In this month of fraud prevention, I feel challenged by the subject having myself tasted the bitter taste of white-collar criminals! I can assure you that it was not written on their foreheads!! I would never have suspected all that followed. I decided to open my door on this subject, because I believe that this subject is still taboo. We wrongly believe that it only happens to others, to the elderly, etc. Regardless of profession, gender, age, or cultural background, fraudsters target everyone. They choose their victims, manipulate them like professionals, and drain them of all their assets. When nothing remains, they throw them in the trash. Then they move on to the next victim, and so on.
These white-collar bandits are accustomed to defrauding, lying, manipulating, extorting.
Personally, I got scammed for over $1490,000 and I'm not out of the woods yet, still having to pay a lawyer. I don't know if we can recover from such a tragedy unscathed. You might say it's only a question of money? Oh no!! It affects physical, mental, and financial health, causing immense stress, and the relationship, not to mention our self-confidence, which takes a hit. You can of course imagine the psychological problems that the victim may experience. Some victims have committed suicide because they were unable to cope with such a failure. Personally, I have no idea if I'll ever see my money again. However, I have learned this lesson:
IF YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT, THE SLIGHTEST HIT DURING THE PROCESS, STOP EVERYTHING AND RUN AWAY!!!
Fraud can take different forms
- Phishing,
- fraudulent emails,
- identity theft,
- Internet fraud,
- Telephone canvassing,
- by cell phone.
- A partner who dips into the cash register
- A secretary who forges checks
- Signature imitation
In this Fraud Prevention Month
Regardless of profession, gender, age or cultural background, fraudsters, these white-collar bandits target everyone. Lack of awareness, vulnerability, a sense of urgency, and pressure can all be tactics to get you. I personally experienced aggression, intimidation, and manipulation. Fraud can be reported to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. However, I'm not sure that this gives anything to the one who was defrauded!!!
If you are also the victim of a scammer, a fraudster, or one or more white-collar criminals, unfortunately, I cannot help you. I have not yet found a way to recover my own money. I continue on my path, giving the best of myself. The positive thing is that at least I sleep soundly, I am at peace with the way I treat my suppliers, my customers, my partners, and maybe one day, my employees.
In closing, I urge you to talk about this topic with those around you. Let this topic no longer be taboo; anyone can be fooled.
Are you or have you been a victim of these white-collar bandits?
Bring this article to life: #BanditsAcravate
I invite you to come together. Why? Because together, perhaps we can find ways to help each other, to find a group strength. And perhaps we will find several victims of the same white-collar bandit or group of white-collar bandits! For my part, I know there are other victims. But I don't know their names, unfortunately. Would you like to contact me about this? 514-795-5962 or by email: Lydia@cfsalubrite.com.
If you decide to share this article, I give you permission, perhaps with the goal of bringing together other victims of white-collar crime.
PS: If you have any tips or solutions to share with us, please feel free to comment on this blog. I wrote it to make it less of a taboo subject. We need to talk about it.
Good evening.
Lydia
Update
Rest assured, I have since rebuilt my life and I am very happy about it. Here is an article that was written one year after the birth of CF Salubrité Inc. 
