r/Confessions: Scams, Lies, and Life Lessons from Reddit Users

ATM Cash Back Scam

• 💡 A user recounts how they exploited an early 1980s ATM "deposit with cash back" feature to scam $10,000 (equivalent to over $31,000 today) by depositing empty envelopes.
• ⚠️ Despite the scam, the user faced no legal repercussions, only being flagged by the FDIC, which affected their ability to open bank accounts for years.
• 💸 The user admits to spending the illicit gains on frivolous items like "girls, weed, and beer" rather than practical uses like a down payment on a house.

Deception and Social Awkwardness

• 🎭 A story details a user who lied about a peanut butter allergy to avoid awkwardness on a date, leading to a six-year deception that complicates their current relationship.
• 🥤 Another user recounts becoming addicted to sparkling water (specifically La Croix) after a social media post, leading to a situation where they feel trapped by the persona they created.
• 🐉 A user describes lying about wanting a specific dragon tattoo to a new acquaintance, only for the acquaintance to get the exact same tattoo, causing mixed feelings of amusement and guilt.

Life's Unexpected Turns and Misfortunes

• 💊 A user shares how they and their sister secretly administered their father's antipsychotic medication to him daily to manage his abusive behavior, creating a temporary period of peace.
• 🍕 A former ice rink employee details how they continued to steal food from the breakroom for months after being fired by being ghosted, as they still had keys and were never asked to return them.
• 📚 A college student avoided significant library late fees by secretly returning overdue books to the shelves and then questioning the bill, successfully having the fees waived and their transcript released.

Facing Mortality and Financial Freedom

• 💔 A 22-year-old with terminal cancer discusses using a credit card with a 0% APR to buy whatever they want, accepting the debt will die with them as they have little time left.