2010

I wanted to post this as it upset me.

P and I were returning from Llandudno. We stopped for a coffee. I was sitting and happened to glance over at the slot machines...in their own little corner, a conveniently placed cash machine and those inviting bright flashing lights...dearie me. P bought the coffee over. My thoughts were wandering a bit and I said to P how criminal it was to have all those slot machines at a service station. P said...he never really notices them. This is the thing you see...I see what he doesn't. Anyway, I diversify. There was a young guy playing the machines....he came out and started going from table to table trying to flog a nintendo wii fit. He came to us and asked if we were interested and I felt dead sorry for him...P told him to keep his wii fit and go home and use it...in at jokey way. Anyhow...he did manage to get someone to buy it and he was staight back on the machines. P wanted to go but I wanted to run over and drag him off. It was horrible to watch. Really horrible.

At what point will I become oblivious to this?

Maybe never. I guess I can only look after me. Jas 🙂

Hi Jas,

You are just one person in a huge world and you alone cannot save everybody. Right now, you can only continue to save yourself and you are not responsible for preventing all the misery that gambling causes.

The cash machine is purposely placed in close proximity to the machines to encourage people to part with their money.

Just in the same way that the coffee shop in the service station charges extortionate prices for coffee because people on long journeys need to stop, drink coffee and pay through the nose for it!

Marketing Strategy!!! or exploitation!!! Just don't get me started!!!

Anyway, glad to hear other than that you are fine and dandy!

Not too convinced that you should become a hermit and not do the flower show though? (But I understand your point of view)

Weldy x

jasmine. . Glad you enjoyed your break and for the post on my diary. . That wii fit reminds me of a diary on here who pawned his dvd player to make ends meet due to gambling. . Thankfully now he is on recovery road and has managed to get one through not betting. . Maybe you could persuade your friend "the captain" out of retirement. . Best wishes. . wp 🙂

I was in chat tonight and a member was on about goals. Got me thinking. Always been a forward planner and had many goals and aspirations in my life. This was put on hold whilst gambling took over but I've suddenly started to think about the future and what it holds for me. I have a good feeling about my future.

It is approaching the 23.4.10....a year to the date I stumbled across this site by typing "help" and "gambling" into google. I guess a year is early days considering my gambling progressively went from zero to off the scale over a 14 year period.

A little confused right now as to the letting go process. It's a tricky one.

Jas x

Hi Jas

Good to read that you are feeling positive about the future. Belated Happy Birthday, just read about that this morning, nice that you went away and had a good time.

Last answer was Feet but I bow to your vastly superior knowledge on the subject of rhyming slang!

Things arent great here. P's debit card has been used fraudulently. Checked through my bank statements and there are a couple of weird transactions and now there is a load of stuff pending. We will have to take the hit on the cash until investigated. I am so utterly P***** off. Fed up to the back teeth. What an absolute mess. Wage day too. I want to scream my head off and roll on the floor kicking and screaming like a 2 year old.....this is definitely an f.M.L moment (f*** my life)

Please give me strength to deal with this.

Hi Jas,

If the card, like you say, has been used fraudulently.. the money will be returned. Its just a question of time. Dig deep.. don't use this as a reason to add to the problem if you get my drift. Scream the head off as much as you want to but also keep in mind that in a few days time this unfortunate event will all be sorted and everything will be back to normal. Keep safe.. S.A 🙂

Some criminal has stolen from us.

I have been awake all night just wondering how they have managed to get hold of our details....and then I went into a blind panic.

When I was gambling online I had, literally 100's of accounts....I was using both mine and P's debit cards and credit card details. When I wanted to withdraw I was forced to provide i/d which was copies of passport, driving license, front and back of the card used to deposit and a utility bill. I emailed all this data to these people without thinking of how much danger I was putting me and my husband in.

I have been such a fool, I really have.

Thanks SA for your words of comfort. Our bank have been really good and the fraud department are dealing with it. I have also rung the police.

This may have nothing to do with my online gambling days but everything is spinning in my head because I am at a loss as to how they got our card details. P had a new debit card recently but I haven't. Everything has been cancelled now.

So, until this is proven to be fraudulent we have to stand out of the money. All our dd's dropping out next week and no back up funds to prop the account up until it is sorted. Jas, you have made a balls up big time...you gambled the lot away and have nothing now. Vulnerable.

I am not telling my family about this. They will presume we have the cash to stand this theft whilst it is being sorted but in absolute honesty we haven't.

To warn anyone on here who reads my diary...this started with two weird transactions for mobile phone top ups. One to voda phone and one to o2. £30 each taken on the same day. Not our transactions....and then a week later, which was yesterday they have all but emptied our account. Apparently, after searching on google, this mobile top up scam has been going on for at least 2 years.....so CHECK your statements guys.

The fallout from my gambling keeps kicking me in my face but I am going to deal with this, I have no other option.

Going to try to get some sleep.

Jas,

thats awful! Must be so stressful 🙁 its so scary to think people can get at our money so easily.

I had a weird email supposedly from Vodaphone sent to my junk folder of my email. I didnt open it, but wonder if its part of the same scam.

Hope you get things sorted out soon, use the experience as a further reminder of the effect gambling can have on your life, if you can. I know its hard to see any positive in it right now.

Will be thinking of you. I often feeling like throwing myself on the floor like a toddler too (its extremely common amongst us adults, I wonder why we dont all just give in to the urge).

Take care,

f x

Hi Jas. Grrr, | hate this sort of thing. Glad the bank are being helpful.

Might be a long shot, but I am always afraid of " key loggers ". It`s a bit of software that can be installed on your computer without you knowing it. It can pick up on key strokes so it can send your cc details to a third party.

http://download.cnet.com/Spyb…roy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html

http://www.superantispyware.com/

As well as using anti virus, may I suggest you download both of the above, update and run a scan. They are free and I have used them for years. I trust you are using a firewall also.

Jas, if you want a bit more help with this let me know.

I use various anti spyware scanners along with anti virus.

http://www.superantispyware.com/

(((((Jas)))))

So sorry to hear what has happened re P's dabit card.

I had a similar experience Dec 2008, a bill payment was set up from my account for 500 pound.all that was available took me to overdraft limit. My bank were very helpful and gave me the money back. Just before this had a spam e mail purporting to be from my bank and I opened it but did not log in to the account od the screen it displayed cos I thought it was a scam, darm convincing copy of the log in screem I must say.

The people on fraud at the bank said there was probably a logger as Graham said embedded in the email. I don't think its connected to your gambling at all just criminals looking for anything they can get.

Have a good scream and throw yourself on the floor if it makes you feel better girl!!1

I think because we feel guilty for the gambling we take on board all the blame for financial stuff going wrong even whe we are not, I know I do.

Its so hard but you have reported it and thats all you can do.

Thinking of you

love W xx

My bank account being fraudulently used has hit me real hard. I haven't slept properly and I am worrying about rediculous things which will probably never happen. The money part of it has left us with a headache. Until the fraud dept have sorted it I have had to cancel dd's as we have no spare funds......all our hard work and we have no savings to speak of......I feel terrible about this. This incident has again highlighted the trail of financial devastation caused by my cg.

P has gone off to a big meeting today and I have offered to go to stay with his Ma and wait for the Doctor to visit her. I suppose it will take me out of my worry zone temporarily.

I just feel very vulnerable today. I have a feeling of dread and it's not nice at all. I hate these scroats who took our cash.

It goes without saying i have not gambled...I am almost 100% positive if this had happened when I was still gambling it would have pushed me over the edge.

Sad and angry Jas x

Hi Jas,

TRY not to worry about what has happened,its happened and what will be will be.

If i,ve learnt ANYTHING over the last 4 years its that WORRY solves NOTHING.

I am still worrying about the future etc as i guess you are but WORRYING definately doesnt alter the physical outcome but it hinders the mental outcome.

I,m sure the money will return,the banks have a duty to resolve these issues based on what i know with how they work.

Good on ya for not gambling,its not easy is it at times like these,i find it tough too BUT at the VERY VERY least i too have NOT gambled,i feel a tiny bit proud of that and you should feel the same,

Warm regards,

"" A NEW LIFE ""

I agree ANL. You both should be proud. Jas what has happened is horrible. It is like someone has invaded your privacy.

Thank you so much ANL and G xx

Just home from my ma-in-law's. She is getting old and very frail. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Made me think...what the hell you worrying about Jas...yeah, they stole my cash but they didn't kill me....

As you say ANL....I feel so very proud that this hasn't made me gamble again. I must be getting stronger eh....bring it on!

Going to have a little drinkie poo now and try to relax.

Love Jas //(*_*)