So, let me tell you about a recent money mystery that had me ready to audition for a financial crime drama. It all started when I noticed my bank account balance was doing the limbo—getting lower and lower. I thought, Okay, Liz, maybe you’ve been swiping that card a little too much. But no. I hadn’t been spending like that. Still, I convinced myself, Eh, maybe it’ll sort itself out. Let’s not overthink it.
Fast forward to day two. I checked again—because, you know, that’s what responsible adults do—and it was still shrinking. At this point, my concern level went from “curious” to “wait a minute.” But I kept pushing it to the back burner, telling myself, If something’s really wrong, the bank will call. Or my trusty bookkeeper will wave the red flag. Surely, somebody will say something.
By day three, my gut was like that friend who always sees through your nonsense: “Girl, GET IT TOGETHER!” You know that feeling when your intuition whispers, and you try to ignore it, but then it starts screaming louder than your morning alarm? Yeah, that was me.
So, I finally took a closer look, and lo and behold, there it was. A single company had been draining my account—little sneaky amounts here, bigger chunks there, all wearing the perfect disguise. They were using the name of a company I actually shop with, trying to fly under the radar. Oh, but not today, scammers. Not. Today.
Cue the dramatic moment: I screamed, “OH MY GOD! WHO IS DOING THIS TO ME?!” My husband, bless his heart, jumped into action mode. He’s like my hype man in a crisis—equal parts calm and ready to flip a table.
I did what any modern woman would do: I started disputing transactions online like my life depended on it. Click, dispute. Click, dispute. TAKE THAT, SCAMMERS! I ordered a new card faster than I order coffee on a Monday morning. The scammers didn’t know who they were messing with.
By the time I was done, I was emotionally exhausted but victorious. It turns out this had been going on for over a month! And here I was, just hoping my account would magically stop hemorrhaging money. Lesson learned.
Lessons Learned (The “Oh-So-Obvious” Edition)
- Listen to your gut. When something feels off, don’t wait for the universe—or your bank—to send a smoke signal. Act on it.
- Don’t rely on someone else to catch everything. Yes, bookkeepers and bank notifications are great, but nobody cares about your money like you do. Stay vigilant.
- Scammers are sneaky geniuses. They’ll dress up as your favorite online store and smile while stealing your coins. Always double-check.
- Your bank’s dispute button is your best friend. Learn how to use it and don’t hesitate.