I can’t believe I’m writing this but I got into a job scam. I was approached by a job recruiter for a job. It was all good at the start, earning some small amount. There is even a WhatsApp group where other members shared their earnings. Eventually, I was made to top up huge amount of money in order to withdraw all the funds + commission. I ended up with 70k of loans debts. I don’t know how can I pay it off. I don’t dare to tell my parents, afraid of the disappointing looks on their faces. The whole event just kept repeating in my head. How can I be so stupid. How can I miss all the signs of scam. Made police report but I guess I will never see my money.
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Hey @sociableiguana2588,
You have already taken an important step by making a police report. If there are any additional details such as messages or transaction records, you can continue to provide them to support the investigation.
What happened follows a common scam pattern. These setups are designed to build trust first through small gains and group proof, then gradually push for larger amounts. Many people are not able to detect this early because it is structured to look legitimate.
Right now, your mind is replaying the situation and turning it into self-blame. That is a typical response after a sudden loss. It is the brain trying to make sense of what happened, but it can become harsh and unhelpful.
It also sounds like you are holding this on your own because of concern about your parents’ reaction. Keeping it in can increase the stress and make the situation feel heavier than it already is.
You may want to consider two next steps. First, speak to someone who can help you stabilise and think through this clearly. You can call 1771 (National Mindline) for support. Second, seek guidance on financial and practical options so that you are not handling the debt alone.
It is more helpful to take this step by step and separate what happened from how you are judging yourself now.