Today, Explained
A scam cost me $31k and a pool
Nov 10, 2023
Devin Friedman, a writer with a long-held dream of owning a pool, shares his cautionary tale of falling victim to a pool contractor scam that cost him over $31,000. He discusses the emotional toll of being misled by a quirky contractor and highlights the challenges of navigating digital payments like Zelle, where the lack of consumer protections complicates recovery. Through his story, Devin sheds light on the alarming ease of being scammed in today's digital age and the need for greater accountability in financial transactions.
25:57
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Quick takeaways
- Peer-to-peer payment apps lack consumer protections, leaving users vulnerable to scams and fraud.
- Law enforcement and banks often provide limited assistance and fail to take responsibility for online scams.
Deep dives
The Quest for Luxury Living Takes an Unexpected Turn
Devin Friedman, a journalist, recounts his desire to have a luxurious house with a pool like his friends Bobby and Eric. He decides to hire a pool contractor named Gary Kruglets, who promises to build a pool similar to Bobby and Eric's at a lower cost. However, after sending several payments totaling around $31,000 via Zell, it is revealed that someone hacked into Gary's email and scammed the money. Devin's attempts to recover the funds are met with little assistance from Zell, the peer-to-peer payment app used for the transactions. Law enforcement is also unhelpful due to the relatively small amount involved. Despite the loss, Devin eventually manages to build a pool, but with a different contractor.
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