While I was juggling with a major family drama, a big leap of moving to a place up North, and an earnest desire to bounce back to being employed again, I joined different FB groups for job hiring. I came across a post offering an Assistant Teaching job in Canada. I immediately sent a message to the author of the post (Lyn U Bene) to learn more. I was hoping that it would be a great help to get out from the family drama, move to some place far where I can bring my partner and our kiddos, and be employed again. It was an incredible way out.
After being told that I would only shell out an amount of Php 15,000, I then sent my resume, school docs, passport bio-page, national ID, NBI clearance to a certain email (jaymaikawasan26@gmail.com) as instructed. Then, I initially sent Php 3,500 to a GoTyme Bank Account under the name of Benelyn Umali (Account Number: 0157 1966 7907). After the initial payment, Lyn U Bene would message me in the middle of the night and I would wake up to a demand of paying yet another amount, and then another, and another, until the amount I have sent her have totaled to Php 41,318.
My partner had been hesitant and had been asking me to ask for proof and do some due diligence to avoid being scammed. But I was blinded by my desire and aspirations of landing a job in Canada. I was too focused at the reward that I would be able to give a better life for my children. I needed it so much that I refused to see the red flags.
There were times when I would put a little resistance to her demand to send the amount immediately, but then the desire for the job offer to be legit was so strong, I would give in again, and again, and again, until I had nothing left to send. All the enrolment fund of my children was sent to the person who offered me a job that would give me and my children a greener pasture.
When the realization that I was scammed came, I fully confessed to my partner how much money was lost. He thought I stopped sending at Php 15,000. I was crying because I felt guilty. It was like heartlessly robbing my children of their education and wasting it away.
I promised him I would work again, so I could replenish the lost funds. I thought it was going to cause us a major fight, but he stayed calm. He saw that I was overwhelmed and traumatized and that my mind was in chaos. He helped me accept the loss. I got sick for a couple of weeks deeply thinking about what happened. When I recovered, I thought it was the end of my nightmare. It never occurred to me that it was only the beginning…
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