Aaaand the SO gets scammed again.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

This time by the secret shopper scam.

A couple weeks ago she says “wow, I just got offered a job and they sent me a check for $1000!”
“That’s nice. It isn’t real, so don’t cash it.”
“It is real!”

A week or so ago after talking to her new employers on the phone:
“I got the job. I just have to deposit the check, etc, blah, blah.”
“Sounds like a scam.”
“It’s not! I checked!”

Today:
I have $300 to spend at Walmart. I’d like to spend $100 on you. I have to complete my assignment today!"
“Fuck. Alright, sounds cool. Let’s go.” :rolleyes:

We spend a hour running around Walmart. I’m picking out stuff I need I really haven’t felt like spending money on. Walmart is making me really anxious, so I say I’ll go get the car while she checks out. She’s gone for awhile, I go looking for her and she says “I have a problem with the bank.”
“Are you sure you didn’t gat scammed?”
“No! I deposited the check and it cleared. I’ve already taken out the Western Union money and they don’t have any of my bank account info.”
“Western Union???”
“It’s all legit,” blah, blah, blah, yell, scream. “The bank’s closed. Maybe I’ll just go back and write a check. I’ll check the bank online later.”

Don’t know how she’s going to cover this one. I don’t even know how much she’s out. $1000? The $300 for the fake check she cashed at her bank? How much money did she wire through Western Union? I suspect she’s out $1300, plus any fees the bank slaps her with.

At least it’s not as bad as the website she paid $5000 for. Well, that’s what she’ll admit to. It may have been significantly more. There are a couple more scams I can’t even remember, to tell the truth. She clicks on everything on websites or anything that sounds interesting in her spam email. Her computer is completely infested with viruses & trojans and God knows what else. I used to clean it for her but gave up awhile back. It only takes her a day or two to re-infest it, and I don’t like working with Windows anyway.

You know, it took me 5 seconds to type “secret shopper scam” into Google and the first result was Snopes, describing this scam almost to a “t.” The only difference is she wired the money to jolly old England instead of Canada.

2

Walking away from thread before I say several regretable things

3

Why are you with this person?

4

My mom has the same weakness for this kind of crap. It’s sickening.

Whatever you do, don’t let her visit nameboy.com, or she’ll think she can become an overnight millionaire spending thousands of dollars buying worthless domains… all which will have to be renewed each year.

Here’s the issue though; inexperienced internet use…

I assume my step-dad will some day opt that he should learn how to use the internet, but by that time he’ll be so far behind in knowing all of the dangers he’ll just be another easy victim.

5

I would recommend that you leave her.

6

Go ahead. I’ve thought worse.

Too personal for too many details, but it’s not going to be forever. Don’t get me started on why her car is insured under my name because hers was up to $481/month and she barely got her license back after they took it.

7

Oh, the sex is great. :smiley:

8

Run, don’t walk!

9

ASCII may be generally campy (and I believe against the rules), but the one of the guy burying his head in his hand would be an entirely appropriate response for this thread.

10

I’m sure that’s going to work out well for you.

11

Why don’t you just go ahead and contact Judge Judy now and book a slot so you have a prayer of getting some money back.

12

Just remember that you don’t have to fix her problems. Keep your credit histories separate. Don’t co-sign anything. Definitely don’t get married until you’re 100% sure she won’t do these type of things in the future. This type of impulsive financial behavior has the potential to lead to bankruptcy level problems.

Have you seen her credit report? She can request a free copy from Free Credit Reports | Consumer Advice. I wouldn’t be surprised if you found thousands of dollars in credit card debt.

13

I thought you were gay?

14

Well if he isn’t after this, he never will be.

15

My wife was a mystery shopper for a pizza chain. We got a free pie ,once a month, and had to fill out a ratings chart critiquing the service and product.

16

There is such a thing as legitimate mystery shopping. There is also such a thing as mystery shopping scams. You tell the difference with research into the company that asks you to mystery shop. A big clue: if the company wants money from you as training fees or registration or whatever, or if the company wants you to use your own money to shop for things saying they’ll reimburse you later, or gives you a bad check to pay for things you’ll shop for, they are unlikely to be legit.

17

I’m guessing she must be really cute.
:: looks up word “gullible” in dictionary, sees picture of levdrakon’s SO ::
Yep, she’s cute.

18

Can we assume you have separated your finances and protected yours behind six inch thick steel?

19

Yup, which is why this isn’t a forever thing. I’ve known the ditz for 22 years. Crazy is new.

I check my credit report regularly. No co-signing anything. Not in a community property state.

Yes, of course I could get screwed. A Lockheed C-5 could fly into my house too. She has a retirement and a large pending inheritance to protect, so unless she goes completely bat-shit, she’s got more to lose than I do.

20

What are you waiting for to leave someone you have no future with and are obviously not much enjoying your present?