I had previously read the Zelle pool scam and enjoyed it very much, wondering the whole while how naïve this couple was. But then, I’ve almost been caught a couple of times, myself. I keep getting texts, allegedly from the post office, that say a pkg can’t be delivered because of an incomplete address. The first time, I clicked on the link and read my pkg could be delivered as soon as USPS received my $.31 additional postage--I was just about to enter my credit card info when I caught myself up. I wasn’t expecting a pkg from USPS. Now I get these texts regularly, even though I hit “delete and report junk” every time, which means they’re using rotating phone numbers. GAAAH
As for the guy who wants to live forever--how can he think he’s LIVING, at all? I’d get so bored I’d want to die sooner rather than later! He looks like a vampire--and not the glittery, Thomas Pattinson/Team Edward type, either. At 46 with a 37-year old heart, if he can maintain (without ever having an actual life), he MIGHT live 8-9 years longer than average. But my guess is, his regimen will end him long beforehand. Poor, deluded man. Isn’t it sad, how people will glarm onto rich, celebrity guys as though wealth signifies great intelligence, that might somehow also rub off onto their devotees? (Elon Musk is beginning his human brain implant experiments now, in hopes people will be able to use computers by thought alone--wonder how many will sign up for THAT--sounds to me like it’ll be about exploiting the physically disabled.)
Mark, please DO share the story about how you almost got a Steinway for free from the Oklahoma widower! It sounds so good.
Here's a quick scam story: a few years ago, a brand new teacher (who was probably 23 years old) at my school worriedly pulled me aside to ask if I had any experience with IRS audits. They then recounted that they'd just received a phone call stating that the IRS was auditing them and that they needed to submit all sorts of personal information immediately to avoid paying huge fines. I assured the new teacher that it was the scammiest of scams -- but if this otherwise super smart, bright, young person can fall for this crap, it made me rethink how easily people could be duped with less fluency or familiarity with authority and governmental systems.
I had previously read the Zelle pool scam and enjoyed it very much, wondering the whole while how naïve this couple was. But then, I’ve almost been caught a couple of times, myself. I keep getting texts, allegedly from the post office, that say a pkg can’t be delivered because of an incomplete address. The first time, I clicked on the link and read my pkg could be delivered as soon as USPS received my $.31 additional postage--I was just about to enter my credit card info when I caught myself up. I wasn’t expecting a pkg from USPS. Now I get these texts regularly, even though I hit “delete and report junk” every time, which means they’re using rotating phone numbers. GAAAH
As for the guy who wants to live forever--how can he think he’s LIVING, at all? I’d get so bored I’d want to die sooner rather than later! He looks like a vampire--and not the glittery, Thomas Pattinson/Team Edward type, either. At 46 with a 37-year old heart, if he can maintain (without ever having an actual life), he MIGHT live 8-9 years longer than average. But my guess is, his regimen will end him long beforehand. Poor, deluded man. Isn’t it sad, how people will glarm onto rich, celebrity guys as though wealth signifies great intelligence, that might somehow also rub off onto their devotees? (Elon Musk is beginning his human brain implant experiments now, in hopes people will be able to use computers by thought alone--wonder how many will sign up for THAT--sounds to me like it’ll be about exploiting the physically disabled.)
Mark, please DO share the story about how you almost got a Steinway for free from the Oklahoma widower! It sounds so good.
Here's a quick scam story: a few years ago, a brand new teacher (who was probably 23 years old) at my school worriedly pulled me aside to ask if I had any experience with IRS audits. They then recounted that they'd just received a phone call stating that the IRS was auditing them and that they needed to submit all sorts of personal information immediately to avoid paying huge fines. I assured the new teacher that it was the scammiest of scams -- but if this otherwise super smart, bright, young person can fall for this crap, it made me rethink how easily people could be duped with less fluency or familiarity with authority and governmental systems.
A maddening experience but a fun topic! The Art of the Con by Maria Konnikova is excellent on this topic.
A good article review is here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/15/maria-konnikova-interview-new-book-the-confidence-game-review-scams