The Burned Cat Scam - Page 2

LeefRyder · 07-07-2005, 01:47 PM

I heard about this through the news post. I didn't donate because I couldn't afford it, while I'm glad I didn't. I hope they prosecute this person. Thanks to the starter of this thread for making me aware. My faith in humanity is slipping. I haven't posted in- I forget how long and just happened to be lurking this morning.

Witness1 · 07-07-2005, 01:54 PM

As a general rule, I never donate to a blog site/post. I also dont take the information I find on them, with more then a grain of salt.

LeefRyder · 07-08-2005, 09:49 AM

http://www.livejournal.com/support/s...9638&auth=fbc8

I reported her account abuse to live journal, I think there's a section where anyone can leave comments on my abuse report. Feel free to suggest she have her permanent account status revoked.

shiney · 07-08-2005, 10:40 AM

That may lead to the paypal account being blocked which would result in nobody getting refunds, though. Although I do support this fool getting her crap revoked all over.

PyrosNine · 07-08-2005, 10:44 AM

Feh, it's a good thing I had no money at the time. I'm a bleeding heart, Mr. Nice guy, The living doormat, everything. If you told me at this very moment there was a cat stuck in a burning building a few blocks down the street, I'd rush out and save it on the spot. What really makes that a big statement is I'm highly allergic to cats.

As for if this hoax will piss off the truly nice people, Not likely. Most of the people who are ranting about how mean and evil and bitchy this person is, did it for more personal reasons, and weren't neccesarily the bleeding hearts of America. If you want to give kindly, give freely and feel no guilt or anger at any way you've used your money. If you've used your money for what's the right thing, trickery or not, you'll still come out of it on higher moral ground. I'd have probably sent a good portion of whatever I had at the time, as I bought Battlefield 2 just before it and that's why i have no money.
I'm too poor to be generous, but alas...

Sky Warrior Bob · 07-08-2005, 10:55 AM

I have to admit, I was tempted by Brian's plea for help, but refrained because this person was asking for money without any set goal. Because of that, I felt a little bit uncomfortable about the whole thing. And since it turns out that my gut instincts were correct, I'd suggest that if somebody on the internet pleas for help like this, ask him or her to set a goal mark before you donate.

Its just the best way to go about this sort of thing.

SWK

Jaysc · 07-08-2005, 12:28 PM

i just put a post on her LJ taking her up on the info bit for criminal prosecution. due to the amount of money involved, i believe if she gets convicted she can face 10 years minimum for this.

Mike McC · 07-08-2005, 12:54 PM

When I first read the initial plea, I was sleep deprived, thus willling to believe anything, while not exactly commoiting it to memory. I was most like: "~click~ Oh, poor kitty. ~click~ Ooh, Wil Wheaton updated his blog!"

When I first read the apology and the reasons behind the scam, I was sleep deprived, thus even the most outlandish things made perfect sense because my brain just didn't really want to think about it. "Huh, an experiment? Whatever."

Now that I'm only half sleep deprived, and I can think about it somewhat clearly, I realize that the story she is giving is complete bullshit. The thought line of "Lets scam good people to show that they are good and caring" just does not happen. The thought line is always more like "suckers!" This is entirely inexcuseable. May the universe punish her in a slow and agonizing manner.

Most people would find another way to do it than lie and scam, like set up a charity drive, like how the boys over at Penny Arcade decided to show the media that gamers are good people by creating Child's Play. And, as a side note, when Wil Wheaton needed to cover the expenses of his cat vet bills, he came up with a brilliant idea. He didn't want to accept straight donations for it. Instead, he sold off all of the copies of Dancing Barefoot he had in his closet, autographed.

Just my two cents. I may be back later to drop some morepennies into the penny jar.

Penuin2 · 07-08-2005, 01:06 PM

I'm a cynical person, but even I believed her at first. Then, upon finding out about it, I realize this: The good people may outnumber the bad, but the bad can blend in VERY well. I hope any and all who donated get thier money back. This lady is either very, very dumb or very, very cruel.

Amara · 07-08-2005, 10:06 PM

To be frank, I was never tempted to believe this. However, I was loathe to say anything because of the great positive response. I am saddened that someone would do this, but not surprised. What I was shocked to discover was the generosity of others towards this woman. If anything, this fraud has made me feel less cynical. Ironic.

Penuin - Not necessarily dumb or cruel. Desperate for attention perhaps?

07-07-2005, 01:47 PM	#11
LeefRyder < Chococat > Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 268	I heard about this through the news post. I didn't donate because I couldn't afford it, while I'm glad I didn't. I hope they prosecute this person. Thanks to the starter of this thread for making me aware. My faith in humanity is slipping. I haven't posted in- I forget how long and just happened to be lurking this morning. __________________ A short sig. I has it.

07-08-2005, 09:49 AM	#13
LeefRyder < Chococat > Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 268	http://www.livejournal.com/support/s...9638&auth=fbc8 I reported her account abuse to live journal, I think there's a section where anyone can leave comments on my abuse report. Feel free to suggest she have her permanent account status revoked. __________________ A short sig. I has it.

07-08-2005, 10:40 AM	#14
shiney Derrrrrrrrrrrrrp. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The land of fartz and buttz Posts: 8,266	That may lead to the paypal account being blocked which would result in nobody getting refunds, though. Although I do support this fool getting her crap revoked all over. __________________ boop

07-08-2005, 10:44 AM	#15
PyrosNine Zettai Hero Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A figment of my own imagination Posts: 6,103	Feh, it's a good thing I had no money at the time. I'm a bleeding heart, Mr. Nice guy, The living doormat, everything. If you told me at this very moment there was a cat stuck in a burning building a few blocks down the street, I'd rush out and save it on the spot. What really makes that a big statement is I'm highly allergic to cats. As for if this hoax will piss off the truly nice people, Not likely. Most of the people who are ranting about how mean and evil and bitchy this person is, did it for more personal reasons, and weren't neccesarily the bleeding hearts of America. If you want to give kindly, give freely and feel no guilt or anger at any way you've used your money. If you've used your money for what's the right thing, trickery or not, you'll still come out of it on higher moral ground. I'd have probably sent a good portion of whatever I had at the time, as I bought Battlefield 2 just before it and that's why i have no money. I'm too poor to be generous, but alas... __________________ Pyrosnine.blogspot.com: An experimental blog of writing. Updated possibly daily. Possibly. A fair chance. Current Works for reading: War Between them, Karma Police. PyrosNine: Weirdo Magnet Extraordinaire!

07-08-2005, 10:55 AM	#16
Sky Warrior Bob bOB iZ brOkeN Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a nice place to visit... Posts: 3,755	I have to admit, I was tempted by Brian's plea for help, but refrained because this person was asking for money without any set goal. Because of that, I felt a little bit uncomfortable about the whole thing. And since it turns out that my gut instincts were correct, I'd suggest that if somebody on the internet pleas for help like this, ask him or her to set a goal mark before you donate. Its just the best way to go about this sort of thing. SWK __________________ :bmage: Because breakdancing is evil, and so am I, you will click on this link: The power of evil compels you... You are in error. No one is screaming. Thank you for your cooperation. Yes I know the breakdancing BM link doesn't work, and I don't care.

07-07-2005, 01:54 PM	#12
Witness1 Stop Lord Foul Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 280	As a general rule, I never donate to a blog site/post. I also dont take the information I find on them, with more then a grain of salt.

07-08-2005, 12:28 PM	#17
Jaysc Troopa Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 98	i just put a post on her LJ taking her up on the info bit for criminal prosecution. due to the amount of money involved, i believe if she gets convicted she can face 10 years minimum for this.

07-08-2005, 12:54 PM	#18
Mike McC Time is something else. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wherever I am needed, I will be there. Posts: 5,065	When I first read the initial plea, I was sleep deprived, thus willling to believe anything, while not exactly commoiting it to memory. I was most like: "~click~ Oh, poor kitty. ~click~ Ooh, Wil Wheaton updated his blog!" When I first read the apology and the reasons behind the scam, I was sleep deprived, thus even the most outlandish things made perfect sense because my brain just didn't really want to think about it. "Huh, an experiment? Whatever." Now that I'm only half sleep deprived, and I can think about it somewhat clearly, I realize that the story she is giving is complete bullshit. The thought line of "Lets scam good people to show that they are good and caring" just does not happen. The thought line is always more like "suckers!" This is entirely inexcuseable. May the universe punish her in a slow and agonizing manner. Most people would find another way to do it than lie and scam, like set up a charity drive, like how the boys over at Penny Arcade decided to show the media that gamers are good people by creating Child's Play. And, as a side note, when Wil Wheaton needed to cover the expenses of his cat vet bills, he came up with a brilliant idea. He didn't want to accept straight donations for it. Instead, he sold off all of the copies of Dancing Barefoot he had in his closet, autographed. Just my two cents. I may be back later to drop some morepennies into the penny jar. __________________ WHERE MIKEY IS IN 2022! tumblrs - http://werewolf.zone twitters - @itmightbemikey

07-08-2005, 01:06 PM	#19
Penuin2 Mystic Penguin! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a house on a hill. Posts: 15	I'm a cynical person, but even I believed her at first. Then, upon finding out about it, I realize this: The good people may outnumber the bad, but the bad can blend in VERY well. I hope any and all who donated get thier money back. This lady is either very, very dumb or very, very cruel. __________________ Commas are just as, good as, punctuation, heck, its even better!

07-08-2005, 10:06 PM	#20
Amara ... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Nowhere Posts: 12	To be frank, I was never tempted to believe this. However, I was loathe to say anything because of the great positive response. I am saddened that someone would do this, but not surprised. What I was shocked to discover was the generosity of others towards this woman. If anything, this fraud has made me feel less cynical. Ironic. Penuin - Not necessarily dumb or cruel. Desperate for attention perhaps? __________________ "I'll need your help re-establishing order to the universe after I'm done with RM's wallet."