#south-africa
30 questions tagged with #south-africa
Lost my life savings to a 'friend' from a gaming community, fake crypto app. What can I do in SA?
I'm feeling so numb right now. I met this person through a gaming group on Discord, and we were chatting daily for months. They seemed really cool, super supportive, and we even talked about meeting up eventually. Then they introduced me to this 'exclusive' crypto investment platform, showing me screenshots of amazing returns. I started small, and it actually did show profits, so I invested more and more, thinking I was securing my future. I even took out a small loan. They pushed me to put in my entire life savings, which I did, into what I now realize was a fake app. Now, the 'friend' is gone, the platform is gone, and I can't access anything. My bank thinks it was a legitimate transfer initially. I feel so stupid. I'm in Johannesburg. Is there anything I can even do from South Africa? Any point reporting this, or am I just completely out of luck? Any advice on who to contact here?
Lost my crypto after a SIM swap, phone company says it's not their fault. What now?
Evening everyone, I'm absolutely beside myself. Last week, my phone suddenly lost signal. Thought nothing of it at first, maybe just coverage. But then my bank notifications started pinging, and when I eventually got a new SIM from my provider (Vodacom), I saw my crypto wallet (Metamask, mostly ETH and some Polygon) had been completely drained. Low five figures gone, just like that. Turns out, someone did a SIM swap on my number. They used my number to reset passwords and bypass 2FA, then got into my crypto accounts. I immediately contacted Vodacom, but they're basically shrugging, saying they followed all their security protocols and it's my problem. I feel like they're just washing their hands of me. I've reported it to the local police here in Port Elizabeth, but honestly, I don't have high hopes. Has anyone experienced this? Is there *any* way to trace this crypto or get it back? I'm desperate, this was my life savings.
Crypto 'wallet drainer' after fake 'staking pool' on Polygon, is my MATIC gone for good?
Hey everyone, I'm feeling completely gutted right now. I saw this ad on X (Twitter, ugh) for a new 'high APY staking pool' for Polygon (MATIC) and it looked legit. The website looked exactly like the official Polygon interface, with all the right branding and everything. I connected my MetaMask wallet, approved a transaction to what I thought was the staking contract, and then... boom. My wallet was drained. All my MATIC, gone. It was about $8,000 USD worth, which is a huge amount for me, my savings. This happened late last night, around 11 PM here in Joburg. I tried disconnecting my wallet, revoking permissions, but it was too late. I feel so stupid and embarrassed. Is there literally *any* hope for something like this? Did I just lose everything? I've reported it to MetaMask but they said they can't do much.
Lost my bitcoin after applying for a 'job' that turned out to be a crypto task scam, is it gone?
i'm pretty embarrassed about this but i need to ask. i was looking for an online job, and found this 'task-based' one advertising good pay for simple tasks – mostly clicking on products or reviewing stuff, supposedly boosting sales for online shops. it seemed legit at first, they even had a 'manager' chatting with me on Telegram. anyway, they said i needed to 'activate' my account by topping up a small amount of crypto. i sent about 0.05 BTC to an address they gave me. then, the tasks got weirder, asking for more and more 'top-ups' to complete 'high-value orders' that would supposedly pay back with huge commissions. i didn't realize until i tried to withdraw my funds and they kept asking for more 'tax' or 'unlock fees.' now they've ghosted me. i feel so stupid. is there any way to trace or recover that bitcoin?
A company called 'Recovery Squad' is asking for a 'capital gains tax' fee – is this another scam?
Hey everyone, I'm in a really tough spot here and honestly, feeling a bit desperate. Last year, I lost a significant amount of money – about R80,000 – to a crypto investment scam. I reported it to the local police here in Joburg, but, well, you know how that goes. Not much happened. Recently, out of nowhere, I was contacted by a company calling themselves 'Recovery Squad'. They emailed me, saying they'd traced my funds and could help me get them back. They had some details about my original scam that seemed pretty accurate, which got my hopes up. After a few calls, where they sounded very professional, they sent me a document claiming my funds were recovered but were being held by a 'financial institution' due to 'pending tax obligations.' Now they're asking for a 'capital gains tax' payment of around R15,000 before they can release my original money. They want me to pay it into a crypto wallet. My gut is screaming scam again, but part of me, the desperate part, wants to believe it. Has anyone heard of this 'Recovery Squad'? Is this capital gains tax thing for recovered scam money even real? I just can't afford to lose more. Thanks in advance for any help.
Lost my life savings to a 'fixed deposit' crypto platform, is recovery even possible?
Hey everyone, feeling completely numb right now. I put almost all my life savings, about $15k USD equivalent in USDT, into this platform called ZG.com. Someone I met online, who I thought was a friend, convinced me it was a secure fixed deposit with amazing daily returns. I was seeing the interest accumulate in my account there, everything looked super legitimate. For weeks it was fine, I even made a small withdrawal to test it out. But then when I tried to take out a larger amount, suddenly my account was frozen, and they’re demanding a huge 'tax' payment to release my funds. I didn't pay it, obviously, because I'm basically broke now. Did I just get totally scammed? Is there ANY hope of getting my money back? I'm in Durban, South Africa, and this involved crypto, so I'm not even sure where to start with local police.
My 'broker' is asking for a 'network security upgrade fee' to release my crypto profits. Is this a new scam tactic?
Hey everyone, I'm really freaking out here. I got into crypto trading back in December, saw an ad on Facebook for this company called 'CryptoVault Pro' (they're unregulated, I know, I know, I regret it now). Anyway, things were going well, my account balance showed really good profits, like over R150,000 (about $8k USD). I tried to withdraw a smaller amount last week to test it, and they blocked it. Now my 'account manager' is telling me I need to pay a 'network security upgrade fee' of R20,000 before any withdrawals can be processed, because they're upgrading their infrastructure for 'enhanced security and faster transactions'. He says it's a one-time fee and I'll get it back with my first withdrawal. This sounds super fishy to me. Has anyone heard of this before? I'm in Durban, South Africa, and I've already put in so much. My gut is screaming scam, but the money is right there on their dashboard.
Is 'Crypto Refund Advocates' asking for a 'proof of funds deposit' just another recovery scam?
Hey everyone, i'm so desperate. I lost almost everything – about $7,000 equivalent – in a crypto investment scam last year. It was one of those fake trading platforms, seemed legit at first, then locked me out. I reported it to the police here in East London and to the FBI IC3 online, but nothing really came of it. Felt so stupid and ashamed. Now, a company called 'Crypto Refund Advocates' contacted me out of the blue. They said they got my details from a 'leaked scam victim database' (which, red flag, i know). They claim they can recover my funds, but they need a 'proof of funds deposit' of $800 to show 'commitment' and 'unlock the recovery process.' It sounds like total BS, but a small part of me, the one that's still hurting from the loss, wants to believe. Have any of you heard of them? Or is this just someone trying to kick me when i'm already down? I can't afford to lose another cent.
My 'mentor' from a professional networking app got me with fake crypto graphs. What now?
I'm heartbroken and honestly, pretty embarrassed. I met this guy on LinkedIn, seemed super professional, talked about his success in crypto, shared impressive-looking charts and predictions. He presented himself as a mentor, really, someone who wanted to help me grow my portfolio. He even had a slick website for his 'investment platform' – I won't name it here, but it looked legit. I invested my savings, about 80,000 ZAR, over a few months. The returns looked amazing on their dashboard, but when I tried to withdraw, there was always some new 'fee' or 'tax' they needed. Now he's ghosted me. I'm in Port Elizabeth and feeling completely lost. What can I even do from here? Is there any way to report this effectively and maybe see my money again?
Is 'Global Recovery Services' legit? They're asking for a 'security deposit' to recover my initial crypto loss.
Hey everyone, I'm still reeling from a crypto scam a few months back. Lost about 8k USD, which for me, was a massive chunk of my savings. I reported it to the local police here in Durban, but honestly, didn't really get anywhere. Just felt like another dead end. Then, out of the blue, I got an email yesterday from a company called 'Global Recovery Services'. They somehow knew all the details of my initial scam – the approximate amount, the crypto exchange I used, even the wallet address (that really spooked me, tbh). They said they could help recover my funds, claiming they have special 'blockchain forensic tools' and 'international legal connections'. They sent me a 'contract' and are now asking for a 'refundable security deposit' of roughly 10% of my lost amount before they start any work. They say it's to cover initial processing and 'secure' the recovered funds. I'm so desperate to get my money back, but this 'deposit' feels… off. Is this a common thing? Or am I about to get scammed again?
Wallet drained after connecting to a 'DeFi Yield Farm' on Avalanche, any hope?
Hi everyone, I'm feeling so sick to my stomach right now. I usually consider myself pretty careful with crypto, but I messed up big time. I saw this ad on X (Twitter) for a new 'high-yield' farming protocol on Avalanche, promising crazy APYs. It looked really slick, had a bunch of fake testimonials, the whole nine yards. I linked my MetaMask, approved a transaction to 'deposit' some AVAX and USDC into what I thought was their farming contract, and then... nothing. Checked my wallet a few minutes later, and EVERYTHING was gone. Like, not just the deposited amount, but all my other AVAX and USDC too. My whole portfolio, wiped. It happened so fast, I didn't even see a second approval. I think it was one of those 'wallet drainer' scams, but I'm not entirely sure how. I'm in Pretoria, South Africa, and this was pretty much my savings. Have I lost everything? Is there *any* way to trace it or get it back? I feel so stupid and embarrassed. Any advice would be so appreciated.
My 'broker' FXChoice is demanding a 'fund verification fee' to release my crypto profits. Scam?
Ok, so i feel kinda dumb asking this, but i'm proper panicked right now. I got involved with this online trading platform, FXChoice, through someone i met on Telegram. They seemed really legit, showed me all these supposed wins, and i actually saw my 'balance' grow a lot, about a low five-figure sum, all in crypto. Now i've tried to withdraw, and they're saying I need to pay a 'fund verification fee' first. Like, another 10% of my total balance! It's a huge amount of money. I've already put in a decent chunk from my savings, and now this fee. They say it's for 'AML compliance' to verify the source of funds before they can release it to my South African bank account. Is this a common thing with crypto withdrawals? Or am I being played for a fool here? This whole thing is stressing me out big time.
My 'new partner' from a language exchange app got me into a fake gold trading platform. Any hope from SA?
I'm gutted, seriously. Met this incredible woman on a language exchange app, we talked for months, video calls, everything felt so real. She convinced me to invest in what she called a 'gold trading platform' – looked legit, charts moving, profits showing up. Started small, then she kept pushing for more, saying we needed to 'act fast' for bigger returns. Ended up putting in nearly my entire retirement fund, close to six figures in Rand. Now, the platform's gone, her number's dead, and I feel like an absolute idiot. I'm in Durban, South Africa. I've reported it to the local police, but they just seemed overwhelmed and didn't really 'get' the crypto side of things. Did contact my bank too, but they said the funds were sent to a crypto exchange and then untraceable. Is there *any* hope for me? Or am I just completely out of luck with this kind of scam here?
My 'new partner' from a global dating app vanished after I invested in 'SafeCryptoTrade' – what now?
I'm feeling so stupid right now. I met someone really lovely on an international dating app a few months ago, and we really clicked. We talked on WhatsApp constantly, they seemed so genuine and supportive. Eventually, they started talking about 'SafeCryptoTrade' – an investment platform they said was giving amazing returns. I was hesitant at first, but they were so convincing, showing me screenshots, talking about their own profits, even guiding me through setting up an account and making my first deposit. I put in about 50,000 ZAR which isn't a lot for some, but it was my emergency fund, everything I had saved. Everything looked great on the platform interface for a while, the balance was growing. Then, when I tried to withdraw a small amount to test it, they said there were 'tax' issues, then 'liquidity problems.' And now, a week ago, they just disappeared off WhatsApp, and the website's gone. I feel truly broken. Is there anything I can even DO from South Africa? I've heard about reporting to the FBI for crypto scams, but I'm not in the US. Please, any advice helps.
Is 'Global Asset Recovery Solutions' asking for a 'court filing fee' another scam after my crypto loss?
Okay, so like, I lost a good chunk of my savings, about 100,000 ZAR, to a crypto investment platform a few months ago. It was one of those fake ones that looked super professional, promised huge returns. My husband was so mad, tbh. I reported it to the South African police, but they just said these things are hard to track. Then, out of the blue, I got an email from a company calling themselves 'Global Asset Recovery Solutions'. They said they had seen my details on a 'data leak' list from the scamming platform (which already sounded a bit suss, right?). They seem legit though, sent me a document with a case number even. They're saying they can recover my funds but I need to pay a 'court filing fee' of about 15,000 ZAR before they can proceed. It's a lot, and after losing so much already, I'm terrified of being scammed again. Has anyone dealt with these guys or anything similar? Is this normal for recovery efforts?
Is 'Refund Police' legit? They say they can recover my crypto with an 'insurance fee'!
Look, i'm just so tired. A few months back, i got completely burned by an investment platform that turned out to be a total scam. Lost pretty much all my savings, a decent chunk of crypto. It was devastating, my family was so upset. I didn't even tell my wife the full amount, honestly. I reported it to the local police here in Port Elizabeth, but they just said these things are hard to trace. Then out of nowhere, i got an email from 'Refund Police'. They mentioned my specific case, like they knew details, which kinda freaked me out but also gave me a tiny bit of hope. They said they've tracked my funds to some offshore exchange and can get them back, but first i need to pay an "insurance fee" to cover the transfer costs, like it's a guarantee. It's not a small amount either, low five figures USD equivalent. After everything, i'm so wary, but also, what if it's real? I don't want to miss a chance but i absolutely cannot lose more money. Has anyone dealt with these guys? Is this just another scam preying on desperate people?
My unregulated forex broker froze my account, saying I need 'profit tax' to withdraw. What's next?
Hi everyone, I'm feeling sick to my stomach. I started trading forex with an online broker called EuroFX a few months ago. Everything seemed fine, even made some decent profits – nothing wild, maybe about 8k USD equivalent. When I tried to withdraw a portion of it last week, they approved the request initially, then a couple of days later I got an email saying my account was 'under review' due to 'large profits'. Now they're telling me I need to pay a 'profit tax' directly to them, equal to 15% of my total profit, before they can release any funds. My account is totally frozen, can't even see my balance anymore. I'm in Bloemfontein, and I put in most of my savings. Has anyone dealt with EuroFX or a similar situation? Is this 'profit tax' even a real thing? I'm so worried I've lost everything.
My 'broker' EuroFX is demanding a 'regulatory compliance bond' to release my profits. Scam?
Hi everyone, I really need some advice here. I started trading forex with a company called EuroFX a few months ago after seeing an ad on social media. Everything seemed fine, i mean, i was making some pretty decent profits based on what my 'account manager' told me. I wasn't really trying to withdraw at first, just watching my 'balance' grow. But now, I tried to pull out about $3,000, and they're saying I need to pay a 'regulatory compliance bond' of 15% of my total account balance before they can process the withdrawal. They're telling me it's standard procedure for international transfers and that it's fully refundable once the withdrawal clears. It feels really off, you know? They just keep saying it's for 'my own protection'. I'm based in Durban, South Africa, and I've already put in a fair bit of money. Has anyone dealt with this kind of thing before? Is this a normal part of online trading, or am I getting scammed?
Lost a load of USDT after 'customer support' from supposed Kraken expert, is it gone?
I really need some advice. I was trying to withdraw some USDT from my Kraken account, but it kept giving me an error. I went online, searched for Kraken support, and found a number. The person who answered sounded legit, very professional. They walked me through troubleshooting, said my account was 'flagged for unusual activity' and I needed to verify by connecting my wallet to a 'secure audit portal' they sent me a link for. Foolishly, I followed their instructions, signed a transaction that came up on my MetaMask, and next thing I know, all my USDT is just gone. Like, completely wiped out. This all happened yesterday evening, around 8 PM here in Johannesburg. I feel so stupid. I’ve contacted actual Kraken support now, but they said it looks like a phishing scam. Is there anything at all I can do? Or am I just out of luck?
Lost my crypto to a fake BitForex site after linking my Trust Wallet, is it gone?
Feeling like such an idiot right now, honestly. I was trying to deposit some of my altcoins onto BitForex, which I've used before, but I must've clicked on a sponsored ad or something. The site looked EXACTLY like BitForex, same logo, everything. I connected my Trust Wallet, approved the transaction, and thought nothing of it until I went to check my balance a few hours later. Everything was gone, literally everything. I'm talking about a decent amount, enough to really hurt. i checked the URL and it was something like `bitforex.exchange-official.com` or some spoofed nonsense. I immediately disconnected my wallet, changed all my passwords, and have been looking for ways to recover my funds. I filed a report with my local police but they just looked at me blankly. Is there anything at all I can do here? Has anyone recovered funds from something like this? I can't believe I fell for it.
My 'new friend' from a fitness app scammed me with a fake crypto platform, what now?
I'm just... completely heartbroken and embarrassed. I met this guy, Alex, on a fitness app, you know, just talking about health stuff. We moved to WhatsApp, and he was so charming, so supportive. After a few weeks, he mentioned how he'd made a lot of money trading crypto on some platform called 'ProXchange'. He said he could 'guide' me. I was hesitant at first, but things were tight, and he seemed so genuine. He sent me screenshots, even a video of his 'dashboard'. I started with a small amount, R10,000, then put in more, R50,000, then another R30,000. He was always there, pushing me, telling me we could buy a house together. I saw the numbers growing on the platform – from R90,000 to over R400,000 in a few weeks! But when I tried to withdraw, they said I needed to pay a 'tax clearance fee' of R80,000. I paid it, still no money. Then they asked for another 'regulatory fee'. That's when I finally realized. He blocked me everywhere. I've lost everything. I don't know what to do. I feel so stupid. Where do I even start reporting this in South Africa?
A company called 'Claims Justice' reached out via WhatsApp after my crypto loss, are they legit?
Hey everyone, i'm still reeling from a crypto scam a few months back. Lost about 70,000 ZAR (roughly 4k USD) on a fake investment platform. i was trying to make some extra cash for my kid's school fees, and it just... disappeared. anyway, a few days ago, i got a WhatsApp message out of the blue from someone claiming to be from 'Claims Justice.' They said they'd found my case through a database hack (sounded a bit fishy, tbh) and could help me recover my funds. They're asking for an upfront 'administrative fee' equal to 10% of what I lost, saying it's for legal processing and a mandatory audit before they can proceed. They even sent me a 'contract' that looks somewhat official. I'm desperate to get my money back, but I'm also terrified of getting scammed *again*. Has anyone heard of Claims Justice? Is this how legitimate crypto recovery works, or am I walking into another trap? Any advice would be really appreciated.
My 'mentor' from a professional network scammed me with a fake crypto platform, now what?
I'm gutted. Met this guy on LinkedIn, seemed super legit, like a real professional. He talked about diversifying investments, how traditional banks were slow, blah blah. We chatted for weeks, he even gave me some 'market insights' that actually seemed to pan out – small stuff, you know, building trust. Then he introduced me to what he called a 'private, high-yield crypto platform' for 'insiders.' Said he'd even match my initial deposit. I put in about $7,000, then another $5,000 the following week when the dashboard showed insane profits. Now, the platform's gone, his LinkedIn profile is gone, and I can't even access the 'funds.' i feel so stupid and embarrassed. I'm in Pretoria; where do I even start reporting this mess to get my money back?
Online 'girlfriend' convinced me to invest in XChange Global, then disappeared. What now?
I met 'Leah' on a dating app a few months ago, she said she was from Hong Kong but working in Joburg and we just clicked. Everything felt so real, you know? We talked every day, she even sent me handwritten letters. Then she started talking about this crypto platform, XChange Global, saying her uncle was a 'quant' there and it was a safe bet. I was hesitant at first, but she was so persistent, promising we could build a future together with the profits. I ended up putting in about R75,000, maybe more. It even showed profits rolling in at first, which made me trust her more. But when I tried to withdraw, there were all these 'tax' and 'compliance' fees. I paid some. Then she just vanished. Deleted her profile, blocked me everywhere. I feel sick to my stomach, like a complete fool. Where do I even start reporting this from South Africa? Should I call a bank? Police? I just want the money back, if possible, or to stop others.
Lost my savings after giving remote access for 'wallet verification' – is it gone?
I'm so ashamed, I think I've really messed up this time. I was using a decentralised exchange, not saying which one right now because I feel so stupid. Anyway, I got a pop-up saying my Trust Wallet needed 're-verification' because of new KYC rules – super official looking, had all the logos and everything. It offered a 'support chat'. Naturally, like an idiot, I clicked. Big mistake. The 'support agent' convinced me I needed to download AnyDesk so they could 'sync' my wallet. They talked me through it, saying it was a new security protocol. While they were connected, I saw my balance fluctuate wildly, then go to zero. They disconnected immediately. My crypto, about 8k USD in various coins, is just... gone. I tried to trace it on-chain, but I'm not good at that stuff. Is there any actual route to get this back? Or do I just have to accept it's a very expensive lesson?
My 'new friend' from TikTok led me to a crypto platform and now my savings are gone. Help?
I'm just... at a loss. I met this guy, 'Alex', on TikTok a few months ago. He seemed really nice, we talked for hours, he was always so encouraging. After a while, he started talking about this amazing crypto investment platform, ZG.com, where he was making passive income. He showed me screenshots, told me how simple it was. I was really hesitant at first, but he was so persuasive, and I trusted him. I invested about 8000 EUR, maybe more with the small top-ups he convinced me to make through Wise. It seemed legit, I saw my balance growing. But when I tried to withdraw, they started asking for 'tax' and 'compliance fees'. Then Alex disappeared. I feel so stupid, so exposed. This was my hard-earned money. I'm in Pretoria, South Africa. What can I even do from here? Is it genuinely just gone?
Is 'Crypto Trace Solutions' legit? They're asking for a processing fee after I lost my savings.
Hey everyone, I'm reeling a bit, not gonna lie. Back in December, I lost about R150,000 (around $8,000 USD) in a crypto investment scam – yeah, one of those 'guaranteed returns' things, felt so stupid after. Been trying to move on, but then outta nowhere I get this email from 'Crypto Trace Solutions' saying they saw my case registered (I did report it to the Hawks here in SA, never heard back though) and they can help recover my funds. They seem really professional, have a website and everything. But they're asking for a 'digital processing fee' of 0.05 BTC upfront before they can start. They said it's for blockchain analysis and legal filing. My partner is super skeptical, keeps saying it's another scam. But what if it's not? What if this is my only shot? Has anyone dealt with Crypto Trace Solutions or something similar? I'm in Durban, and honestly, losing that money really hit hard.
Lost a load of crypto after trying to 'refund' something from Caroline June Palm Beach, scam or just dodgy?
Okay, so i bought some clothes from a site called 'Caroline June Palm Beach' a few months ago, thinking it was a legit US brand. The stuff arrived, terrible quality, nothing like the pictures. I tried to return it, and that's where things went sideways. They emailed me saying I needed to pay a customs fee for the return shipping via a crypto transaction, 'for faster processing'. It sounded weird but I was desperate to get my money back, so I sent about $3,000 worth of ETH to an address they provided. Of course, the return never processed, and now they've blocked my email. I feel incredibly stupid. Is this a common scam? Is there any way at all to get my ETH back? I reported it to my bank, but they said crypto transactions are hard to trace. I'm based in SA, and I just feel totally lost and dumb for falling for it. Any advice, even if it's just to confirm it's gone?
Threatened by 'Steinberg and Associates' for a fake debt, scared of asset seizure – what can I do?
I'm in East London, South Africa, and I've been getting these absolutely terrifying phone calls for the past two weeks from people claiming to be 'Steinberg and Associates'. They're saying I owe some massive outstanding debt from an old loan I *never* took out, and they're threatening to get a court order to garnish my wages and seize my assets if I don't pay immediately. They even knew my address and some old employment details, which freaked me out. I honestly don't know where they got this information. I'm a single mom, and these threats are making me lose sleep. I've blocked the numbers, but they keep calling from new ones. Is this a common scam? Is there really anything they can do? I'm so worried about my bank accounts being frozen or losing my house. Any advice on how to handle this, or if I should even bother reporting it?
Cipher Rescue Chain contacted me about getting my crypto back, are they legit or another scam?
Hi everyone, i'm so desperate for some help. I fell for a really sophisticated crypto investment scam a few months ago, lost everything, about $15k, which was my retirement savings. It devastated me and my family. I reported it to the local police here in East London but honestly, they didn't seem to know what to do with crypto stuff. Then, out of nowhere, I got an email from a company called 'Cipher Rescue Chain.' They said they saw my case reported (not sure how, maybe dark web data breach?) and that they specialize in recovering crypto from these types of scams. They claim they have a 98% success rate and use 'advanced proprietary methods'. They want an upfront fee, about 10% of my lost funds, before they even start. They sent me a fancy brochure and a 'contract' but it all feels a bit too good to be true, especially after what I've been through. I'm terrified of being scammed again. Has anyone heard of them or used them? Is this a genuine chance to get my money back or am I just looking at another nightmare?