December 05, 2003

• And this was quite a big story here a few years ago.
• Wow, that's cold. I used to watch Changing Rooms on BBC America and I don't remember her. I just can't believe someone could be so callous as to rip off close friends and let them think you're going to die. Argh.
• I once faked an appendix attack to get out of study hall, but no money changed hands.
• I second the "What the hell". The thing that enrages me most in all these stories is the mom who faked her son's illness told him that he had cancer and was going to die. That makes me want to go SMASH! Truly, truly disgusting.
• They're finding success at first because "it's for the children." Finding out later it was not will only serve to make us all skeptical cynics who won't give money to the next person who really needs it. As an aside, the accountant in me wonders if you can still get the tax deduction for donating to a false charity if you had no idea they were faking it. Off to research ...
• I faked rheumatic fever to get out of gym class. And I'm not sorry.
• Perhaps it is just me, but a charity for a single individual seems like an inefficient use of resources, like putting all the eggs in one tipsy basket. Donating to a charity that will benefit many seems like a better use of money. Maybe that's obvious, now that I type it.
• jjray, that's all well and good and once in a while (read: very seldom) I, too, give money to places like the Cancer Society who do research to benefit all cancer sufferers or would-be sufferers. But if a close friend came to you and said they, personally, were suffering and in pain and needed money to have $therapy, you'd probably fork out. Right?
• I can't deny that. I suppose I was thinking more along the lines of the "Bobbi Jo Morrison Benefit Fund" run out of a local bank (from the Badger Herald link). If someone scams a close personal friend, they have lost (or are lacking) more than the money would make up for. Not that scamming random people is ok or anything...
• What about scamming the wealthy? It doesn't hurt anyone, or rather it doesn't hurt anyone who I care about, and it gets more money into the economy. We rob from the rich...that's it pretty much it actually.
• That's all well and good if it was only about the money. But there's more to it and I think a lot of what it's about is viewable in the metafilter thread I linked to. A victim's faith in humanity is shaken, at the very least. Something like this can turn even the kindest person into a cynic. As for rich people parting with their money, well, it's probably no loss there.
• Bear in mind that for each of us, there exists someone else for whom we are rich, and therefore fair game for ripping off.
• Certainly. That's the whole reason I'm here actually. I'm the forerunner for an elite group of cybercriminals...I've probably said too much. ... ... Look, an obvious distraction!
• That would theoretically explain the Nigerian scam.
• I faked an orgasm once with this girl online but I suppose that isn't as large of a crime. Then again I guess it depends on who you talk to. So what is Nigeria like this time of year? Anyone wanna join me on a safari? (what is the nigerian scam anyway?)
• Nothing for you to worry about old chump. Say, I have an absolutely smashing idea! The monarchy over here in jolly old England seems to be crumbling. I have some pounds (or dollars to you Americans) that I need to abscond with. You can have half and all I need in return is your bank routing number and the access codes for your account. I'll simply drop my money in and take half out upon my arrival to the rebellious colonies...er the United States and Bob's your uncle. Well, pip-pip cheerio toodle-oo and all that rot, I'm off to "borrow" the Crown Jewels.
• The Nigerian scam is when large dark-skinned muscular cross-dressers invade your home, pretend to be your long-lost cousins, and steal your teabags. Actually, it's this.
• Here's a mean one ... when asked for a tip, hand the person aking you a tea bag in an envelope (which you have previously slid into your jacket pocket). Smile sweetly as you hand it over, and say "Have a drink on me!"
• The punch in the face you collect when they open the envelope in your presence may also ake a bit.
• Eesh And eep. Not safe.
• Five posts left, right? And then we all back away from the archives and leave, right? And then the sidebar goes back to normal, right?
• Make it quick, danger. Make it really quick.