Retarded old people.

[Betheny]

When my dad died, his insurance policy paid off a considerable amount, which my mom has been squandering. Nobody really had much to say about it until last week she says, "I won 4.5 million dollars in a sweepstakes!"

Well long story made short, she sent 8 grand to some company to 'insure' the check (from Costa Rica)... which never came. They called her again today and she was about to fork over another 12 grand before I threw a shit fit.

What the fuck?

Am I wrong to be pissed? "It's not your money," she says. "I help you out," she says. "I deserve a chance at this money," she says. So I call the bank's fraud protection department and they confirm that it is indeed a sham and put us in contact with the Secret Service.

She's so stupid, she even WESTERN UNIONED the money TO COSTA RICA so we really have no recourse.

[Soulpieced]

Come on Beth, you may have ALREADY won $1,000,000.00!!!!!!

[Back]

Had she watched 60 Minutes on a regular basis, she would have seen the article on these kinds of scammers. They operate out of Canada also.

At least it was only 8k? Yeah, poor attempt at consolation.

[Betheny]

Originally posted by Soulpieced
Come on Beth, you may have ALREADY won $1,000,000.00!!!!!!

She's won herself a one-way trip to broke in a week flat.

I mean, this is all ASIDE from her insane spending habits. (300 dollars A MONTH on MAIL ORDER CAT TOYS???????????)

That isn't "helping you out." No offense.

[Betheny]

only 8k, plus the 2200... and plus the long distance bill, she's been calling them daily in costa rica, 'checking status'...

Fuck!

[HarmNone]

Ish, Beth. It sounds to me like your mom may need some professional help. She's way too gullible, and obviously not thinking clearly.

I'm really sorry this happened to you, and to her. Scams against the elderly, who are often easy targets, just piss me off! :grr:

[The Cat In The Hat]

I feel your pain. My grandfather spent tens of thousands a year on sweepstakes.

He won a new car once, which he paid the taxes on, it came in a little box and looked like a 3-d camera.

[peam]

Those damned Costa Ricans.

I can't wait until the arachnids send a meteorite their way.

[Sean of the Thread]

"Retarded old people."

Leave Parkbandit out of this.

[Showal]

That sounds like that Nigerian scam where they have you continuously sending money in to get access to some family's 17 million or whatever. Someone posted a link where someone had some funny conversations back and forth with one of the scammers. I heard on the history channel that this scam is one of Nigeria's top three money making industries.

Sorry Beth. Just make sure she doesnt send anymore and gets in touch with the SS.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Xyelin
"Retarded old people."

Leave Parkbandit out of this.

Thanks pal.

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by Parkbandit

Originally posted by Xyelin
"Retarded old people."

Leave Parkbandit out of this.

Thanks pal.

Hey since you and your kind make up most of the population here it is in my interest to support an eldery Tampon. Some day you guys will rule the world!

[Caiylania]

Gah. When my mom died the insurance money paid of debt and went into savings. I can't imagine just blowing it all that way :(

I hope you can get through to her.

[Skirmisher]

You may wish to speak to her bank about it.

I have some experience with this as we always would be given updates on which scams were known to be active in our areas and to try to be alert for our elderly customers.

Banks cannot actually say no to a customer wanting to make a withdrawal, but can try to ask questions and steer a customer to ask some of their own when they suspect a particular client has been targeted by scammers.