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186 Comments

  1. Jen
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:11 am

    Maybe I’m just being slow this morning…but was the case just a good guess? Because the case description would have gotten me.

    Reply

    • Kelly
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:19 am

      The way I read it was that she described the case to him to verify it was indeed her Dad’s phone.

      In any case, hilarious story. Also I can sell you Arkansas for $200. 😉

      Reply

      • RamonaQ
        July 16, 2013 @ 10:20 am

        AH. There it is. Thank you.

        Reply

      • DB
        July 16, 2013 @ 11:38 am

        $200 for Arkansas? Have you seen Arkansas?

        Reply

        • AmyCat
          July 31, 2013 @ 4:24 pm

          The trouble with Arkansas isn’t the purchase price, it’s the upkeep… as anyone who’s bought and lived in an Old House should know!

          Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:20 am

      No guessing required, since he ASKED ME TO TELL HIM what the case looked like. Then he was all– YUP. For sure! This IS YOUR PHONE.

      Reply

      • Jen
        July 16, 2013 @ 10:37 am

        BOOM! Reading comprehension fail! Thanks for the kindness in your clarifications, ladies!

        Reply

    • Redheadedcyclone
      July 27, 2016 @ 9:55 pm

      She told him what color it was and he agreed… not the other way around…

      Reply

      • Redheadedcyclone
        July 27, 2016 @ 9:56 pm

        aaannnnnddd…. if I had read to the end of the comments (honest, I thought I had) I wouldn’t look like an idiot… 🙂

        Reply

  2. Cherilynn
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:13 am

    How rude of him to take advantage of you!!!
    I’m sorry you were scammed!

    Reply

  3. Jenn
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:13 am

    Oh you poor dear! I would do anything for my dad too! You are now wiser than you were before…

    Reply

  4. Ross
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:14 am

    I feel bad for you, but that is exactly the kind of thing I would do – pay EXTRA to get scammed. I’m sure you’ll always be applying your 5 second rule whenever you’re browsing through Craigslist in future…

    …or maybe not 😉

    Reply

  5. Janet
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:18 am

    Love your post! Sorry to hear you got scammed but I do like how you put the Craigslist warnings in your article. They are there for a reason. I also read the one about the mirror – love your writing style and that you are willing to put it all out there. I also love how your husband is your “non-willing” side-kick. Looking forward to hearing more about your life.

    Reply

  6. RamonaQ
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:19 am

    I must be hopelessly stupid, because I don’t see how anyone would know that was a scam. Especially if he knew the kind of case it was in. Otterbox do multiple colours.

    Can anyone smart my dumb here?

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:22 am

      I need to clarify that in the post… he asked ME to tell him what the case was, THEN he agreed with me… thanks for pointing out the confusion!! One of those things that makes sense to me, but not necessarily clear when in print!

      Reply

      • RamonaQ
        July 16, 2013 @ 10:26 am

        Sad thing is, I probably would have done the exact same thing. I am such a dink…

        Reply

      • Leah
        July 16, 2013 @ 11:32 am

        No it was clear from your story that he had gotten you to describe the case first, I totally got it. It’s like the classic admonition against giving personal stats over the phone–they “trick” you into it. BTW, I once scammed myself out of $200. I can only put it that way because I really have only myself to blame. I felt like a complete rube, especially since I thought I was doing some poor hapless person a good turn. So sorry this happened to you and thanks for the brave vulnerability to share it. Love your blog!!!

        Reply

  7. Mary Lee
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:20 am

    I had a similar experience years ago when I lost a gold bracelet in O’Hare Airport. Ran an ad in Lost & Found section of newspaper. A man called, saying he believed he’d found my bracelet. “It is gold, right?” Unfortunately, he was “about to leave the country,” so I would need to wire the money so that he could mail it to me before his departure. Fortunately, my husband said, “We’re not wiring money to that guy” or I’d have no doubt been out a gold bracelet AND $200.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 11:36 am

      Wow… I gues it’s a scam that predates the Internet!

      Reply

    • Tess
      July 16, 2013 @ 11:46 am

      I keep reminding myself that whenever there’s a weird level of urgency (“about to leave the country”, “I’m traveling so send it RIGHT AWAY”) it’s so easy to get swept up without thinking- exactly what scammers are hoping for!

      I’m so sad you lost $200 (think of the disco balls!) but your story is pretty adorable.

      Reply

  8. Erin
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:20 am

    I think Paul was being unfair. I don’t imagine you’d actually *want* to but Arkansas.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:23 am

      Right? Texas, though… I’d pay a lot for Texas.

      Reply

      • ntexas99
        July 16, 2013 @ 2:27 pm

        I happen to live in Texas, and right now, at 102 degrees, you can have it for free … no $200, no cashier’s check, no Western Union … just be sure to wear shoes, because the asphalt will melt to the bottom of your feet if you are dumb enough to walk to your mailbox in your bare feet.

        Not that I would have any personal knowledge of that happening, of course.

        Reply

        • Ellen
          July 16, 2013 @ 4:14 pm

          But NTEXAS99, she wouldn’t take it for free! She’d have to send you some extra for giving her something so amazing!

          I once got a call where they asked for someone specific and I told them they had the wrong number but it was a looking-for-donations call for some charity in another state and I ended up giving them money. Yes, that’s right, I gave money to a wrong number. I felt so stupid, I later established a firm policy about the specific charities I would support.

          Reply

          • Tracey
            July 16, 2013 @ 8:38 pm

            My husband has the best answer to most questions where he doesn’t want to answer – he says ‘Why do you ask?’ It’s a great way to give you time to gather your thoughts when you get a cold call.
            We get so many cold calls from both legitimate charities and scammers that we now have a policy that we don’t give money or information to anyone cold-calling. That way I get to pick and choose which charities I want to donate to in a careful and considered way.

            Reply

  9. Gwenette
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:20 am

    I know the feeling, although I won’t share my story here. Just know that I understand.

    Reply

  10. Barb @ A Life in Balance
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:21 am

    LOL – I needed that. I love your dh’s response: “look, I can’t talk right now, but I will make fun of you as soon as I get home.
    Be sure you’re there.”

    Reply

  11. Sandi
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:21 am

    I will tell you again…reading your posts MAKES MY DAY!! Love it. I have never done Craigs list, but I will keep an eye out for you!! lol
    Blessings~

    Reply

  12. applehillcottage
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:21 am

    Oh this made me laugh out loud! I would have done the same thing. EXCEPT I probably wouldn’t have wired him money, because I totally don’t know how to do that, and I don’t want to ever learn!
    (the part about your brothers on your death bed was the best!)

    Reply

  13. Dara
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:24 am

    Double dog HILARIOUS!!!!! thank you for this morning’s chuckle!!

    Reply

  14. Sandi
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:25 am

    Dearest, most excellent woman.

    It happens. And you’re very brave to share with us.

    And I’m never using Craigslist for anything except perhaps writing inspiration.

    Reply

  15. Jeri Church
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:26 am

    Bless your heart. We really are sisters. If you only knew…… lol.

    Reply

  16. Ginger C.
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:27 am

    [scammer who has no phone] What does the case look like?
    [VEC] It’s silver with a minor scratch on the back and “sucker” printed in block letters
    [scammer who has no phone] Let me take a look….hmm…. yes, the phone I have has a little scratch and sure enough, there’s “SUCKER”. This must be your phone!

    basically whatever you tell scammer, they agree with. The legit way to see if it’s your phone is have the caller describe it to you, not the other way around. 🙂

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:34 am

      This made me laugh AND made me mad that I didn’t think of that set up myself… the engraving WAS really obvious.

      Reply

  17. lizykat
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:29 am

    OHHH so sad to hear…but OMG so funny to read about… and Paul? love him, you two are perfect matches…thanks for the laugh out loud guffaw this morning…xoxo

    Reply

  18. Jennifer Haston
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:33 am

    Its hard to admit that you have been scammed, even harder to be so honest about it with the 1000s of people who will read it. I salute your courage and man I have so been there.. I feel this way every single time I fall for something and post it on my facebook wall only to have 3 or 4 people gently prod me with “snopes” and pat on the head, jen, you were taken AGAIN.. le sigh

    Reply

  19. Diane
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:34 am

    Better then that, ive posted alot of items for sale on craigslist (my addiction) and have gotten replies from famous people always asking if item is still available hahahaha wow me

    Reply

  20. Wendy r
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:35 am

    These things happen – we want to believe people are all good, right? And to that, sorry I laughed, but I did. I really am a good person despite this – and I can totally imagine doing the same thing. Fav part of the post though – your husband’s texts!

    Reply

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