posted
I'm not naming names, but I just had a letterhead that we know (not very well) contact me on facebook. Said he was stranded in London, had gotten mugged, robbed of his money and phone but had saved his passport. He seemed shaken up and I was sympathetic. I asked him if he contacted police and he said he had but they had told him to come back in two weeks. That's when my alarms went off. I said I had to go since we were just leaving for lunch. At that point he said "no wait. I need your help!" At which point I exited out of facebook. I'm sure he wasn't who he said he was...why would he ask ME for help? I hardly know him. If he just got robbed what is he doing on facebook!? His facebook page, when you go there is suspisious. SURELY his family could help him. Everyone here says I did the right thing, but I still feel a little guilty about leaving ____ stranded in London. Does this sound like a scam to the rest of you? Or should we contact his family and let them know he's in trouble?
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
The gift of discernment is a very scarry thing and must be wisely used!
-------------------- Len Mort Signmaker1.com 11 Juniper Drive Millbury, MA 508-865-2382 "A Good Business Sign, is A Sign of Good Business"(1957) Posts: 811 | From: Millbury, Ma | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
I actually got something like that in an email a month or two ago from Bob Burns which he actually knew nothing about.
I always say if anyone was truly a Letterhead, they wouldn't need money as their profession would pull them through, I know this from experience in my younger days
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
That same scam was posted on another sign board.
I suggested they contact the embassy. Because They will get you home after you sign away your first born and your house and all your property..
Seems they went away and never to be heard from again.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Yep it is a scam - my sister-in-law's hotmail account was hacked and they were doing the same from hers. Also one of my empolyee's sister had the same thing happen. Latest thing I guess and I still receive letters from friends(?) who want me to help launder millions.
-------------------- Mark Pinkse Laird Signs Iron Bridge ON. Canada Posts: 52 | From: Iron Bridge, ON Canada | Registered: Nov 1999
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posted
I had this happen witha friend of mine who had a Yahoo email account. SOmeone got into her account and emailed the same story.... We all notified her and she said that "yes" someone did hack into her account and she had to refigure all of her passwords, etc. Be safe out there. The internet can be good sometimes, but with Facebook, etc... personal info seems to be pretty easy to get ahold of!
You did the right thing!
-------------------- Theresa N. Hoying Visual Concepts 130 South Lester Avenue Sidney, Ohio 45365 937.492.2110 Posts: 176 | From: Sidney, Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
We had a couple of missionaries that our church helps support go thru the same thing- it is a little scary when you think that has happened to someone away from home...
I still say: Public Executions for people who try to scam, create malicious viruses, malware, spyware, and identity thieves--- of course that means that half of the population of Nigeria would be out of the picture
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1735 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
We had a friend lose his hotmail account- and email us from London needing a 'soft loan' for $750- scarily convincing, except I was certain this freind was still in Australia- and he was.
Big Scam.
Unfortunately he couldn't get his hotmail account back either. You would think hotmail should have some provision to 'give' it back to you if you can prove it's being used to scam people & was fraudulently taken from you.
In his case, he should have ignored the scam email that pretended to be from Hoitmail teling him his account would be suspended etc if he didn't log-in immediately via this link... etc etc.
Some people are still naive or new at it all.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Here is the one I received a few months ago by email:
"I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, I came down here to Wales,United Kingdom for a short vacation unfortunately i was mugged at the park of the hotel where i stayed,all cash,credit card and cell were stolen off me but luckily for me i still have my passports with me.
I've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all and my flight leaves in less than 3hrs from now but am having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let me leave until i settle the bills,
I'm freaked out at the moment."
I knew this was fake because this woman is married with several kids, and wouldn't be out on a trip by herself. She also lives in a town where she is related to quite a few people. I would be the last person she would be asking for help in a crisis like that.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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I am writting this for to you to feel sorry for me since I have been stranded in London France for 3 long week. I was to help the orphans get food for their suffereing from the many earthquakes that have struck the world. My car was taken from me violently for which I have received grave injury to my person. I would be much appreshiated if you could send money to me to help me help the orphan childrens.
Please since I do not have computer or interrnet kindly do not send this through Paypal or electronic money system. Kindly send $26,495US to Roland Digital Graphics System Bank of Amarica. Please disregard any coincidents that this amount is matched exactly to the amount of the new VersaCAMM VS-640.
May God Bless you to do the right thing and help your friend Jon Jantz in his time of need.
Love, your everlasting friend in God Savior, Jon Jantz, Esq.
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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How about a more in person scam. A young man excitedly comes in my shop and says he just got a call from his wife and daughter and they are broken down on the freeway and desperately need help. He is out of money for gas and could I front him some money. He then shows me his employee badge from the airport and says come on, I couldn't make this up.
Sounds good and he does a good act except the restaurant up the street had this happen exactly like that too. Only difference they gave him money.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Russ, that is almost the identical script of what he said! & Bill, you can fish anytime you want as long as you remember, I will cook 'em but I won't clean 'em. Actually fishing is a pretty cheap hobby, except...how many poles do you have hanging in the garage? How many can you hold at one time? hehehehe
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Yeah, we have a couple clowns who come by our shop claiming to have Crones disease. They just got out of the hospital and haven't had anything to eat for nearly a week.
The fun part is that it is two different guys who show up on different days making the exact same claim.
One of them is the son of a client of ours. After that guy left empty-handed, I called his dad and told him what was going on.
posted
Gee- thanks Kissy, but I don't think I could accept the nomination- while I do have some innovative and outspoken stances on a lot of various issues that plague the world, like "nuking the unborn gay whales" and "Plant a tree, then cut it down, just because..." "No New Taxes- we have plenty of old taxes that are bad enough". My campaign slogan would probably be something like "I believe in whirled Peas and hominy" or "GET OFF MY LAWN!" (in my best Clint Eastwood impersonation)
---I'm pretty sure I wouldn't make a very good world leader-- for one thing, I could be bribed with very little effort... "so, let me get this straight: you want me to turn my head and let all of you pharmaceutical companies do whatever you want... and in return, you'll give me a year's supply of those little blue pills...done!!"
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1735 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
We had this one guy here in Harlan a few years ago, that scammed quite a few people in town, including me. He was well mannered, and said his car had ran out of gas a couple miles down the road. I gave him five bucks and he thanked me and went on. Heard later he was scamming quite a few people in town. Well, the idiot came back into my shop a few weeks later and hit me again. Either he forgot he had already been there, or was just bold. I told him no way ,no how, cyou later. Saw him a week later when I was out in town doing a window job, and he came up high as a kite, and told me I was pretty low for not helping him out that day. Before I could think, I told him he needed to move on or be carried away, it was his choice. Also told him I was going to report him for scamming, which I did. He was arrested later,and told to leave town. Ive seen him a time or two around here, but he never came back into my shop. What a toad.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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I'm still not turned off by using Facebook with all this scam stuff, but I do use it cautiously.
I think I'm going to limit my personal stuff on it, and just use it in an effort to get exposure business wise without getting spammy with it.
I also DO NOT do any apps. Anything that asks me to allow an app is something I won't do.
I clean up my wall almost weekly of personal stuff, because I don't want that history on there. I still have some of my birthday wishes on there from Nov., but I'll clean that off sometime soon too.
Facebook can really suck you in timewise too, so I try to be disciplined with it that way too.
Jane, that scam is just something that makes you shake your head with disbelief.
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
John, there's a guy like that down in Pensacola that I've seen many times... he's always in about the same area of town and carries around some broken car belts.... he'll come up to you and say his car is broken down and he needs only a few more dollars to get the belts....
The funny part is..... his car has been broken down now for probably 15 years. The permit office is in that area so he's approached me many times in my coming and goings there. I think it was '95 or '96 the first time I heard his story.
I've given him a dollar or two occasionally just because I admire his tenacity and determination to one day, somehow, get new belts for that car.
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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Jon- hahaha- man that guy is diligent- the old broken belt scam! My best friend and I (and our families) were vacationing in San Antonio- Keith and I went to play golf, and as we were leaving the course, approached in the parking lot by a guy with the old broken belt story. My friend says he won't give him any money, but we will drive him to an auto parts store, then go fix his car for him, had all the tools and everything- so the guy reluctantly gets in the van with us and we drove him around for about 45 minutes, and the poor guy didn't know what to do- he kept changing his story, trying to figure out why his scam wasn't working- of course the broken belt he had in his hand didn't fit the type of car he had, the auto parts place couldn't help him- we finally dropped him off near his car, and the last words he said to us: "well, can you just give me some money?"...NOPE
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1735 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Michael Clanton: ... the auto parts place couldn't help him- we finally dropped him off near his car, and the last words he said to us: "well, can you just give me some money?"...NOPE
Priceless.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
Tugging at the heartstrings is a talent, and most especially if it's done in a creative and believeable way. If I were to resort to scamming, I'd at least attempt to be entertaining in my pitch.
"Could you spare me some change mister? I'm trying to raise enough money to get my Thelma Mae an anniversary present, and with supporting 12 kids, I really don't have much to spare.
This year I wanted to surprise her with getting a vasectomy....something I think she'd really appreciate, but the clinic needs $20.00 for the local anesthetic when they do the snip-snip thingy God bless you friend, for anything you can spare, and I know that my Thelma Mae would consider you to be true benefactor."
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
These are classic meth head scams. Variations include no money for food and state will take away kids if they don't get something to eat.
My car is broke down could you front me some cash. You know my dad. He will help me pay you back.
I ran out of gas on the freeway can i borrow $30 to fill it up?
I need a few bux to goto the dentist. I have a terrible tooth ache.
I put some stuff on lay away and its goona expire so lend me a few until thurs. when I get paid.
My storage unit is behind in rent and they are goona auction my stuff if I dotn give them 50 today.
etc. Ad nauseam
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:We had this one guy here in Harlan a few years ago, that scammed quite a few people in town, including me. He was well mannered, and said his car had ran out of gas a couple miles down the road. I gave him five bucks and he thanked me and went on. Heard later he was scamming quite a few people in town. Well, the idiot came back into my shop a few weeks later and hit me again. Either he forgot he had already been there, or was just bold. I told him no way ,no how, cyou later. Saw him a week later when I was out in town doing a window job, and he came up high as a kite, and told me I was pretty low for not helping him out that day. Before I could think, I told him he needed to move on or be carried away, it was his choice. Also told him I was going to report him for scamming, which I did. He was arrested later,and told to leave town. Ive seen him a time or two around here, but he never came back into my shop. What a toad.
John, You should have launched into the chorus of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive".
-------------------- Eric Barker Rosewood Design LaGrande,Oregon Posts: 107 | From: La Grande, OR | Registered: May 2002
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