Maybe it was a scammaybe it isn't -when I have the funds, I give

[demtenjeep]

Last edited Wed Feb 22, 2017, 07:38 PM - Edit history (2)

and don't expect any thanks or follow to see if every specific penny is spent as requested.

I don't know the kid and at this time I had no money to give.

I will say that to continue to harp and pat the back is enough



DU is a wonderful community.

3 times DU has helped me.

Once I was helped by people giving to start a blanket fund for my students

next I had a student kill himself and the family had no money to bury him-DU stepped up

last Nov, I got sick and almost died. DU stepped up


I thank every one who did and in the future I will give again-when I do, it will be with a clear conscious and know that my intentions are good



enough is enough.

feels like a situation I saw once where a person's grandson needed a heart transplant.

another woman donated 25 bucks for the family

then she saw a picture of the lady with a coffee cup and vomited all over the internet about how she donated a whole 25 bucks and the grandma had the gall to buy coffee while at the hospital

Some think it is a scam, some don't. We don't need hundreds of threads harping on and on

[demtenjeep]

1. specifically this thread which has forbidden screen shots in it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8690774

[bathroommonkey76]

16. Forbidden?

I copied/pasted half the letter from "Corey" to see if this scam was showing up on any other site- The only link that showed up was from the one I posted.

I took screenshots and posted them for LEO purposes-- Didn't know I was violating any kind of rules. Btw I do the same thing on Twitter b/c tweets are often deleted. I have contacted the SS in the past using those tweet screen-grabs b/c of death threats made against OUR POTUS!

[demtenjeep]

29. yes forbidden. and Sarasotarepub has been a troll following DU and making fun of it for years

not the same person asking for help.

If you knew your history you would know that.

you would also know there are two websites that we do not mention or bring posts here from specifically because they do as you noticed.

[bathroommonkey76]

32. Well, I'll leave them up so the LEO's can look at the screen grabs

Just in case it's deleted on their site.

But thanks for the heads up!

[demtenjeep]

35. you really should take it down it is not who you think it is

but of course you know better so...

[snooper2]

52. It's too late- on the GOOGLES now and will be there FOREVER!

FOREVER I say.... FOREVER!

[cwydro]

47. Why are you so hostile to someone who alerted DU to a scam?

I find that curious.

[Squinch]

2. Hundreds of threads? Do you include this one in that number or not?

[spanone]

3. K&R...

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

4. While in the end it did turn out to be a scam, what was extremely disturbing to me

Was how a few members here were hurling out accusations and smearing another member all over the site. It was like a pack of wild dogs circling a wounded animal and it was disgusting. I also saw the self congratulatory thread and it made me puke in my mouth.

Now, it's one thing to do some research and find proof and then contacting an administrator to let THEM do the moderating...but the gang mentality I saw going on was truly disturbing and I really think there should be a rule about this kind of thing. Good God if that were not a scam and someone's life was really in danger...all that hateful crap being posted could have caused serious harm. That's just not OK in my book.

[leftstreet]

5. That's not accurate

The first signs of scamming were pointed out by members asking others to be cautious and do some research.

Once it was obvious DU was being scammed...well, fuck the scammer!

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

7. I was there reading it on multiple threads and I stand by what I said

There were several members who were in all out attack mode and were making accusations without knowing for sure or having proof. It wasn't until several hours after the pack attacks that someone found a post on a right wing site with a copy of the post saying it was a scam. I am not the only one that got the same impression I did.

[herding cats]

12. It was exposed via a FB post and by contacting the hospital where he was supposed to be.

Once a DUer asked if that was them posting on Facebook when they were supposed to be in the ICU - which it obviously was due to the pics - then someone contacted the hospital. The hospital had no such person. Then the OP self deleted that thread when they knew they'd been exposed.

This person was a scammer taking advantage of DUers kindness. Many of the people here who donate to these types of things don't have the disposable income and do so anyway. Isn't it better that money go to a real person in need, and not a scammer?

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

21. The hospital would not be allowed to say one way or the other

If you are not on the allowed contact list the desk has to say they don't have anyone by that name. So the hospital park was not proof. People can share devices and accounts as well. All of that stuff could potentially be explained. The admission on another web site is really the only proof and to be honest, it's possible that it wasn't even the same person who posted to that site. So while it does appear to be a scam, there is still the possibility that it wasn't, albeit a slight one. As for the original poster self deleting...if a bunch of people were attacking the facebook page then of course they would make it private to avoid harassment. The account was around since 2005. It doesn't make a lot of sense to troll for 12 years and then out of the blue make that post. I just found the reaction very upsetting.

[demtenjeep]

24. there was no admission on another site. The site mentioned is a site that makes fun of us

all that website did was copy the appeal for help and then post comments

the person that asked for help did not post the other site

[herding cats]

38. That's not factual.

While it can almost be close to factual in high profile cases, I called and asked if the hospital how they deal with such. Their answer, when they say they cannot answer your question they say they can't confirm, they don't say just, no.

[demtenjeep]

6. exactly

I pray the guy is okay

if it was a scam well that is sad

but the self-congratulatory is sickening

thank god I wasn't treated that way

[BainsBane]

9. She admitted it was a scam

No one was in the hospital. People checked. No one has a right to lie to people to get money off them.

[demtenjeep]

11. nowhat was copied was the making fun of DU on the site that shall not be mentioned

no one has admitted anything and it isn't my job to search it out

I would just like to see the hate stopped

[BainsBane]

42. That's a distraction

We are talking about an obvious attempt to defraud DUers. Why does it bother you than her con was uncovered?

[cwydro]

48. Thank you.

My question also.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

10. Yes, it did turn out to ultimately be a scam, but long after all the nasty posts

But unless those accusing the guy of it being a scam were in some way involved and are just trolling the site to wreak havoc then they would have no way of knowing. If I were an admin I might compare some IP addresses to see if there might be some multiple ID disorder going on. Nothing would surprise me anymore, to be honest.

[bathroommonkey76]

14. You can compare my NC IP address with anyone on this site.

There have been folks attacking me behind the scenes here b/c I mentioned the authorities in another thread. You're right-- I wouldn't be surprised if there are a group of people on here that are involved with this scam. But I can tell you right now, I'm not one of them.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

17. I didn't have a problem with you checking up on the story

I did have a problem with you playing kinda loose with the accusations. I'm not saying this to be mean or start things. I'm just being honest about how I felt when I read what you were posting. I don't doubt that you had good intentions. I just didn't care for the way you handled it regarding the posts you were making.

[demtenjeep]

19. made me think of a situation. Someone I know had a grandson that needed a heart transplant

another woman donated 25 bucks for the family

then she saw a picture of the lady with a coffee cup and vomited all over the internet about how she donated a whole 25 bucks and the grandma had the gall to buy coffee while at the hospital

[bathroommonkey76]

20. ...

You're welcome to go back and read my posts to see how 'loose' I was playing after I found out Corey Baker as a patient there. All bets were off after I called the hospital in Columbus. Btw did you attempt to call the hospital? Or were you just sitting back watching it all unfold? Everything about the letter had "scam" written all over it.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

22. The hospital will tell you there is no one there by that name unless your name is on their list

I had to get admitted due to chest pain and my own sister knew I was there and called to check on me but because I had not put her on the list they told her there was no one by my name there...but I was there.

[bathroommonkey76]

23. "Aaron" gave the hospital number to a member of DU to verify. n/t

[demtenjeep]

25. so you want a pat on the back? Great you win the day

now for f@#% sake drop it

[bathroommonkey76]

26. Naw, Im just defending myself from people like you.

I never asked to be thanked for calling out the Nigerian prince.

[demtenjeep]

28. no you just relish the fact that you are superior - I don't wish ill on anyone so I hope the Corey

is okay

If it was real and he dies won't you feel so great...

[bathroommonkey76]

30. How am I superior?

I'm sure "Corey" will be back in the future with a new FB profile and his brother (who isn't tech savvy) will be using his account to prey on the same people of this site.

Hoping he gets all the treatment a prison offers. Eff scammers.

[demtenjeep]

31. well David, I don't think you are

but apparently you do.

oh and by the way...Sarasotarepub has been a nasty little troll following DU and making fun of DU for years as well as other places.

they take whole threads from here and post them and then make fun. You are probably the star of several now ...maybe learn the history

she is not the person that possibly asked for help

[bathroommonkey76]

33. And I don't think much of you either.

So I guess we're even, demtenjeep.

Have a good day.

And keep defending the people who scammed the members of this site.

Bye. Bye.

[demtenjeep]

34. I am not defending. I am disgusted by your attitude

but I am a helper and giver by nature

when I give I don't expect a receipt.

hope you can live with yourself

[Fla Dem]

8. I contributed and feel stupid I was scammed and it will make me very leery to donate to a cause

in the future. I really didn't see a lot of high fiving and self congratulating. If you mean that some on here are happy they exposed a scammer, and shouted it from the tree tops in DU land, well good for them. I wish it had been done earlier.

[herding cats]

13. You can request your money back from GoFundMe.

I hope everyone who donated gets their money back, and that this person is arrested.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

18. New threads were started many hours after the issue was resolved

And that was entirely unnecessary. In addition there was a lot of those type of posts on at least one thread I saw that was a bit much.

[demtenjeep]

39. that is exactly it

I don't know if it was a scam or not but the disgusting side of the gleefulness going on is sickening

almost like trump supporters

[snooper2]

53. If someone is in the hospital trying to survive from massive brain injury

Nothing posted on the Intertubes is going to affect them in one little bit---

Unless you think the doctor will read it and not do his job correctly LOL

[Kimchijeon]

15. I know, I know- I won't let it stop me from being generous in the future either

and thanks to those who reach out when others are in need. ♥

[Vinnie From Indy]

27. Fuck these assholes!

No apologies!

[anneboleyn]

36. I don't understand the logic. Stealing under false pretenses / to "asking for help"

I simply don't understand this logic. I have been a member of DU for a very long time, and I certainly admire the loyalty and heart of the DU community. But this person was scamming the good people of du -- not asking for help. Loyal DUers sniffed out that this was a scam, using the identify of a DU member ffs, and they tracked down the details to prove this was a SCAM. That is to be commended. Why people are criticizing the correct urge to expose fraudulent activity using false pretenses and a false identity, which is a crime, is beyond me.

I didn't see the posts until today, so there were already a number of posts alerting me to the fact this was a scam. It seemed very dubious to me immediately as the poster refused to disclose basic info, and DUers confirmed that no accident ever even happened.

[demtenjeep]

37. you anneboleyn were all over those threads so don't pretend you weren't. Maybe it was a scam

maybe not

I tend to believe the best in people

if I give, I give in good faith

there really wasn't proof it was a scam

but we showed our ass if it wasn't didn't we

[Squinch]

41. It's been proven to have been a scam.

[BainsBane]

43. There most certainly was proof

And an admission by the con artist.

You are free to give money to whomever you want, but objecting because others don't want to be conned is absurd.

[Glitterati]

45. I'm sorry, but no one has yet met the legal definition of proving anything

Now, I didn't give anything as I don't play along with these gofundme dramas because:

1. Thanks, but I prefer the No Drama Obama types of folks
2. Almost every gofundme is a con job
3. Making up drama when everyday life is already a biotch makes no sense to me

But, I have seen nothing posted on DU that proved this was a scam. A lot of supposition, a lot of accusation, but no proof.

The "proof" threads are as full of drama as the original request was.

[BainsBane]

50. The gofund me site

Was edited with a message that said, "glad you finally found out." GoFundme has also refunded money, indicating they concluded it was a scam.

No one is talking about a lawsuit, so legal proof isn't the issue.

[Glitterati]

51. You call that PROOF of anything?

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Warren DeMontague]

40. There's nothing noble about lying to people to get money out of them.

People have a right to be pissed in those situations.

[Vinca]

44. Most of us have limited funds to give away and I'd rather not give to scamsters.

There's a young guy who panhandles by the local grocery store. He's embellished his cardboard sign with an American flag and the words "Vietnam Vet." This kid wasn't even an embryo in the 1970's. Would you give him money?

[cwydro]

56. I've got one of those on a street corner I pass.

He's certainly younger than I, and I wasn't old enough to be in the military when the war ended.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

46. The problem with these types of scams is it engenders cynicism and makes some folks less likely....

The problem with these types of scams is it engenders cynicism and makes some folks less likely to help the next time.

[LexVegas]

49. Whatever makes you feel better about being scammed. nt