Sometimes they listen

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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:20 pm

My roommate's sister came over today, and we all went out to lunch. During lunch the conversation turned (as it is likely to when I'm involved) to scambaiting. After I told about the baiter who saved a woman from sending $10,000 through WU, the sister pulled an envelope out of her purse.

She opened it and took out a letter and a check. The letter said she had won $250,000. The check was for $4500. She was told to call a number before cashing the check (within 5 days). When she called the number, a very bored-sounding man told her to deposit the check and send $2000 for taxes (via WU or MG, of course), and the rest of her winnings would be sent.

She took the check to her bank, which said it looked OK, but if she wanted, they would put a 10-day hold on it. They also took copies of the check and the letter (which was postmarked Canada). She said she thought it would not be a good idea, and the teller agreed and recommended she go to the police. The police department said they have gotten hundreds of scam complaints about that particular letter, but unless she had actually sent money there was nothing they could do.

She thought about it some more and, since the letter had come through snail-mail, she took it to the Post Office. They also made copies - they take this kind of thing fairly seriously, although they are not guaranteeing any results, just collecting evidence.

Thing is - this woman and her husband have both had to take early retirement, and their bank account is always on the edge of red. Two hundred fifty thousand would have looked really good in there. But because I have talked scambaiting a lot recently, alarm bells began ringing as she put together what was probably going on there.

These are both intelligent people, but when one is looking overdraft in the eyes every month, the temptation to believe is strong. I'm glad my tales stuck with them.

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:24 pm

Getting out there and talking about it is so so valuable - it's our public service face, and means we can have more fun torturing pets too knowing another innocent potential vic has been saved!

Hurrah for you! Smile

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:31 pm

Telling people about internet scams and how they work is probably the most important thing we can do to help prevent it. It still amazes me that after all these years of internet and snail mail scams there is still such widespread public ignorance about it and people continue to get sucked in. As you say, it's usually the people who can least afford it.

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:41 pm

I have been telling all my friends about scams and scam baiting since I joined the forum a few days ago. I know I won't have to tell my parents though, because they are pretty well versed in the internet and what is going on with scams.

It still amazes me though how easy it can be for someone to take your money. It's pretty scary...

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:46 pm

So Titania are you saying that my saving of the person's 10 grand also helped this person?

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:53 pm

@Titania - that is a great story. I'm happy that you talking about scambaiting to your friends did save them a great deal of heartache. Education is a great weapon for fighting scams, the hard part is getting people to believe that they are vulnerable to being conned.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:57 am

@SM3000 - it could be. I think it was probably the fact that I have mentioned scams and scambaiting at every family get-together for over a month now that got her thinking "red flag" at certain points, but it was telling your story that convinced her to bring the letter out and confirm with me that it's a scam.

@SB - so true. I wish I could have the opportunity to talk to each person who signs up for a dating site and warn them about what's out there. Especially the disabled - we are in many ways more vulnerable because of old mind-sets that disability equals lack of desirability.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:33 am

This is a great story. You saved someone from losing thousands and getting in deep doo-doo with the authorities, and you stopped a scam dead in its tracks. That, in my humble opinion, hurt the lad more than a thousand baits. Hats off to you, Titania. If you've got a nice warm feeling about what you've done, go ahead and enjoy it. You've earned it! Thumbs up

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:27 am

cool.

whatever gets the job done

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:32 am

Thanks for that Titiana Very Happy

I'll post this info over at scamwarners too.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:02 am

Praise be Titiana! Never doubt that you have accomplished something worthwhile, even indirectly. I, on the other hand, have a dumb cousin who recently fell for a classic 419 scam even after he was told better.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:48 pm

@GoodAsh, sorry to hear about your cousin.

It's when someone tells me they had second thoughts because of something I said that I feel - not just warm and cozy - but like I'm making a difference in this world. And that keeps me going.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:37 pm

@Titania - Bloody well done - Disappointed mugu on the menu..... clapping

Not quite a Newb Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 35

excellent, excellent job

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:17 pm

Great work Titania ...............a result.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:14 pm

Good for you!

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:37 pm

Wo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0t!