Anybody else following this story? An ebay user got scammed on a laptop, so he’s posted everything about it on his site, including the emails between he and the scammer which tell the story in incredible detail. I know it’s long, but it’s worth reading the entire email page. I hate to spoil the ending, but since it’s still ongoing I guess I’m not- Justin, the guy who got scammed, is now in the process of making the scammer sell his Lexis to pay everyone he’s scammed back.

The scammer, Sal, is borderline illiterate, which is what gives him away. Half way through the scam Sal suddenly claims that the guy Justin was talking to was Sal Sr, and that his father had been the one who was scamming everyone. So obviously Sal jr. can’t be held accountable for what Sal Sr. did, right? But hold on a minute… how many fathers and sons would misspell a common word like “damn” in such a bizarre way?

Sal Sr.: I said forget about that dame check thing that went on

Sal Jr.:I will sell my car to pay everyone back just to clear my name.I guess i have no choice since i cashed them dame checks for him.

Anyway, the scammer’s techniques reminded me of some the Bush administration’s methods:

• Always be vague
• The more lies the better
• Blame the guy who came before you
• Delay, delay, delay

This also shows that good, smart, honest people can be tricked- especially when you’re the type of person who believes there is good in everyone, as I like to think most of us do. The American people were tricked by our president. As the president said, “fool me… ya can’t get fooled again.”

Seems like it’s all catching up with Sal in the next few days, either he sells his car and pays everyone back or he’s going to jail. Unfortunately we’re going to have to wait for November (technically January…) to get that scammer in the White House out of there.