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My life was back on track, and I quit my miserable accounting job.I used what I had learned from taking down the scam operation and the following I had built online to start a nonprofit group that helped stay-at-home moms and older single women avoid scams.I called the group "Dawn". It stood for leaving the darkness behind and starting over.Six months later, a large auditorium downtown was packed.I stood under the spotlight and wrapped up the last talk of my anti-scam tour."Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is," I said. "Perfect partners and huge investment returns are classic scam tactics. If you protect your money, you're protecting your future."The audience broke into loud applause.After the talk, the crowd slowly cleared out.A young woman in a floral dress approached me hesitantly. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, and she tugged at my sleeve."Ms. Locke." The moment she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks."What's wrong? Don't cry
A major story made headlines across the country a few days later."A major international scam network has been dismantled. More than 300 suspects have been arrested after authorities shut down a large-scale overseas fraud operation!"I sat on the couch, quietly watching the news.On the screen, a large charter plane landed at an international airport.The aircraft door opened, and heavily armed officers escorted rows of suspects off the plane. Their heads were covered with black bags, their hands were cuffed behind their backs, and their ankles were shackled.The camera moved to two of the men near the front.Even with their faces covered, I recognized them immediately.Viktor had a cast on his right leg and was limping.Eric's shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages.I heard that enforcers sent by their boss had stormed in just as the police tactical team broke into the building.Neither Eric nor Viktor died. Both were seriously wounded in the shootout and arrested at the sce
"What do you mean?" Viktor completely lost it.On the other end, the large monitor behind him suddenly lit up.Kane had used the malware to take control of the main computer in their office.The encrypted records that could destroy Viktor appeared clearly on the screen. A screenshot of a sent email also appeared beside them.It had been sent to the man running the entire operation."I just sent these records to the real boss behind your operation," I said. "I imagine he's already sending people to find you and demand answers.""I'll kill you!" Viktor fired two shots at the screen in a fit of rage.The bullets shattered his screen. The image shook violently, but the call stayed connected."Save your breath." I cut him off as he raged helplessly."And by the way, when you opened that link, you didn't only expose your records. You also gave us your exact IP address." I put up a satellite map showing his location. A red marker pinpointed the building they were in."The local po
"I sent you the link. Just open it and enter the account you want the money sent to." I sent the message and waited quietly.A minute later, Viktor sent me a video call request. I took a deep breath, put a terrified look on my face, and answered.The screen lit up.Viktor sat in a leather chair in a dark office. He toyed with a handgun while Eric lay beaten and bloodied at his feet.Eric's face was covered in blood. One eye was swollen shut, and he let out a strange, guttural sound."Take a good look, bitch. This is what happens when you screw with me," Viktor said.He arrogantly turned the camera, showing me several armed men standing outside the office."Where's the money? What should I do?" he asked.I shook violently, clutching my arms and stammering. "Viktor, just open the link. It'll give you a code."Viktor scoffed and picked up another work phone. He opened the link I had sent him. "It's open. Now what?"I stared at my laptop screen.Kane's messages came flooding in.
The next morning, I received my first death threat.It came from a burner number. "Madeline Locke, Apartment 403, 184 Oakridge Street. You really think you can get away?"Then they sent me a gruesome photo of a dead cat.I stared at it without flinching. This was nothing compared to what I had been through in my previous life.Five minutes later, my coworkers' group chat blew up.Someone using an anonymous account started flooding the chat with photos. They were all fake explicit pictures of me."Madeline Locke doesn't pay back her debts. She sleeps with men for money!""Scandal! The company's accountant will do anything to land a rich man!"The group chat went wild."Oh my goodness, is that Madeline?""She always seemed so proper. Who knew she was like this in private?""That's disgusting. Get rid of her already!"Even my boss called me out in the group chat. "Madeline, what the hell is this? Come to the office and resign immediately. You're making the company look bad!"
I sent the voice message, then smiled as I blocked Eric again.I put my phone away.Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the scam compound was in complete chaos.My laptop screen lit up. Kane had sent me a grainy surveillance video. "Maddy, nice work. I hacked into the cameras at their office. You're going to want to see this."There was no audio, but the footage was enough to make my skin crawl.Eric sat slumped at his desk, staring at his phone. He looked completely drained.He kept refreshing his messages and calling me nonstop.But it was all useless.Suddenly, the door was kicked open.A heavily built man with a scarred face and a scorpion tattoo on his neck stormed in with several armed men.He was Viktor, the man in charge of the compound.He grabbed Eric by the hair and slammed his head onto the keyboard.Kane sent me a translation of what they were saying."Viktor found out that two million dollars was taken from another victim's account. That money was supposed to







