I did something incredibly stupid today


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I did something incredibly stupid today
02.05.04 (7:59 pm)   [edit]
Now I don't need you lecturing me. Really, I know I WAS STUPID. I've had 2 friends laugh at me, my Mom scolded me, my brother questioned my sanity and the people who were helping correct the situation lectured me for 20 minutes. I thought only old people fell pray to this sorta charity scam. Where do I begin? I decided to powerwalk today and went about one-third of the way when I got these awful paralyzing leg-cramps. I limped my way to a bus stop and hopped on a bus back to my apartment. As soon as I got home the cramp was gone and I considered going back out but decided to do a pilates workout in the evening instead. That's when SHE knocked on my door. This woman looked like your average annoying Jehova's Witness knocking on my door. I was pleasantly surprised when she said all she wanted was my signature for a petition. I said sure. Then she wanted money. I have a serious problem saying no to charities, which is why I love caller ID. I had no cash. I had the kettle whistling in the background, Oprah was about to begin, I had a toasted sandwich in the oven and Mal chatting to me online. I wrote her a check to get rid of her.

I KNOW! I KNOW! I KNOW!!
Don't give checks to strangers even if you believe they work for a legit charity.

As soon as I closed the door and went to check on the oven, it hit me.

HOLY F***KING SH*T Why did I do that? Why? I'll never be able to answer that question. I blame my leg cramps. If I didn't have them, I wouldn't have been home when she stopped by. First, I thought I was being overly paranoid but the closer I scrutinized the literature she gave me on her charity the worse I felt. No phone number, no address (just a P.O. Box, a link to a website and an email address). SH*T! A charity for "good writing"? WTF? So I called the Better Business Bureau and got their automated service as their offices were closed. I needed the charity's phone number to proceed to the next step. So I hung up in frustration. Then I called the Police Department who said they didn't handle that stuff and to call the Better Business Bureau. So what did I learn:

- Always ask for a phone number.
- Tell them to send you their literature in the mail. Never give money on the spot.
- Duh! I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW.

Thing is, I've done all this before but for some reason, I was not on my game. So then I called my bank and told them what happened. They said I had two options. The riskier option was just to stop payment on that check, the safer option was to close my account. I asked, "Why do I need to close my account? It's only a check for a tiny sum."

I was lectured for 10 minutes on check fraud. Once this individual has your check, she has your account number, routing number, check number. If this really is a scam, and the more I thought about the lady the more I was doubting her, and a slick operation, they can print new checks based on that alone and start emptying your account. The idea of closing my account was not at first appealing. It is such an inconvenience. I would have to call all these people. The people at the bank talked me into it for my own peace of mind. Still I am not planning to sleep until this crap is sorted out. At first I thought that I was over-reacting but then I thought the bigger mistake would be to under-react and live to regret it later on.

Anyway, I shared my stupidity with you, not because I think any of you could do something equally stupid, I just wanted to make sure.
 


posted by: SusanofPudlin (reply)
post date: 02.05.04 (5:06 pm)

Sorry it happened... thanks for reminding us that we are all fallible.

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