I Cautionary Tail Of Falling For It

[tabs]

There is a reason why we all still get those African based emails that promise millions to the fortunate one who responds. Well now I know a couple of women who have seemingily been taken.

I have told ya all about the lady who walked into a Porsche Dealership with 100K in her purse to buy a Porsche. The Dealer would not even give her a test drive when she asked...on her way out she showed them the money....later she did buy a Boxster....

Anyway this gal has a net worth in the high seven to low eight figure range. Very low key, intelligent woman who watches her pennies closely...Somehow she ran across a woman in LV that owned a business and other propperties through someone in her Bridge club. This business owning woman offered a 50% return on money that was lent to her. The Boxster lady lent her money twice and was repaid each time as proscribed. The third time is the charm, this time the lady hasn't repaid the money. It seems that she has sent money to the West Indies? For a reason I am not clear about nor really want to know. So the Boxster lady is going to pursue the business and properties that the Business woman owns or purports to own. Now what is tragic is that a friend of mine who has cancer gave this business woman a 100K, almost her last dime for this 50% return. She to is out of luck in this matter. My friend is besides herself over this.


When I heard about this yesterday, my jaw dropped to the floor and like a ticker tape the word that came to mind were SCAM and all those African e-mails promising riches. I suggested going to the police, which my friend told the Boxster Lady about. The Boxster lady said at this point she still wants to pursue going after the business this lady owns. The Boxster Lady is probably in qiuet deep on this perhaps up to 1/2 M. I can say one thing she was really rattled (scared, near panic) when I talked with her briefly on the phone. Later I suggested to my friend that she get a PI to investigate the matter. Which my friend thought was a good idea.

When I told another long time friend about this his first words were SCAM and PONZI scheme...If the Boxster Lady is in on the Scam, she is very good. In all my conversations with her there has been internal constiency, nothing that raises a red flag. My tendency would be to first think she was the Mark and my friend went along for the ride. This has all been disstressing to hea as I feel for my friend

[GH85Carrera]

I always wonder how someone that stupid ever got that much money in the 1st place. To carry 100 grand in cash around is stupid.

[tabs]

She inherited it...

[red-beard]

If it seems to good to be true (50% return on money, etc) it is. The only way Maddox got away with it for so long, was his return was not high enough to raise eyebrows. Well, it did raise eyebrows in anyone who knew anything about the investments he was supposedly making. But that is another story.

And Maddox was a good looking, nice talking, wholesome looking guy. We all want to believe that these Ponzi guys look like used car salesmen, etc. In reality, they look like good businesses, they talk a good game, etc.

[tabs]

When I was a mere lad, the summer of 63 to be exact my family and I took a trip to the Great Salt Lake...on the way back we stopped here in LV on a Sunday evening at the Hacienda Hotel. WHile we were taking the bags to the room a man with a5 Oclock shadow approached my Daddy and said that he has a 21 Jewel Self winding Longines watch that was worth $2100 and if my Daddy could give hime $200 for the watch as all the Vegas pawn shops were closed on Sunday. He had lost all his money gambling and needed gas money to get home. I looked at the guy and thought there is something wrong with this...my Dad offered him $2o for the watch which the guy accepted. On the way home the watch stopped and needed to be rewound. Upon returning home Daddy took the watch to a jeweler, who said that Longines nevr made a 21 jewel watch and di my Daddy buy it in Tijuna. My Daddy said, "No Las Vegas." The Jeweler said, "close enough." Thge upshot was that the watch was worth about $10 and got enough of use to be paid for.

However the moral of the story is that LV is a town full of Grifters and Thieves...this is one place where I don't TRUST ANYONE> especially on face value...now if I got nothing invested in that person, I will believe any story you wana tell me..cause it costs me nothin to believe ya.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by tabs

She inherited it...

I'll play....

[Tobra]

A fool and his money were lucky to get together in the first place

[azasadny]

Greed and stupidity are a very powerful combination... don't ever underestimate it!