Scammed out of $5,000: Oldest of 10 Siblings

Hi, my name is Mai Vang, and this is one of the hardest things I’ve had to write. I’m a full-time college student, a soldier in the Army National Guard, and the oldest of 10 siblings. My family means everything to me. I’ve always taken on the role of protector and helping raise my younger brothers and sisters, balancing school, work, and military duty to keep things together.

Recently, I was the victim of a Zelle scam. Someone impersonating a bank contacted me and pressured me to give the scammer my money from my account. I was already stressed and mentally exhausted trying to juggle everything after college, and I didn’t realize I was being scammed until it was too late. They took $5,000 from me and the bank, and now my bank is holding me accountable for the full amount. I’ve filed fraud reports. I’ve appealed. I’ve asked for help. But right now, I’m stuck, and I’m scared. To make things more difficult, I leave for Annual Training with the Army National Guard tomorrow. I’ll be gone for at least two weeks, with no way to work, earn, or manage this situation while I’m gone. I’ve never asked for help like this, but I’m trying to do the right thing. I just want to clear this debt, recover from this mistake, and keep supporting my family the way I always have. If you can donate anything, even a few dollars, or share this with others, it would mean the world to me. Every dollar will go toward covering the stolen funds and avoiding long-term financial damage that could affect my future. Thank you for reading, and thank you for standing with me.

Mai Vang