Fraud is the fastest growing crime in the world. It is a crime that reaches across international borders; no country is immune.
Whatever your age, if you have a bank account, a computer and a smartphone, you are a potential victim.
This is the story of one man's experience of a serious smishing scam, lasting just a few minutes, combining a text message, supposedly from his bank, a phone conversation, leading to an unauthorized transfer, which netted the scammers a tidy five figure sum, leaving him and his wife traumatized.
This book is for TWO types of reader:
...for you, if you've been the victim of a scam. Maybe you have given up hope of ever recovering your money, or getting over the trauma of the experience. Find out how another victim fought back, recovered his money, and overcame the trauma.
... for you, even if you have not yet been a victim of fraud, and want to know how to spot a scam and protect yourself.
You will discover:
- How a smishing scam can happen
- Strategies for getting back on your feet, and fighting to recover your money
- How to deal with the trauma of getting scammed
- How to spot a scam, avoid a scam and protect yourself from future scams
- Information on the many and evolving scams that are out there
- Where to find professional help and advice.
About the Author :
Jonathan Leakey (PGCE, PhD) lives in Northern Ireland with his wife Patricia, who is from County Antrim. They have two adult children. Jonathan grew up in East Africa and came to the UK at the age of ten. His teaching career as a French and German specialist spanned 34 years, progressing through three different sectors of education: 14 years in secondary schools on Merseyside, England, three years in the Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College and 17 at Ulster University. His doctorate and subsequent research was in effectiveness research in computer-assisted language learning (CALL). He has authored a number of articles in his specialist field and written a book "Evaluating Computer-Assisted Language Learning". Since retiring from teaching, he has been doing freelance translation as well as cross-community reconciliation work. In his free time he enjoys hill-walking, gardening, writing, drawing and painting.
Review :
Scam Survivor is a must read for everyone - whether you've fallen victim to fraud or not. This is both a cautionary tale and a gold-mine of advice and practical help. It will enlighten, warn and bring hope.
Dr John Kirkby CBE
Founder, Christians Against Poverty
Three times winner Sunday Times "Best Leader"
D.L. Hon, DUniv, Doctor of the University of Bradford
Scam Survivor should be read by the most tech-savvy folk around! The rest of us should also take the time to acquaint ourselves with the sophisticated, rapidly evolving and grubby world of cyber-crime to protect ourselves and our finances.
Stephen Critchlow, MRCPsych., Consultant Psychiatrist
Scam Survivor is both an excellent resource and timely warning to us all that predators are watching and looking for opportunities to get our money. We can never afford to let down our guard and assume we will never be the victim of a scam.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin,
(former) Head of Justice
Police Service Northern Ireland
This is the consummate handbook for surviving scammers, accompanied by a personal story of a couple who fell foul of the criminal but persevered against those who failed to take responsibility for protection of their customers. KR - Amazon review (UK)
A testament to the expressions of 'you get what you work for' and 'never give up'. The Leakeys showed that 'perseverance is to win' and win they did. A seemingly astonishing result forged by being thorough, methodical, engaging and involving concerned professionals. I feel less vulnerable having read this book.
DR - Amazon Review (Australia)
A must read! A powerful story and great insight on overcoming serious fraud!
The author shares his experience, the aftermath and the journey to recovery. I appreciated how Jonathan clearly outlines not only how to avoid scammers, but also what resources are available to victims of fraud.
AH - Amazon Review (USA)
Everyone who uses online banking should read this book. A harrowing tail of how scammers managed to take a substantial amount of money from an account, the effect it had on the family and how they managed to fight back.
JL - Goodreads
SO RELEVANT FOR TODAY - I found it hard to put down as I wanted to find out the outcome of such a heinous crime. It was so easy to read and follow with no over-complicated jargon.
KS - Goodreads
