Urgent Help Needed After Devastating Scam

I never imagined I would be in a position where I had to ask for help, but today, I find myself completely broken and financially drained due to a sophisticated scam. I am sharing my story not only to seek assistance in recovering from this, but also to raise awareness so that no one else falls victim to a similar nightmare.

My Story:

On Friday, February 21st, I received a phone call from a man claiming to be Sergeant Henry Roberts. He had my full name, address, and personal details, making the call feel alarmingly real. He informed me that I had two outstanding warrants for my arrest due to missing jury duty—something I had never been notified about. The fear of being arrested, losing my job, and having this on my record clouded my judgment. I was given two options: either pay the bonds to temporarily freeze the warrants or have officers come and arrest me immediately.

As a private person, sharing this is incredibly difficult for me, but I feel a duty to warn others. If I don’t, someone else might go through what I did, and I cannot allow that to happen. This situation has left me both emotionally and financially devastated, but my goal in sharing my story is to spread awareness.

The call came in at 1:23 PM while I was at work. The caller introduced himself and proceeded to recite my personal details, requesting confirmation. At first, I was hesitant, so I asked for more details. He provided his name, badge number, and credentials, all of which seemed legitimate when I quickly searched online. He then informed me of my supposed arrest warrants, giving me citation numbers and explaining my rights. I was completely shocked. Wanting to verify the legitimacy of the call, I hung up and called the number back, only for it to go straight to voicemail with the same sergeant’s name. Moments later, I received another call—this time from an official police department number. Our conversation continued, and my fear deepened.

The caller explained that I had allegedly received a jury duty notice twice and failed to show up. He claimed that my signature was on record, and there was video evidence of me signing the summons. I knew this was untrue—I had never received any such notice, let alone signed one. But when I explained this, I was told I had two choices: either pay the bonds to temporarily freeze the warrants and prove my innocence at a police station, or be arrested immediately.

Paralyzed by fear, I chose the first option. He somehow knew my exact location and even the mileage on my car, making the threat feel even more real. He warned me that if I went to a police station before paying, I would be arrested immediately. With my mind racing, I withdrew cash and deposited it into a Bitcoin machine, sending the funds to what I believed was the DOJ Hawaii Warrants and Citations account. When I thought it was over, he claimed another citation had surfaced and requested an additional payment—this time through Venmo. I complied, still gripped by fear. At the end of our nearly three-hour conversation, the caller chillingly remarked, "Whatever you have left in your bank account, use it to buy yourself liquor." His final words before hanging up were, "I see you later at my house."

Panic overtook me. Somehow, despite hyperventilating, I managed to drive myself to the police station. There, I made a statement and provided all the details. A police report was filed, and I was told there were no warrants out for my arrest. The realization that I had been scammed hit me like a ton of bricks. Not only had they stolen all my money, but they had also impersonated a law enforcement officer, threatened me, and had access to my personal information, including my location and car details.

Who I Am:

My name is Maria Timchenko. By day, I work as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), helping individuals on the autism spectrum reach their goals. My work is incredibly fulfilling, and nothing brings me greater joy than seeing my clients make progress. By night, I pursue my passion for music as TABOO ZERO, collaborating with incredible artists and writing songs that mean the world to me.

Despite everything that has happened, I am still deeply grateful for what I do have—a roof over my head and people who care about me. However, this situation has left me in complete despair, financially drained, and struggling to recover. I am determined to keep working full-time and rebuild my life, but right now, I need help to get back on my feet.

Why I’m Asking for Help:

This experience has left me emotionally shattered and financially drained. I have lost everything in my bank account. While I am grateful to be alive and to have a roof over my head, I am struggling to move forward. Asking for help is incredibly difficult for me, but at this point, I have no other choice.

If you can donate—no matter how small—it would mean the world to me. Your kindness will help me recover from this devastating loss and regain financial stability. More importantly, I hope my story serves as a warning to others, preventing more people from falling victim to similar scams.

If you can’t donate, please share my story. Awareness is key in stopping these criminals from targeting more innocent people.

Thank you for your kindness and support during this incredibly difficult time. Your generosity and understanding mean more to me than words can express.

With gratitude,

Maria Timchenko