Just a friendly reminder...tis the season for scammers

greensthings

greensthings

New member
The information below was largely reproduced from this article published by Amy Witthohn in 2005:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/4736/beware_of_message_board_scam_artists.html

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First, I am in no way putting down message boards if properly used, they are a huge resource of information and friendship. With that said, I wanted to give some well needed information to those out there who visit message boards.

We have all, at one point or another, posted or read information on a message board and Im sure a few of us have developed friendships on these same boards. Now granted, this does not happen all the time, but I would like to share a few experiences that have happened to raise awareness on the newest type of scam artist out there.

A young lady had been posting on a parenting board I was a member of and she was a nice, funny, and lively young lady. I felt like we all had gotten to know her the 9 months she had been a member. She had a rough home life, 2 kids, and an abusive boyfriend. She did not have the money to leave her situation, but even with the drama in her life, she always tried to be cheerful and give warm advice to those in need. Well right before Christmas she posted a long saga that was happening in her life, ending with her kids would not have gifts for Christmas.

Everyone felt their heart go out to this girl and her children and a few members set up a fund to donate to this girl, so that her kids might have a Christmas after all. It all sounded sweet and innocent and I think all together 550 dollars was raised for this girl. Of course, she was grateful and appreciative. I did not donate to the fund myself because I don't believe in giving the gift of money to someone I have yet to meet, but the day after she received her money she disappeared in to the unknown, never to be heard from again. A lot of members said, 'I'll bet she left that boyfriend of hers' and it was never really talked about again.

Well a couple of months later I was on another message board, reading through archived posts and what do you know? Around Christmas, the same girl gave a different story and got about 300 dollars from this message board too. Well, by then my mind was working overdrive and I knew what had happened. So, the people thinking they were doing a kind act, helping their 'Friend', actually got scammed.

This happens all the time and its actually easier to scam money from a message board than anything else. My theory is this, make friends and enjoy your message boards because I really love reading on mine, but be very wary in donating to a persons cause. Think of it this way. You don't personally know this person and how do you really know what they are typing is true?

This was not written to discourage the use of message boards. It was written to bring about an awareness of the fraudulent acts that affect a lot of people on a daily basis.

I am not saying EVERY story posted on a message board is a scam.
What I am saying is...IF you do not know the person in REAL LIFE, then take any story you read on a message board, and realize there may be a reason they could not get "help" from a local charity, church or social service group in their own home town.
I do not want to see good people (who probably need the money more than the person scamming) get taken all because someone has a great imagination.
If your heart is in the right place, then donate to a local charity or group that can use the money to help someone in your own local area!
 
:error: Its happened to me twice in 10 years here on AOl. :error: I fell for it being soft hearted & I hate to see women suffer. A good rule to go by is what a close friend taught me long agao named ROADDEPUTY1. He said GUNNY HUNNY ITS AOL THESE PEOPLE CAN BE WHOEVER THEY WANT TO BE. and BOY was he correct. THANKS GREEN for the reminder.
 
We also have to remember that not all are scammers also ~ it never hurts to give a word of encouragement or a shoulder to cry on! I don't know what I would have done without my friends on here during the last few years.

I have read over my own story and shook my head at times and thought that there was no way that someone could go though "all of that". Never be scared to lend an ear!!! Sometimes that is all that a person really is asking for!
 
There is a huge difference between asking for a word of encouragement, for a prayer or a shoulder to lean on and asking for money and presents!

Lord knows, I have needed a word of encouragement and a shoulder to lean on myself (especially lately)!
 
Unfortunately, most scammers know how to blur the line and make it seem as if all they are asking for is a prayer for their family all while posting the kids "wish lists".

I will say it again, If you feel you need to give monetary things or presents to someone that you have never met in person....take that money, gift etc down to your local salvation army, church, shelter, food distribution center, social services, toys for tots, children's hospital etc.
 
All I want for Christmas is rain. If anybody could send me some rain for Christmas :laughing:

I hate it when I take time to look up a ton of resources for people who post stuff like that online and they are like "whateveah" because what they want is paypal-not actual help. :cussing: I've wasted a lot of time trying to help people who really don't want any help. And since I have so much medical background, I see right through many medical scams which makes me no fun to have around on some boards :whistle: If you're going to come down with a disease, at least look it up first :hammer:
 
tharedhead said:
All I want for Christmas is rain. If anybody could send me some rain for Christmas :laughing:

I hate it when I take time to look up a ton of resources for people who post stuff like that online and they are like "whateveah" because what they want is paypal-not actual help. :cussing: I've wasted a lot of time trying to help people who really don't want any help. And since I have so much medical background, I see right through many medical scams which makes me no fun to have around on some boards :whistle: If you're going to come down with a disease, at least look it up first :hammer:
Click to expand...

I'd be happy to send you the three feet of snow I am looking at. You can melt it down! :laughing: Better yet, I could send you some money via paypal so you can buy a hose and have it spray water down on you! :crazytongue: :laughing:
 
Wolfie said:
Better yet, I could send you some money via paypal so you can buy a hose and have it spray water down on you! :crazytongue: :laughing:
Click to expand...

Given the fact that the new well (284 feet) struck undrinkable salt water (the water table is dropping and the ocean is coming in)-I've got nothing to hook the hose to :cry: Can you fedex a couple of hundered tons of snow? :scratch:
I'll trade you free breakfast burrito coupons for postage :laughing:
 
I only have 80 tons of snow that area available for shipping right now. If you could wait until next Monday, I could ship you the entire 100 tons. So, I will ship you the 80 tons and throw in some Fandango movie bucks for the kids! I know how stressful this can be. I went through this earlier this year when I was suffering from a herniated disc in my L1 area. Boy, did my neck hurt! :laughing:
 
Wolfie said:
I went through this earlier this year when I was suffering from a herniated disc in my L1 area. Boy, did my neck hurt! :laughing:
Click to expand...

Oh how awful :crazytongue:. I whacked my nose on the Columns Of Morgagni not long ago.... :laughing:Maybe we should form a nonprofit support group. I can write the grant proposals...
 
You know, when I was watching the season finale of survivor the other night, and I heard the sob story of the Lunch Lady, I thought to myself, Mark Burnet has to be too sharp to fall for this story. Well, no he wasn't and here's the scam:

http://www6.comcast.net/tv/articles/2007/12/18/People.Denise.Martin/

You just never know. People make up all kinds of things. One question you should really ask yourselves is, "Is that really believable?" If you say no, likely it's not!
 
My husband says I am the most gulliable person on the planet. I guess I like to believe in people ~ can't help it. Right Momma Wolfie???
 
...and it can be so obvious, and some still fall hook, line, and sinker for it.

The thing to always look out for are the contradictions and the inconsistencies. Con artists don't have this stuff scripted; and when what they're saying isn't true, they're bound to forget things they have previously said; and that's when they slip up. Unfortunately, some have short-term memory or just don't pay attention closely and don't notice it.

In forums, the easy way of figuring out if someone you suspect is conning, just pull up all their posts from their profile and read them all at the same time. That will actually make it easier to figure it out since you're seeing all that has been said over time all at once.

Another tip off is that a Con artist appears to put everything out on the table--their lives seem to be a open book.
 
The one thing that catches my attention is when they make a point of telling you how wonderful they are and how they make a point of wanting to connect with you on a personal level. If they can get you to feel sorry for them when times are bad then most likely you will send them things when they need something.

The sad thing is there are some truly sincere people out there but because of the bad apples it makes it hard to trust anyone.

Just take the time to get to know people and trust your gut.
 
Just remember one thing, despite how well people can get along and get to know each other on sites likes this. It's not the same relationship as being friends with the lady next door. For the most part, we are all faceless and anonymous; and, although I'm sure most are sincere, it just takes one seemingly the same to hoodwink people. All kinds of psychos use the internet, and they can appear as seemingly normal as the rest of us. Always keep that in the forefront of your mind.
 
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