I was a camp counselor for eight summers (five at a YMCA of Greater Cincinnati day camp and three summers at Kennolyn Camps in Soquel, California – near Santa Cruz).
Don’t hear too much from former campers these days. My last summer as a counselor was 1999. But, as any former counselor can tell you, those relationships you make often become lifetime friendships. Even the folks you don’t hear from that often, if they called and were in trouble, dropping everything to help them would not be unusual. It’s just that kind of experience.
So, this morning when supposedly one of my former campers, Kathleen, had an emergency in London – she had been mugged with a gun and nearly raped in the Old Kent part of London – I was a very concerned. Here’s the chat:
Kathleen
hey Joe
how are you doing?
are you there?
are you there?
9:01amJoe
hey
9:04amKathleen
how are you doing?
are you there Joe?
9:04amJoe
I’m good. You?
9:04amKathleen
not too good right now
9:05amJoe
what is wrong?
9:05amKathleen
i am stranded in London
9:05amJoe
geez. how did that happen?
9:05amKathleen
i was mugged
cash,credit card and phone were stolen
9:06amJoe
oh crap. that’s horrible. I’m sorry.
contacted the embassy, I assume?
9:06amKathleen
i have reported to the police
the embassy is far away from where i am so getting there will be a bit difficult for me
and i thank god that i still have my life
9:06amJoe
oh,wow
yeah, that is true.
9:07amKathleen
a gun was pointed at me
it was scary
9:07amJoe
but don’t you have to contact the embassy to get a temporary passprt or whatever?
9:07amKathleen
i almost fainted
9:07amJoe
I had that happen to me last year in downtown Cincinnati
9:07amKathleen
they slapped me and even tried raping me
9:07amJoe
oh my god, kathleen
that’s is awful. I’m so sorry.
when did this happen
9:08amKathleen
i still have my passport because i left it in the hotel i stay
yesterday
9:08amJoe
that is good
9:08amKathleen
i am leaving here today
my staying here is already due
9:08amJoe
wow. well, i’m glad you got out with your life and still have your passport
what part of london were you in when you were mugged?
9:09amKathleen
Old Kent
i thanks go for everything
This is where I started to realize things might not be what I thought they were:
but i have a little problem right now
9:11amKathleen
i need your assistant right now
9:11amJoe
what do you need?
9:12amKathleen
are you there?
9:12amJoe
yes
9:13amKathleen
i need some money from you and i promise to pay you back as soon as i return back to the state
9:13amJoe
how much?
9:13amKathleen
$720
9:14amJoe
tell me how we know each other
9:15amKathleen
hun hun
could`nt remember exactly
9:15amJoe
gotcha!
very creative of you
9:16amKathleen
how do you mean?
9:17amJoe
where did you go to summer camp as a child?
9:18amJoe
Incorrect!
9:19amKathleen
What?
9:19amJoe
Where did you go to summer camp as a child?
9:20amKathleen
OK
9:20amJoe
yes?
9:22amJoe
Just tell me one thing about that camp where you went as a kid and the money is yours…
9:23amKathleen
four wind Westward
9:23amJoe
and what was that?
9:26amKathleen
can`t remember
Can you help me out please
9:27amJoe
Sure. What in thee hell is “Four Wind Westward?” I have never heard of that.
9:27amKathleen
i was the once
for summer camp with friends
9:28amJoe
What city was it in?
9:29amKathleen
why all this question?
9:30amJoe
Why not answer them? Seems fair for a mere $720
9:30amKathleen
question before you can help a daughter out?
9:31amJoe
a daughter?
Incorrect!
9:31amKathleen
what do youmean?
9:32amKathleen
how do you mean incorrect?
9:33amJoe
Answer any of the questions I have asked, sweets
9:33amKathleen
what is this you are putting in your heading?
9:33amJoe
Fascinating, eh?
9:33amKathleen
you`ve gone too far
9:34amJoe
You aren’t English, are you?
9:34amKathleen
bye
9:34amJoe
ha ha!
gotcha gotcha gotcha!
9:34amKathleen
Fuck you
9:34amJoe
gotcha gotcha gotcha!
Good luck in your scam! Re-tweet! RE-tweet!
So, I stayed on and had a little fun with the sucker… I post this in hopes that it won’t go too far with someone else and someone actually sends money to a crook – on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, through e-mail. Anything. It doesn’t matter.
Be careful online – especially if anyone starts chatting you and then immediately asks for money. Be careful if anyone asks for passwords, usernames or personal information. Likely a scam.
Then, do that person whose account was hacked a favor (and everyone else who may fall victim to the scam) – and use a different means to contact that person and let them know what happened. And do it immediately. Then, file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3.
