# Well, I'm being financially extorted **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2018, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338 "2018-11-11T02:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/41 "2018-11-12T14:30:34Z")
Anyone got Trump’s phone numbe?. He could send her $5,000 and not miss it. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/42 "2018-11-12T14:41:01Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Thanks, folks. Especially as how the requested amount of CAN$ changed from the first to the second request. A nice touch! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/43 "2018-11-12T15:01:44Z")
Possible follow up? I have good news! I have spoken to my brother who has decided to help me and agreed that he would purchase a plane ticket to the UK (or California) to meet you and your mother and present you this gift in person. My brother says this is the only way to avoid any fees or government tariffs. God bless his heart. At your earliest convenience, please advise me on when you are available to meet me as I need to purchase my airfare and make travel arrangements with haste. It must be true that God works in miraculous ways! ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/44 "2018-11-12T15:06:04Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Or the phone number of the local Scientology compound. I like this idea. I once filled out one of those Scientology “personality tests” in the name of a friend of mine. This was before I fully appreciated how awful the Scientologists were. I thought it was just kind of a funny prank. They bugged him a good long time. He was unamused. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/45 "2018-11-12T15:07:08Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Is the scammer aware of how healthcare works in the UK? I’m not aware of anyone being refused life-saving treatment that costs $800. Yes, that made me laugh. Of all the countries to pick for a “medical emergency”, the one with free healthcare is the one she goes for. Or maybe this is the ‘gullibility test’ - if you’re too dumb to know this, you’re clearly an easier mark. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/46 "2018-11-12T15:38:35Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Yes, that made me laugh. Of all the countries to pick for a “medical emergency”, the one with free healthcare is the one she goes for. Or maybe this is the ‘gullibility test’ - if you’re too dumb to know this, you’re clearly an easier mark. ??? Hold on, the UK is not the only country with free healthcare, in fact 32 out of the 33 “developed” nations have free universal health care. Care to guess who the hold out is? I think you’re gullibility test has backfired! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/47 "2018-11-12T16:49:34Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > ??? Hold on, the UK is not the only country with free healthcare, in fact 32 out of the 33 “developed” nations have free universal health care. Care to guess who the hold out is? > > I think you’re gullibility test has backfired! :eek: Yes, I know. But the point is that the scam would work better the other way around (although frankly $800 ain’t covering anything more life-threatening than a splinter in the US). ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/48 "2018-11-12T17:25:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Yes, I know. But the point is that the scam would work better the other way around (although frankly $800 ain’t covering anything more life-threatening than a splinter in the US). Agreed. I actually was joking with you but on re-read, sorry if it sounded like snark ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/49 "2018-11-12T20:21:19Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I think you should really (not really) send her a bunch of money and then express confusion and amazement at how it hasn’t come through. I have heard many females do this to guys who ask for nude pictures, they send a text that literally says “[downloading image]” and express amazement that their pictures are not going through 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/50 "2018-11-13T00:29:37Z")
But what if it’s legit and her ma really is sick? Or maybe Ma needs saving from Dirty Davie the local bookie who’s gonna break her legs if she doesn’t … pony up what she owes him? And here you are, vile Canadian, toying with these dear ladies. Shame on you. _Shaaaame_. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/51 "2018-11-13T00:38:47Z")
I haven’t answered her today. I’m letting her stew. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/52 "2018-11-13T00:56:15Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I haven’t answered her today. I’m letting her stew. You cad! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/53 "2018-11-13T01:28:21Z")
Ask for the nudes. I dare you. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/54 "2018-11-13T10:30:58Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > ??? Hold on, the UK is not the only country with free healthcare, in fact 32 out of the 33 “developed” nations have free universal health care. Care to guess who the hold out is? > > I think you’re gullibility test has backfired! :eek: That’s not quite accurate- while 32 countries may have a universal heath care system, it’s not necessarily free to all users, some are rather heavily subsidised. The costs are generally more in the order of $100 for an ER visit or short hospital stay than the truly terrifying figures the US seems to have and they’re often waived for people on low incomes or for serious illnesses, but still… France, for example, only has [80% of hospital fees](https://www.expatica.com/fr/healthcare/french-healthcare-france-health-care-system_101166.html) publicly funded for citizens. In fact, if you’re not resident for tax purposes, the NHS _can_ charge you for medical care. There’s a (rather stupid IMO) crackdown doing on lately. I’m not aware of any that demand payment upfront before giving lifesaving treatment though… ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/55 "2018-11-13T15:24:23Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Tell her you don’t have any cash but you have your Grandma’s engagement ring. Ask if she knows anyone who could give her a good price for it. > > Then send her a piece of crap glass stone and alert the sheriff/police local to the address “she” gives you. If she gives you a USPS box you are golden, the postmasters LOVE nailing these folks. They have their own police force with a Federal mandate. Might not be a crime, though - the person is not threatening Leaffan, or attempting to collect on a bill - she (?) is just coming up with a sob story, and anything Leaffan sends would be in the nature of a gift. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/56 "2018-11-13T15:25:54Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Yes, that made me laugh. Of all the countries to pick for a “medical emergency”, the one with free healthcare is the one she goes for. Or maybe this is the ‘gullibility test’ - if you’re too dumb to know this, you’re clearly an easier mark. Is she asking for the 800 dollars to directly pay Mum’s bills - or to pay her own airfare to fly over and help out? That’s actually plausible (well, in general - in this case it’s not). ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/57 "2018-11-15T01:41:07Z")
I highly recommend the OP mosies over to 419eater dot com for tips on scam- -baiting. After he’s done, he can post his correspondence there. ETA: Also check the IP address for amusement. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338/58 "2018-12-01T03:44:07Z")
Thankfully this thread isn’t too old and rotting, so it’ll serve fine for my purpose! Former federal prosecutor and all-around funny motherfucker Ken White just posted screenshots of himself messing with a scammer: [GRAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTT](https://www.popehat.com/2018/11/30/graaaaaaaaaannnnnnnntttttttttttt/)! It’s like that TED Talk I linked to, but as if the scammer were dealing with [Louis the cat](http://louisvsrick.com/post/258980760/episode-1-the-ping)! It’s freaking hilarious! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-im-being-financially-extorted/824338.md?page=2)