Comments on: Online Scam On Plurk

By: Fear and Parenting in Las Vegas

Fear and Parenting in Las Vegas — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:55:38 +0000

I was uber-cynical about this LilyAnn thing too. Trust your instincts and never put too much trust in people, especially those you haven’t laid eyes on.

By: ClassTax

ClassTax — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:40:56 +0000

I thought it was strange that while that user was active we discussed some topics via Plurk and occasionally mentioned how great a Plurk meet-up in Chicago would be. However, when I agreed and suggested to plan a time and place, the conversation would stop…dead. Right there…not another word. Every time I called the bluff, it was all silence. This person was either not in Chicago or afraid to actually meet any Plurk-friends, and was probably astonished to learn that I live there and was serious.
I stayed out of that fiasco…
Ten years ago, when the idea of server and data sharing was a brand-new concept to people, we were some of the first ones in our circle of life to warn, “Don’t believe everything you’re going to see on here in the future.” We ran a BBS starting in the early 80’s and could tell back then that the masking of an identity behind a monitor would open up a whole new can of worms. We’ve never let our guard down, but have carefully been able to enjoy what the internet does have to offer. It’s not any more or less safer today…Don’t be stupid; know where you’re going and what the risks are. Humans will always have their emotional needs and bonds, just don’t let them cloud our judgment.
Good luck to everyone touched by this occurrence…

By: Baja-Ma

Baja-Ma — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:56:51 +0000

Wow, looks like I’ve missed a lot. Karma will come back to them. Lupus is nothing to joke about.

By: WT

WT — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:26:01 +0000

I was wondering about that plurk when I saw it. My policy is to never give money to panhandlers whatever the reason, sounds harsh, but saves me from agonising over it.

DingoBarbie

By: vibrantandzany

vibrantandzany — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:34:08 +0000

That is awful.
I’ve missed a lot too.
I’m a cynic too yoon =P

By: EssenceOfInsanity

EssenceOfInsanity — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:28 +0000

Wow, I’ve missed a lot on Plurk. It sucks that people will stoop to that kind of level.

By: Tortilla

Tortilla — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:23:59 +0000

I can’t believe what this world is coming to. It sucks that people can take others for a ride like that.

By: Miss Attitude

Miss Attitude — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:44:33 +0000

What a great post! I guess in my gut I knew it was a scam as well, but didn’t want to believe someone would do that (yes she was on my friend list.) I know that sounds kind of crazy coming from a cynical TV new journalist. Of course, I never give people money unless it’s a legitimate charity.

By: greytfriend

greytfriend — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:53:25 +0000

This was my first real experience with this sort of long-term scam and I fell for it. Despite a few questions, here was a woman with whom I’d been talking for months, who had a fully developed online personality, and I’d seen her situation develop over time. I had no experience with these things, didn’t know what kind of proof to ask for or how to obtain any. In addition, as someone dealing with a complicated medical condition, I just let my sympathy overwhelm my good judgment. It was a good scam, because it got to a point where it felt like we had to act quickly if we were going to help, and I decided I would prefer to have been scammed than to have it all be true and I did not help. So, no regrets, except now I don’t have the money to help someone legitimately in need. Boy, did I learn a lesson.

By: honest_ape

honest_ape — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:54:26 +0000

Yeah, I pretty much felt the Lily Ann thing was a scam, but didn’t feel like getting into it with anyone. I just figured I’d say “best luck” and be done with it.

It’s not that I’m not trusting, but…..ok, it’s that I’m not trusting. I need evidence before helping someone, and this matter smelled of scam since the beginning.

But, I kinda started to doubt myself when people I think of as good plurkers were dropping links to Lily Ann. And I thought they wouldn’t do it unless they had done the leg work.

Guess not.