Evelyn stared at her phone screen, the blue light reflecting in her eyes. “An authorization code? But that’s for my entire savings, Officer! It says ‘Transfer Amount: $15,000.’ That’s my life’s work. I can’t… please, you told me it was just a processing fee.”
“The amount is a placeholder!” Miller barked, his voice now devoid of any pretense of courtesy. “If you don’t authorize it, the system automatically marks your assets for seizure. The narcotics charges will be pinned on you by noon. You want to lose your house? Keep stalling.”
Evelyn made a soft, pathetic sound—that of someone who had reached the end of their rope. She reached out, her finger trembling as it hovered over the ‘Confirm’ button on her mobile banking app. The scammer held his breath, waiting for the final, ruinous click.