My name is Chelsea Holland and I am starting this GoFundMe for my best friend, Amanda. Amanda and I have been friends since college, and in that time, we have held each other up through the most difficult and best times of our lives. Amanda needs our help.

On February 2, Amanda's life turned into a nightmare. She received a call from men pretending to be local police officers. They convinced her that she had missed federal jury duty and that a warrant had been issued for her arrest. When she asked for proof, they called her back from a number that appeared to be—according to Google—her local police department's phone number. Even though Amanda was not even in Tennessee when she supposedly "signed" for this summons, they insisted this was a serious federal matter. They convinced her they were helping her resolve the matter before she was arrested.

For the next three and a half weeks, these people kept Amanda constantly on the phone, directing everything she did. They told Amanda that, in order to clear her name, she had to secure her financial assets. She was instructed to empty her family's bank account. They made her stay on the phone with them everywhere she went. They instructed her to wear her hair down to hide the earbuds while they coached her on what to say. Under their direction, Amanda drained her savings, took out a personal loan, and opened a home equity line of credit.

These criminals convinced Amanda that every time she left the house, there was the possibility of her being arrested and spending a year in jail. They made her believe they were monitoring her phone, computer, and location at all times. They said they were placing her under a "gag order," telling her she couldn't discuss the situation with anyone—including her husband. They threatened that if she involved him, he could be arrested as well.

Because of this, Amanda became completely isolated from her family and friends while this scam continued. The emotional and physical toll of this experience has been devastating. She struggles to sleep at night, and even now, going into public places or being alone for too long causes intense anxiety and fear. She is currently working with a mental health counselor to begin healing, but rebuilding her sense of safety and trust is going to take some time.

In the meantime, Amanda is left with quite a bit of debt, and trying to pay down these loans is causing serious stress to what was already a tight budget. I figure if each of us can make a small contribution each month ($5-$20), it will go a long way toward helping her and her family rebuild while also continuing to pay the mortgage, buy groceries, and keep the lights on.