Scammed

Just When You Thought

It couldn’t get worse—or so I thought. But then it did. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop, and just when you think you’ve steadied yourself, there it is, thudding to the floor. Every day since, the reality has sunk in a little deeper, and with it, the weight gets harder to carry.

I’ve asked myself a hundred times, How could I be so foolish? And the truth is, hindsight is always perfect. Looking back, I see every red flag, every moment I should have stopped. But in the moment, I didn’t. And now the past feels like a locked door—untouchable, unchangeable.

That’s the part that gnaws at me. I know I can’t rewrite what happened, so how do I move forward? We’ve taken steps—big ones—to protect ourselves from further damage. But even so, the “what ifs” linger in the shadows. They whisper when the house is quiet.

And yet, my faith tells me that God is still in control. If I believe that, then I need to loosen my grip on the fear. Don’t mistake me—God didn’t cause this. He wasn’t behind the scam, the deception, or the mess it left in its wake. On the contrary, I believe He protected us, shielding us from what could have been far worse.

The whole thing began so innocently. One moment, I was clicking away, closing out a strange Facebook message. The next, a bright warning flashed across my screen, claiming my computer had been hacked. A number popped up to call “Microsoft.” Desperate to fix the problem, I dialed it—never once stopping to question. The voice on the other end was calm, reassuring, professional. They told me they were there to help. I believed them.

I gave them access to my laptop, trusting they were running checks for suspicious activity. They even “found” something—though, of course, it was only there because they planted it. By the time I realized the truth, it was too late.

And that’s how it happened. Not in one catastrophic moment, but in a series of small, believable steps. That’s what stings the most.

But here I am, learning. Shaken, yes, but not shattered. Humbled, but not hopeless. If nothing else, this experience has reminded me of two things: first, that even the strongest of us can stumble; and second, that grace is always within reach.

I can’t change the past. But I can choose how I walk into tomorrow—wiser, guarded, and maybe even a little braver.

Because sometimes the other shoe drops. But sometimes, so does a little light.