Friday OT #2 - Con Jobs

[Angie]

The Marty Tirrell thread got me thinking. Have you ever been successfully conned or tricked, particularly out of money?

One time in high school, I had a job as a cashier. I didn't know there was such a thing as a "quick change artist," particularly in Iowa. I've always had a tended to be overly polite, so I'm sure that I looked like the perfect target for this - here's an example: LINK

The guy came up at a time when we were overwhelmed with customers, did his transaction, and then started swapping out for change as I was helping someone else. I was super-busy and naive, and so I totally fell for it. He ended up conning us out of about $25 - and I felt like a total idiot after.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Nope. It's just you that falls for that stuff

 

[3TrueFans]

I bought a CD from a guy on the street in Vegas for $3 one time. It wasn't blank, so there's that, but he wasn't exactly spitting hot fire. My wife laughed at me.

 

[Angie]

Nope. It's just you that falls for that stuff

Yeah, I was not a very worldly 16-year-old!

 

[cyfanatic13]

You know what Angie, when the son of the deposed king of Nigeria emails you directly, asking for help, you help! His father ran the freaking country! Ok?

 

[Angie]

You know what Angie, when the son of the deposed king of Nigeria emails you directly, asking for help, you help! His father ran the freaking country! Ok?

It's the humane thing to do!

 

[jcyclonee]

In about 2nd grade I was running a Kool-aid stand. One of the older kids on the block asked for change and then started asking for it in different types of coins. After he left, I thought about it for a while and realized that he had taken me for about 50 cents. It's forty-three years later and I still hold a grudge.

 

[dahliaclone]

No me but my better half’s grandma is 95 years old and lives alone in Wisconsin. Last year she got a call from someone saying he’d been in a terrible accident overseas and needed her to send him money. She of course called him and he was fine. I’m sure there are countless people that would pay though. Sad and pisses me off that people can so easily take advantage of others.

 

[BCClone]

Back when I was in my early/mid 20s I had a good job and had some decent savings. This woman came along and conned me into this thing called marriage. I'm still getting taken for everything I have.

 

[wxman1]

No me but my better half’s grandma is 95 years old and lives alone in Wisconsin. Last year she got a call from someone saying he’d been in a terrible accident overseas and needed her to send him money. She of course called him and he was fine. I’m sure there are countless people that would pay though. Sad and pisses me off that people can so easily take advantage of others.

When my grandpa got older and especially as he developed alzheimers more he got SOOOO much junk mail and stuff from every little thing. We were sure he had given a good amount away before my dad stepped in and started intercepting his mail but he had to have gotten on some lists. They may not have been outright cons but they were certainly using him has pray.

Had another time that some guys came around and said for $100 they would clean the snow off his roof so it didn't leak into the house blah blah blah. He paid them and they drove off.

When I was dumb in high school I went to Best Buy during the holidays to buy something. Had a couple come up to me in the parking lot saying they needed some money to buy some gas or something. I gave them $10 and as soon as I turned around knew I had been had.

 

[cycloner29]

I was looking at different car in the mid '80s. I had a pretty nice car that I was looking to upgrade. The sales guy gave me a couple to look at and the one I liked he gave me it to drive for the weekend. I brought it back as I liked it, and wanted to buy it. I was 19 at the time and not a lot bargaining back ground and my dad had passed away a few years earlier. Well long story short, I said thanks but no thanks and would like my old car back. The dealership said they had already sold it and the car I was driving was what I had. I was taken back to say the least, but it was tough lesson learned. Typical used car dealer. I know fully understand the "used car salesman" mentality. Car payments weren't too bad and I actually liked the car and the chicks dug it to. It was "lose-win" situation.

 

[JP4CY]

I wasn't scammed but I'm sure a lot of ladies where when they bought me countless drinks and I didn't spend the night with them.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I was looking at different car in the mid '80s. I had a pretty nice car that I was looking to upgrade. The sales guy gave me a couple to look at and the one I liked he gave me it to drive for the weekend. I brought it back as I liked it, and wanted to buy it. I was 19 at the time and not a lot bargaining back ground and my dad had passed away a few years earlier. Well long story short, I said thanks but no thanks and would like my old car back. The dealership said they had already sold it and the car I was driving was what I had. I was taken back to say the least, but it was tough lesson learned. Typical used car dealer. I know fully understand the "used car salesman" mentality. Car payments weren't too bad and I actually liked the car and the chicks dug it to. It was "lose-win" situation.

It's not just used car salesmen. They all are crooks that are constantly coming up with new ways to get some more money out of you. The last vehicle I bought I think I signed more forms than when I bought my house. Another tactic they use to try to confuse you.

 

[CloneFan4]

I don't remember being conned but I got quite a few free drinks and numbers in college bars playing the five question game. I've been fortunate enough that money has never been tight, but if you're running low, cheap, or just like the thrill of it its a good way to go out and spend next to nothing.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

Shortly after college, I ended up being unemployed for a bit. After finally landing a job, I was feeling grateful and probably a little too sympathetic towards others that were also struggling. I fell for the ol' magazine scam, paying upfront for a couple magazine subscriptions that never came. It was only $30, but I still slowly shake my head at my gullibility.

 

[Clonefan32]

I am apparently a good mark for the people that approach you in larger cities asking for money. I'm not necessarily talking about the homeless, but rather the groups that are "raising money so their group can play at halftime of the Bulls game" or various other "organizations". For some reason I have my doubts the money winds up where they say it's going, but I usually pay the toll to have them leave me alone.

 

[MeanDean]

I gave money to a guy at a rest area who said he needed gas money to get home. He claimed to be familiar with my home town. Saw my license plate and made some generic statements about having spent time there. "River town, right?" "Railroad tracks down there, too. I remember." It wasn't till later I realized almost every town in Iowa is a river town with railroad tracks. Lesson learned.

Also many years ago I hooked up with a record dealer who was from New York. Claimed he saw John Lennon all the time in NYC and could easily get me an autograph if I sent him something to sign and some cash to cover his efforts. He talked a good game and seemed very friendly. So I sent him something and, I think $50. Never heard from him again and the phone number he gave me was disconnected.

I'm pretty cynical now...

 

[cyhiphopp]

Back when I was in my early/mid 20s I had a good job and had some decent savings. This woman came along and conned me into this thing called marriage. I'm still getting taken for everything I have.

I'm still paying taxes to my ex for the next 8 years. Ugh.

 

[SerenityNow]

In about 2nd grade I was running a Kool-aid stand. One of the older kids on the block asked for change and then started asking for it in different types of coins. After he left, I thought about it for a while and realized that he had taken me for about 50 cents. It's forty-three years later and I still hold a grudge.

An elementary age quick change artist.

I got my gold stolen in World of Warcraft once...does that count?

 

[oldman]

When I was in the Navy, we made a stop for a couple weeks in the Philippines. After a hard night of drinking, I left my "girlfriend's" home and rode back to the base. Got dropped off about maybe 100 yards from the gate. This local guy (recognizing my state) was offering me a bottle of soda -- free. Finally I took it and downed it. His friend offers to take the bottle from me, so I give it to him. The first guy starts hounding me about giving his soda bottle away and wants me to pay for it. Now being surrounded by a group, I start paying. Not enough. Finally, I hand him all the cash in my pockets, turn them out so they can see they are empty, and walk away. Cost me about $6 american. I had another $40 in my shoes that they didn't get.