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I knew better, but I still lost money anyway

I’m no stranger to avoiding scams. I frequently get those texts about new job opportunities offering high salaries. I don’t pick up phone calls from unknown numbers or respond to demands to pay random parking tickets.

But I was caught off guard this time because, as my scammer reminded me, I called him.

That’s true. I’d been locked out of my Facebook account weeks earlier when my computer did an automatic security upgrade. None of my numerous attempts to get back in worked, so when I Googled Facebook customer support and found an 800 number, I decided to try it.

A representative picked up my call. He told me someone was trying to use my identity to purchase $40,000 worth of goods on Facebook Marketplace. My gut told me that was unlikely, but it didn’t stop me from following his instructions to complete several financial transactions.

He started by asking me to send money to my daughter, which would then be credited back to me. I watched that happen. Then he snuck in another name, assuring me I’d see the credit back immediately. I didn’t.

I try not to think about what happened next. After a slow wind-up, things started moving at warp speed. He asked me to use Venmo, Apple Cash, and Zelle to move money around. Fortunately, Venmo puts a hold on transactions, so those didn’t go through, but when you pay with Apple Cash and Zelle, the money is gone.

It could have been so much worse, but as things progressed, my body started shaking. I finally told him I had to end the call. He said we didn’t have too much more to do and that he’d call me back on Monday to complete the process. He never did.

It’s too easy to get scammed

Once I realized what had happened, I called my bank. While the representative was sympathetic, she explained there was nothing she could do; my money was gone. She did recommend I contact the police and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. When I met with the police officer at my local precinct, he scolded me, saying, “What were you thinking?”

That’s just it. I wasn’t thinking. I can’t explain what came over me and why I let myself become so vulnerable. I know better, don’t I?

But I’m not alone. Pew Research Center estimates that in the past year, 73% of Americans have fallen victim to online scams. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that in 2024, Americans were defrauded out of $16.6 billion. Although it’s assumed that the elderly are the most vulnerable, we’re all at risk.

I’m now dealing with the shame and embarrassment

It’s been difficult to admit that I was scammed. Until they read it here, most of my children will have been unaware of this incident.

When I finally told my oldest son, he admitted he’d almost been a victim himself. He’d responded to a text about a package being held by the post office. Fortunately for him, he realized what was happening in time.

I’ve made peace with the fact that no one is going to be punished for scamming me; I’m just one more statistic. My police report is in the same black hole as countless others, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still feel the impact.

Now every time I contact a customer service representative about any financial issue, my stomach clenches. I get a little sweaty, and I start to panic. I worry that I’ll get scammed again.

These reactions may actually be healthy. Hopefully, they’ll protect me from becoming a victim again. They were there the first time; I just didn’t pay attention. I’ll be paying attention now.

Read the original article on Business Insider

amber waves farmstand — I came prepared with my tie-dye tote.

Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Ina Garten is a Hamptons legend.
I visited some of her favorite farm stands: Amber Waves, Round Swamp Farm, and Green Thumb Organic Farm.
They’re known for their high prices — think $26 hummus — but they’re cozy and the food is delicious.

No one does the Hamptons like the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, but one certainly can try.

While perusing her blog for recommendations, I came across a 2021 list of her favorite spots “out East,” including farm stands and specialty food stores.

By “out East,” Garten means the Hamptons, an enclave for New York City’s wealthiest along the South Fork of Long Island. On a recent trip there, I visited three of Garten’s recommended spots. While I anticipated they might be pretentious or snobby, instead, I found charming family-owned businesses selling homemade pies and staffed by friendly employees.

I also found high prices on some of the produce. Much has been said about the prices in the Hamptons, something I confirmed throughout my two-day visit, when I saw $24 oatmeal, $71 steak, $24 gazpacho, and $18 guacamole.

Round Swamp Farm, one of the farm stands I visited, previously told Business Insider they “believe that the prices of our products fairly represent the high quality and variety of the fresh food and produce we offer” and are “necessary” to support staff and their families who live in one of the most expensive areas in the country.

Green Thumb Organic Farm also noted that they pay their workers more than the national average, which could affect their prices, too.

Here’s what it was like to visit some of Garten’s favorite Hamptons farm stands, including the price tags, homemade baked goods, clams by the bunch, and a lot of fresh produce.

Ina Garten is synonymous with the Hamptons and has recommendations for everything there.

ina garten way — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

So, on my most recent trip, I visited three of her favorite farm stands: Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett, Round Swamp Farm in Bridgehampton, and Green Thumb Organic Farm in Water Mill.

My first stop was Amber Waves Farm.

During a 2022 segment on her Food Network show, Garten took her friend and fellow chef Marcus Samuelsson to Amber Waves, calling it “a wonderful place.”

“I love to come here,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”

Amber Waves also has a small store in the town of East Hampton, but that location is essentially a coffee shop.

In addition to being a working farm, the Amagansett location is also a café and market.

amber waves outdoor seating — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

When I pulled up on a Tuesday afternoon, it was quite crowded. Many of the outdoor seats were taken.

It’s also CSA-based (community-supported agriculture), which means that locals can subscribe to pick up a box of fresh produce from Amber Waves weekly. Garten herself has said she was a member.

Inside was painted a bright white with exposed beams and string lights.

amber waves interior — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

I felt like I was entering a Pinterest board from 2012.

There was a large selection of produce, with prices ranging from $5 for a bunch of radishes to $23 for a pound of kale.

amber waves produce section — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

To compare, I could get a pound of non-GMO kale from a Fairway in New York City for $4.43 and one bunch of organic radishes for $3.32.

The fruit was also on the expensive side — these blueberries were $9 per pint.

amber waves produce — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

A pint of blueberries at Fairway would set me back $6.65.

Those prices aren’t anything out of the ordinary for the Hamptons, though.

Storefronts in the Hamptons. — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Everything tends to be expensive out here for a few reasons.

First, with a concentration of affluent residents and visitors, businesses can simply charge that much, and people will pay. Second, produce is mainly grown out here, and organic fruits and vegetables generally cost more to produce, due to higher labor demands and the costs of organic materials, among other factors. Third, goods need to be priced high so businesses earn enough of a profit to pay employees a livable wage in the area.

The Agency Hamptons, a local real estate agency, reported that the cost of living in the Hamptons is 47.1% higher than the national average, and the average income is $125,861.

Amber Waves also sold its own branded versions of dips and sauces, such as guacamole ($15) and hummus ($26).

amber waves prepared foods — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

In fact, almost everything was Amber Waves-branded.

We can’t forget the prepared foods, either. These roasted veggies ($15) and spicy sesame tuna ($16) looked delicious.

The packages also had helpful instructions on how to cook the dishes.

There were also wraps to go, such as this $18 chicken Caesar wrap.

amber waves foods — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

In addition to pre-made foods, Amber Waves is also a café with a full menu with breakfast foods, tacos, coffee, smoothies, and more.

I snagged a chocolate chip cookie for $4. It was delicious.

Of course, there was a large selection of local Long Island wines, such as Summer in a Bottle from Wölffer Estate.

wine selection at amber waves — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Long Island is known for its wines, most of which are on the North Fork. The Hamptons are located on the South Fork.

I was surprised to find a large merchandise section of the store. The hats were $36, and the totes ranged from $32 to $148.

amber waves merch — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Amber Waves has become something of a tourist spot over the last few years, with attention from Garten and The New York Times. What better way to prove you’ve been shopping at the same place as Ina Garten than with a branded tote?

There were also Amber Waves candles for $35.

No farm stand would be complete without a flower section. It was $6 a bunch.

amber waves flowers — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

The flowers, of all things, would cost me the same (if not more) in Manhattan.

What sets Amber Waves apart is the huge farm in the back, which is open for anyone to check out.

amber waves farm — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

This is a huge piece of property for its location on Amagansett’s Main Street, and it made visiting the store feel more like an experience.

There’s a section for kids to play, a petting zoo, the option to pick your own flowers, and more.

amber waves signs — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

I saw kids enjoying a set of swings, and there was even a spot for anyone who wanted to relax and read a book, complete with a rug and a little library. I could’ve sat there and lounged for an hour or two.

There was someone sitting at a desk to make sure people were following the rules of the farm — for example, you could only pick your own bouquets if you had paid the $8 entry fee.

Amber Waves set a high bar for the other two stops I’d be making. It was clean, dedicated to helping the community, and had plenty of space.

A large part of Amber Waves’ mission is to combat four issues facing Americans and their food supply: farm apprenticeship, children’s education, food insecurity, and public access.

Signs at the farm noted the average age of an American farmer is 57 years old, and as such, Amber Waves offers farm apprenticeship programs.

It also hosts over 6,000 kids annually at its Outdoor Classroom to help them become familiar with food, gardening, and healthy habits.

In terms of food insecurity, Amber Waves says it grows an “extra 20,000 pounds of fresh produce” to donate to local food banks, as 10% of homes in East Hampton are food insecure.

Their final issue, public access, is to combat American loneliness. Amber Waves, in its own words, wants the farm to act as a “public resource” like a park or library — in other words, a “third place” that “friends and neighbors [can] meet, share meals, relax, and build community.”

Next I visited Round Swamp Farm in Bridgehampton. I’ve been to the East Hampton location before, but this spot was new to me.

I went to Round Swamp’s larger East Hampton location in 2023. There’s also a stand in Montauk, which opened in 2019.

On Instagram, Garten once wrote that Round Swamp “has the best produce, prepared foods, and baked goods. I don’t know how they make so many things so delicious, but they do!”

Unlike at Amber Waves, the prices were not easy to find — I wondered if this had something to do with Round Swamp’s brushes with virality.

round swamp fruit — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Outlets like The Daily Mail have reported on Round Swamp, writing about influencers who have flocked there to highlight its prices.

In fact, as I was taking photos, an employee approached me to ask if I was there to write about how expensive things were. They also told me how influencers have crowded the store, annoying some locals.

In a comment to Business Insider, Round Swamp said they are “grateful for all of the customers who choose to support our family-run business, including influencers,” and “are fortunate they choose to display what we work hard to create in front of their fans.”

They also added that they “respect the hard work that goes into creating content, acquiring followers, and achieving success on the internet.”

The influencers may be annoying to locals, but they’re not wrong: This lobster salad cost $85 a pound. This tub was a ½ pound and cost $44.19.

round swamp salad — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Lobster is expensive — the day before this trip, I went to Montauk institution Duryea’s and paid $97 for a lobster cobb salad.

I was able to see some prices, though. These green beans were $8 a pound, plums were $4.59 a pound, and shishito peppers were $8 a pint.

round swamp produce — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

To compare to Fairway once again, a pound of green beans could be as cheap as $5.54 per pound. Plums, however, were almost the same price at $4.43 per pound.

My Fairway didn’t have any shishito peppers.

Inside, there were many premade salads to choose from.

round swamp salads — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Round Swamp is also known for its chicken salad and its chicken fingers.

The centerpiece of Round Swamp, though, was its pastries.

round swamp pastries — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Round Swamp makes the baked goods every morning from scratch and doesn’t use any artificial ingredients, per its website.

The Snyder family has owned Round Swamp for over 50 years, meaning they have baking down to a science.

There were homemade muffins, brownies, cookies, pies, and cakes. Four muffins cost $20. There were also cinnamon rolls that were still hot and smelled amazing.

There was also a large selection of homemade jam, which cost $44.99 for a three-pack.

round swamp james — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Like at Amber Waves, there were many things that were Round Swamp-branded.

I also saw plenty of brand-name items I could find in New York City.

round swamp sauces oils and mixes — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

In fact, I spotted the olive oil I used: Graza.

Before leaving, I had to get what I once called “the best sandwich of my life.” It’s tomato, mozzarella, arugula, and balsamic vinegar.

tomoato mozzarella pesto sandwich — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Yes, I really did say that. The tomatoes were juicy, the bread was light and fluffy, and I wish I could eat it every single day.

Back in 2023, it cost $24, and I thought it was “worth every penny.” Now, in 2025, it’s gone down to $20.

Overall, this Round Swamp location was cute, but I’d go back to the East Hampton one first.

breakfast pizzas — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

If I thought the East Hampton location was small, the Bridgehampton one was about half its size. It didn’t have as much of a selection as Amber Waves or the East Hampton one; it was mainly a spot to buy baked goods, a smaller selection of produce, or one of Round Swamp’s many prepared salads or sandwiches.

The East Hampton location felt more like a grocery store, with sections for meat and fish and a larger inventory overall.

My final stop was Green Thumb Organic Farm in Water Mill.

green thumb water mill — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

This is the only location of Green Thumb, as the farm itself is right out back.

Garten hasn’t said anything recently about Green Thumb, but it was a frequent stop on “Barefoot Contessa,” as one private chef noted on Hamptons.com.

I arrived at the end of the day, so it was pretty empty.

After visiting two crowded places, it was nice to have some breathing room.

But the fruit and veggies were plentiful.

veggies green thumb — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Green Thumb was clearly intended to sell produce first and foremost. Almost everything I saw came directly from the crops outside.

Like Amber Waves, Green Thumb is a working farm, with much of its produce grown on the same property as the store.

green thumb sign — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Round Swamp is a working farm, too, but not at the location I visited in Bridgehampton.

There was even more produce inside. Of the three locations, this was the most rustic, with dark wood and vintage posters on the wall.

green thumb interior — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

I felt like I was inside a barn.

I appreciated that prices were displayed on the board. The blueberries here were $8 a pint, slightly less than at Amber Waves.

green thumb prices — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Overall, this was slightly cheaper than the other two stands, but still more expensive than what I could get at my local grocery store in Manhattan.

There was also merch, including hats ($25) and a cookbook written by the farm’s owners ($15).

green thumb merch — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The cookbook was written by the Halsey family, which has owned Green Thumb for 300 years, per the website.

The website also notes that Green Thumb pays its workers “a living wage above the national and regional farm workers’ average.”

Out back there were coolers filled with seafood. These clams were $10 per bunch.

clams at green thumb — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

This was the only one of the three farm stands that offered fresh seafood, as far as I could see.

The lobster here was slightly cheaper than Round Swamp’s, at $40 for a ½ pound.

lobster green thumb — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This was just lobster meat, though, not lobster salad.

An employee told me that every Friday, a poke truck parks outside. She said it was a huge draw for the community.

green thumb truck — Jonah Rosenberg for Business Insider

Green Thumb is a CSA farm, like Amber Waves.

If you’re close to Cobble Hill in Brooklyn, you can even get your produce delivered there as a member.

Each farm stand offers something different to its patrons. I would go back to all three.

interior of amber waves — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Amber Waves, in addition to being a good spot for groceries, is also a café that’s built to be a meeting place and gives back to the community.

Round Swamp has some of the best prepared foods I’ve seen — and, of course, I love the sandwiches — and also has delicious baked goods.

Green Thumb is the most low-key of the three, with friendly employees. I appreciate that prices are transparently marked and that there is a seafood section.

I would recommend all three of these farm stands to anyone visiting the Hamptons in the future, and it doesn’t have to be summer: Amber Waves is open year-round, while Round Swamp and Green Thumb are open through November.

As usual, the Barefoot Contessa did not steer me wrong.

Read the original article on Business Insider