that it was an attempted charge of $100 for a beauty related site.  I called the fraud line and had them cancel and requested a new card.  After doing some checking around I found it suspicious that it was beauty related and it was saying I was giving a gift to someone out of free will.  

Then no later than 3 hours after me being up, I get a text from her asking me to drive her to some place far at 9am.  I told her I could not and was working.  

Then later in the day she asks if I can take her to another place and I decline again.  I tell her that I have no availability during the work week. My son saw me write that message and laughed at me but I don't just hand over my time to anyone especially when I have strong doubts about them.  I'm busy.  I'm busy doing work. I'm busy playing a video game. I'm busy making dinner or cleaning my house. I'm busy getting a much needed nap.  You don't owe anyone an explanation for how you use your time except the Lord okay? I also didn't want to get struck again driving her around to who knows where.  

The next day she tells me my items arrived and I thought that was odd.  Why so quick.  How??  I tell her I will pick up the items when she comes to church on Sabbath, sticking to my busy week statement.  I'm busy protecting myself, yeah. 

Then also the same day I also get a message to my email which is really really scammy.  It was called AngeLink and the stories listed which asked me for a gift were really not it.  

She didn't say anything else to me all week and then today she gave me my items.  She kept trying to see where I was going.  I had a ministry to attend to later in the day and I was surprised but not surprised that she and her son caught a ride to come out to that ministry.  They have never done so.  Prior to that she asked me if I had $10 and I typically don't carry cash on me so I told her of a truth I did not have the money.  She went about asking another person who has a big heart but I found it quite odd that she caught a ride out with that person who lives no where near where she lives, never told her that she intended on asking me for a ride home.  She was trying to catch me again.  When she told the person that I was going to give her a ride home, the person who was expecting to do so didn't reach in the way she typically would. Usually she would say that was great news and that it works out better because we live in the same town (the other person would not have to drive out of her way).  Instead, the other driver seemed worried and confused.  I did agree to give her a ride but I overheard her asking that other person for the $10.  I don't often hear people asking for money like that but in this case she was not quiet about it and I think she did so to make sure I heard because I told her no hours ago.  Then she got in my vehicle and I drove her home but as I passed a McDonalds and was out of range she had wanted me to drive back so they could go there.  I didn't though.

Didn't you guys just get lunch at church?  I don't make unnecessary purchases on Sabbath and I don't go out of my way to help others to do so either.  I told her several times I was taking them straight home as I had other things I had to do.  I didn't go into specifics but just said so.  She kept saying to her son that she would get someone to take them to McDonald's later and then proceeded to ask me if I was going back out later. She kept trying and I  told her of a truth my vision is not so good at night.  I dropped them off and kept my wallet close to me.  

I don't know how my info was taken that day.  I believe perhaps and unfortunately I believe it was her. That she took a photograph of the front of my card. She was not successful with getting the $100 because she didn't have the CVV number.  Either that or there may have been another device in play, I don't know.  

I had a bad feeling and there were so many red flags I might as well become a Moroccan or Chinese citizen they were so red.  I will not get caught in a situation like that again.  I've had my cards taken. I've watched money drained from my account minute by minute. I've dealt with such people who claim to be Christians.  I did tell another Church sis my suspicions.  I do not intend to cause division in the church and definitely don't want them to stop coming.  God can change any person and fix any situation and this situation is not out of His reach.  I might also be wrong in my summation.  For all this, I need prayer.  

I am not out $100.  I just am dealing with an inconvenience of not having my primary shopping card.  I'm missing out on my cash back.  I have other cards and my credit score is about 813.  I'm not getting tricked again and allow my heart to run ahead of my mind.  

As I write this the Sabbath is over.  Today was a good day.  I had a great day with my church family and know that the Lord will work all of this out.