I got ATM scammed (and I’m grateful, too).

 Don’t worry about the title, it will make sense later.

 As most of you know, I went to South Africa a couple of weeks ago, where I learned some lessons and had a great time. Upon returning, however, I learned something not so nice. I logged onto my online banking to check my balance, and had about… nothing. Apparently, someone had spend $1,800 at a trading company in Johannesburg and another hundred bucks or so on skincare… when my debit card was in my wallet the whole time.

Scams happen. Many people get their credit card numbers stolen at some point. It even happened to me already once last year, which nearly left me stranded with only four dollars in my pocket, hundreds of kilometers away from my village! But South Africa is notorious for ATM crime (and just crime in general). Overly helpful strangers, strategically placed mirrors, gizmos that make the machine “eat” your card, even armed robbery with knives and drugs swiped on you or stabbed in your arm that cause you to pass out about thirty seconds later… money and card still in hand. These things are real and they happen.

 When I first arrived in SA a few weeks ago, our bus stopped at a rest stop and there was an overly helpful stranger guiding people through the “complicated” ATM process. I was creeped out and waited to use the ATM until he’d stepped away. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, that very day someone was trying to withdraw money with my same account number in Johannesburg (which I was hours away from). Maybe there was a mirror, or a camera. I don’t know. What I DO know is that I THOUGHT I was being safe and you can NEVER be too sure.

 When I found out my money had been stolen, it was pretty frustrating: not just because I was now apparently broke, but because they’d have to cancel my debit card. I was planning on traveling the next weekend, and only had about $100 in my Peace Corps account to get me through the next MONTH, and I needed American money. I also needed access to money to apply to grad school and to plan my upcoming Asia travels, and I had NO IDEA how I could get the card, with Moz mail unreliable and my weeks counting down.

 No money. No card. No easy way to replace either. I was kind of SOL.

 I had my requisite five-minute freak out, but then I calmed down and realized: it could be so much worse. I am working on developing an attitude of gratitude (like my mother has), and to see the good in tough situations. And I realized that despite the scam and theft, I was incredibly lucky.

 I was grateful that I just happened to log onto my online banking fifteen minutes before the end of a workday.

I was grateful that the internet was working (always a question mark) and I could notify my parents at home.

I was grateful that our horribly unreliable cell phone service stayed connected through an entire conference call with Wells Fargo fraud protection services.

I was grateful that I have parents who love and support me and who are willing to drop everything to help me with issues like this.

I was grateful that this happened while I was at home and not when I was traveling, so there was no way I would be stranded.

I was grateful that I happen to live with other Americans, who could loan me money in the case of an emergency.

I was grateful that it was not much, much worse than it was.

 Sure, I was upset at first that I, you know, got robbed and got cut off from any money, which is scary. But then a quote popped into my head and I just started laughing:

 “If this is the worst thing that happens to you today, you are very lucky.”

 It’s so true. Unfortunate things happen but in the scheme of life they are meaningless. And I was grateful that this little incident made me realize how truly lucky I am.

 That being said, I am putting this out there as a warning for ANYONE who is going to travel to South Africa or who has family members, friends, or acquaintances going. YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL. ATM scams are REAL and they are QUICK. If you are going, be EXTREMELY cautious; try to use ATMs at banks and during operating hours so if there is anything suspicious happening you can notify someone. Keep in contact with your bank at home: before your trip, let them know exactly where you plan to be and what you plan to be spending money on, so they can be on high alert for fraud. Check your online banking frequently to be aware of anything suspicious. Also, have a backup plan to get access to cash should your info be stolen. PLEASE share this with anyone you know who might be traveling there.

 I know this isn’t relevant for most of you reading this, but I thought it needed to be shared and that’s what a blog is for.

 Here’s to NOT getting my information stolen for a third time!

Have you ever been scammed?

What is something you’re grateful for?

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