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186 Comments

  1. Courtney
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:36 am

    My favorite is the INSISTING because of the AWESOME. I would have done the same thing. It’s like this great ray of hope for humanity. How could you not get excited? Until the whole humanity screwed me over thing–that part sucks.

    Reply

  2. Lori @Vintage Charm Restored
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:36 am

    Oh Victoria, I think in this specific case I would have told him what it looked like and totally gone for the whole thing… We’ll just say he caught you at just the busiest time of your day and the stage was set for just an incident!! Look at all the lovely people you’ll help with your scammer of a story!! Many hugs and I can’t wait to read your next craigslist story!!

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  3. Julie
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:39 am

    I just discovered your blog. Hilarious! What is the gas cap story? After this one about the phone, I am dying of curiosity.

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    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:44 am

      I tried to wedge the gas story in there, but it really didn’t flow, so I took it out… but just like the phone, sheer idiocy is the explanation. I’d gone to visit a friend in NJ, where they don’t let you pump your own gas… the attendant told me it was MISSING. But that I could buy one for $5. It wasn’t until I was over the bridge on the way home that I was like, wait minute…

      The part that bothered me most was that he was able to pick me out as someone who wouldn’t question the premise.

      Reply

      • Laura
        July 16, 2013 @ 12:28 pm

        Oh my goodness! (I was wondering about the gas cap story also and thought perhaps it would be another column.) I cannot believe the audacity and meanness of some people! I would have never thought that someone would do that. And what if you figured it out right then? “No. I know you are holding my gas cap in your hand, but I would rather drive of without it than give you $5, you big meanie.” argh.

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      • Leslie
        July 16, 2013 @ 1:17 pm

        Only $5? I could definitely be scammed out of a lot more for a gas cap.

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      • Corinne
        July 17, 2013 @ 12:06 am

        That is so funny (and awful.) I was Braised in NJ and never had that happen but that has left me unable to pump my own gas (spill it on my foot everytime or break the machine or have a huge anxiety attack.) I ‘ve lived on Long Island for the past 24 years and I will drive a LONG way not to pump!

        Reply

  4. Carrie
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:40 am

    Thanks for sharing… I would totally do this too! I have also come to the conclusion that I don’t really have that whole “gut response” to people that tells you when something’s off. I think I would totally be the person who gets suckered into the serial killer’s van because I’m helping them load a couch.

    Reply

  5. Merrie Beth
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:41 am

    What’s the gas cap story??? I need to hear the gas cap story!!

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:44 am

      I tried to wedge the gas story in there, but it really didn’t flow, so I took it out… but just like the phone, sheer idiocy is the explanation. I’d gone to visit a friend in NJ, where they don’t let you pump your own gas… the attendant told me it was MISSING. But that I could buy one for $5. It wasn’t until I was over the bridge on the way home that I was like, wait minute…

      The part that bothered me most was that he was able to pick me out as someone who wouldn’t question the premise.

      Reply

      • Mellissa Rose
        July 16, 2013 @ 10:47 am

        The gas cap story is awesome. Pure 100% awesome.

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      • Merrie Beth
        July 16, 2013 @ 11:26 am

        Well, to be fair, you WERE dealing locally. And you didn’t wire him the money or anything.

        Let me guess, the “new” gas cap just happened to be tethered to your car like the old gas cap? 🙂

        Reply

      • Tracey
        July 16, 2013 @ 8:29 pm

        Only $5 dollars – do you know how much it costs to get a genuine replacement gas cap (or petrol cap as we call them here downunder)?

        I shelled out $25 dollars about ten years ago when my husband managed to lose the original from our CRV. I should add that he is a serial offender, we’ve lost about four of them – so I now know where to buy the generic ones. I should also add that Honda’s newer models have the gas cap attached – we’ve even broken that one!

        PS: I hear there’s a great deal on an opera house in Sydney Australia, if you get in quick apparently there’s a bridge they’ll trow into the deal as well!

        Reply

        • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
          July 18, 2013 @ 9:58 am

          Laughing… clearly I had NO idea the cost of a cap (OR that they are not universal).

          Looking into the opera house now. Always wanted one of those.

          Reply

  6. Mellissa Rose
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:46 am

    Hopefully you can save others with this story.

    In a (trying to be) positive light, perhaps your $200 fed the scammer’s kids for a week.

    If you want to be scammed some more, Kayne West just put out a basic white t-shirt that will sell for $120. Seriously ridiculous.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 16, 2013 @ 10:50 am

      It did give me a moment of being truly thankful that I am not him… I know that NO one does that if they have better options.

      Reply

    • Libby
      July 16, 2014 @ 10:38 am

      I don’t know about that opera house, that roof looks like a money pit just waiting to happen.

      Reply

  7. bfwebster
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:49 am

    Loved Paul’s response. 🙂

    Reply

  8. Whitney
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:51 am

    Haha! I found this blog on a whim and now I love it. You’re a great writer!

    Reply

  9. Vicki Wolf
    July 16, 2013 @ 10:56 am

    I felt like I was right there with you. I would think a scammer would’ve gone for the full $300! That would’ve thrown me off. I totally sympathize with ya! The text from your husband totally slayed me. We may be married to men from the same sarcastic, ballbusting bloodline.
    PS. You get major points for trying to help your dad and having faith in the potential “amazingness” of humanity 🙂

    Reply

  10. elizabeth
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:00 am

    So Arkansas may not be for sale — but I can give you a GREAT deal on Missouri.

    Reply

  11. Kylie
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:05 am

    Okay seriously, probably one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time – you are so priceless. Life happens right? Atleast you can make good fun of yourself!
    ~Kylie

    Reply

  12. Danica
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:06 am

    In a good way this is probably one of the best posts I’ve read in a while!!! Hilarious! Well not really hilarious for you but your re-enactment of what happened was pretty hilarious!

    Also, I’m new to your blog and already love it!

    Reply

  13. John @ Our Home from Scratch
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:22 am

    I’ve done some remarkably stupid things in my day as well… Whenever anyone calls me for a donation, from like public radio for example, I’m always like.. “Yeah, but how do I know this is Terry Gross? and what does Terry Gross want with a money order?” Can I just get the free Billy Joel CD collection?”

    Reply

  14. Sharon
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:22 am

    Oh, bless your heart…

    Reply

  15. Jane Schafrann
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:26 am

    Great story (as usual) & I can empathize! We’ve all been played, at some point, when we’re caught up in the unexpected, frenzied excitement of what seems amazing & wonderful. Just wanted you to know that sometimes scammers get scammed themselves, to wit: My daughter’s brand-new laptop was stolen from her dorm room in FL several years back; amazingly, she received a call the next day that police a few towns away had recovered it–they traced my daughter’s ownership in a bright but convoluted way, but that’s another story–and she went to the police station to recover it. That’s when she found out what happened: A young man (the thief, a non-student) had come into the dorm on campus & knocked on doors till he found unlocked doors w/no occupants (in my child’s case, she’d been in the communal hall bath at the time; she never left her door unlocked after this!). Then the young man entered the unlocked rooms & stole whatever electronics he could & ran out of the building. (After this incident, the college insisted that laptops be locked to the desks in dorms!) Anyway, apparently Young Thief then sold the hot loot out of his car trunk on some sketchy street in a nearby town. YT did indeed sell my daughter’s brand-new $900 laptop (I know; I paid! She was a newly minted college frosh–this happened in Nov. of her freshman yr) to some guy for $50. About 30 minutes later, while YT was still peddling stolen stuff from his car on the same street corner, the laptop buyer, after examining this fabulous Apple laptop, decided he’d been overcharged. (!!! How did they make ME feel? He paid 50 bucks; I was out $900!) SO: Laptop Buyer went & got a COP!! He pointed out the Young Thief who’d sold him the laptop & said, “He ripped me off for $50. This computer’s a piece of #*%@@.” (Sorry, Apple.) The rest is, as they say, history (and now part of our family lore & gore). Young Thief (and his stolen-merchandise buyer) were arrested, & I hope justice was served (at least a little bit). My daughter was reunited w/her Apple, which hadn’t suffered at all, fortunately. Hmmm, now that I look back at this incident, I guess YT wasn’t really a “scammer” cuz he was selling a really fine laptop, not a fake-o one, but, oh well….it’s a story. LOVE YOUR POSTS. KEEP ‘EM COMING! XOXO

    Reply

    • Amy Dobek
      July 16, 2013 @ 12:08 pm

      OMG. How priceless is that??? They BOTH got arrested. A truly excellent ending. 😀

      Reply

  16. badkitty
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:29 am

    Can’t stop laughing at Paul’s response… he might be my husband’s actual sibling, switched at birth, because that is EXACTLY what my man would have said to me.

    Reply

  17. Karin Vail
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:31 am

    I totally want to hear the gas cap story. I must have missed that one, LOL!

    Reply

  18. Kit Odom
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:35 am

    Since I was reared to be ridiculously wary in dealing with people, I probably wouldn’t have been taken in by the scam. If I had however, I would have insisted on giving him $200. Means you’re a good person. Gullible is better than hardened.

    Reply

  19. Jude
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:37 am

    Oh, just too funny. Thanks for sharing!!! I love the fact you gave him more than he asked for -you’re clearly an exceedingly nice (if gullible) person. Karma, my friend, karma. He’ll get his.

    You, meanwhile, have the balls to publicly laugh at yourself, a supportive husband and dear brothers who live to mock you.

    I have the exact same situation this side of the Pond – and it makes me happy every day!

    Reply

  20. Kyra
    July 16, 2013 @ 11:41 am

    Oh my goodness this was the best laugh out loud start to my day. Live it

    Reply

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