Holiday Reminder - It's not always what it seems!

[Tinker'n'Fun]

This is really budget related, especially this year as the numbers of people who are suffering is increasing at alarming rates. Unemployment is at a high in many area's and families are still trying to recover from the last couple of years. BUT THIS IS A REALITY that we all need to remember as the holidays are arriving.

This may be helpful to some of the newer posters:

Each year as the holiday's approach the number of posts increase with people who have heart-breaking stories of not having money for food, gifts, clothes, etc. It is important to remember that not all posters are honest on an anonymous internet board, and some posters who really are in dire need have been so for years and still are in need. The cycle doesn't change and some of these posters do not do anything to help themselves out of trouble and or may not be able to (the problem is you can never tell which is which). Sadly, some of the posters are 100% in need and come to places like this board for help. Even more horrible is that some of these posters are here just to scam us and you could see your "gift" being sold on EBAY! Together, I think we can guide these posters to seek help in their actual neighborhood (NOT the internet), for help. It is quite possible we may even live near one of these posters so donating close to home WILL help them.

No matter how you put it, it is sad. Very, very sad. But it is important to remember that it might be a smart move to investigate a family or charity in your area/neighborhood and give to them rather than someone on a board you DO NOT KNOW AND have no idea if they are honest or not. PLEASE NOTE, I am NOT calling anyone out! This happens everywhere on the internet and every year you hear news stories regarding this matter in your local newspapers and on the news. You will even see it in the National news.

As always, the budget boards have a group of wonderful people who are always willing to help. It might be a nice gesture to find deals for posters who may be down on their luck and post them. We can cut coupons for toys even if don't use them and mail them to the poster to help reduce the cost of gifts, and most of all coupons for food and necessities. Also, if you know of charities or groups that are helping out in your area for the holidays, please post and maybe someone who is in your area can help. What I am trying to say is, keeping your donations and help in your neighborhood is a wonderful way to help our neighbors without being scammed.

I know this sounds preachy, but I really don't mean to be. I just see the problems in every city, town, and village getting worse. More and more people need help. Food shelters are bare. Our neighbors need our help.

I was very nostalgic today. I was remembering times when my husband and I were worse off and how hard it was to get out of the hole. But we did. I was just hoping maybe by reminding everyone, we could be a bit more understanding and offer guidance rather than money and or items. I feel sick reading the posts where someone on the boards here were scammed and the person who really needed the help didn't get it.

Okay, I am off my soap box and I hope I won't get flamed too much! Here's to a wonderful holiday for everyone this year!! I hope we all are able to celebrate to the best of our abilities and that everyone has a great end of the year.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I think your reminder is a great one!

 

[ilovemk76]

Great PSA OP.

 

[kaseyC]

Great and timely post. It looks like some are already starting to lay the groundwork.

 

[gillenkl]

no flaming here - you've hit the nail on the head with this one!

 

[Bren's Mom]

It IS a good reminder. Some members of another board I'm on were scammed some months back, and while they got most things back eventually...it wasn't pleasant for any of us to go through.

 

[SaraJayne]

This is really budget related, especially this year as the numbers of people who are suffering is increasing at alarming rates. Unemployment is at a high in many area's and families are still trying to recover from the last couple of years. BUT THIS IS A REALITY that we all need to remember as the holidays are arriving.

This may be helpful to some of the newer posters:

Each year as the holiday's approach the number of posts increase with people who have heart-breaking stories of not having money for food, gifts, clothes, etc. It is important to remember that not all posters are honest on an anonymous internet board, and some posters who really are in dire need have been so for years and still are in need. The cycle doesn't change and some of these posters do not do anything to help themselves out of trouble and or may not be able to (the problem is you can never tell which is which). Sadly, some of the posters are 100% in need and come to places like this board for help. Even more horrible is that some of these posters are here just to scam us and you could see your "gift" being sold on EBAY! Together, I think we can guide these posters to seek help in their actual neighborhood (NOT the internet), for help. It is quite possible we may even live near one of these posters so donating close to home WILL help them.

No matter how you put it, it is sad. Very, very sad. But it is important to remember that it might be a smart move to investigate a family or charity in your area/neighborhood and give to them rather than someone on a board you DO NOT KNOW AND have no idea if they are honest or not. PLEASE NOTE, I am NOT calling anyone out! This happens everywhere on the internet and every year you hear news stories regarding this matter in your local newspapers and on the news. You will even see it in the National news.

As always, the budget boards have a group of wonderful people who are always willing to help. It might be a nice gesture to find deals for posters who may be down on their luck and post them. We can cut coupons for toys even if don't use them and mail them to the poster to help reduce the cost of gifts, and most of all coupons for food and necessities. Also, if you know of charities or groups that are helping out in your area for the holidays, please post and maybe someone who is in your area can help. What I am trying to say is, keeping your donations and help in your neighborhood is a wonderful way to help our neighbors without being scammed.

I know this sounds preachy, but I really don't mean to be. I just see the problems in every city, town, and village getting worse. More and more people need help. Food shelters are bare. Our neighbors need our help.

I was very nostalgic today. I was remembering times when my husband and I were worse off and how hard it was to get out of the hole. But we did. I was just hoping maybe by reminding everyone, we could be a bit more understanding and offer guidance rather than money and or items. I feel sick reading the posts where someone on the boards here were scammed and the person who really needed the help didn't get it.

Okay, I am off my soap box and I hope I won't get flamed too much! Here's to a wonderful holiday for everyone this year!! I hope we all are able to celebrate to the best of our abilities and that everyone has a great end of the year.

Great PSA!!

 

[RitaE]

Hey - anybody who wants to provide Christmas for me or my kids or my dog this year, you go for it! I'm cute and loveable and I promise to squeal with glee as I open the presents you buy for me. Oh, my husband too - you can't buy for the dog without buying for the husband.


Just let me know and I'll start giving the paypal account where you can send money. All money in any amount happily accepted.

 

[AlwaysMoving]

I know what being really poor is like and I question the dire need of anyone who still can afford a luxury like internet. I've seen enough people burned by scammers with sob stories. If a person has used the internet enough years and frequented many message boards over consecutive years, the scams are always the same, by the same people. The scammers have just had enough practice and learned how to execute their plan more cleverly to get more people to give.

I have come to realize the internet is just a tool for average people to sit in the luxury of their own home rather than stand with a cardboard sign at an intersection in town to do their begging. Most beggars look to others to help them live outside their means. I would rather be called an angel by someone at the local food bank than a gullible fool by some scammer on the internet.

 

[marthachick]

Oh, my husband too - you can't buy for the dog without buying for the husband.

OP Good thread. Charity begins at home. Not necesarily within the 4 walls of your home but your neighborhood.

 

[superme80]

Hey - anybody who wants to provide Christmas for me or my kids or my dog this year, you go for it! I'm cute and loveable and I promise to squeal with glee as I open the presents you buy for me. Oh, my husband too - you can't buy for the dog without buying for the husband.


Just let me know and I'll start giving the paypal account where you can send money. All money in any amount happily accepted.

I was about to post the same thing! On a serious note that is a great reminder. Scammers stay FAR AWAY!!!!!!

 

[indimom]

You didn't sound preachy to me at all.

It's a valuable PSA for those who haven't encountered this type of thing on the internet yet.

I've long since stopped donating anywhere but in my local community and through national organizations I've had the time to investigate. If I'm going to donate my hard earned money, I want it to get where it is needed most, and not into some scammer's pocket.

 

[DisneyCher]

Wow, I never would have thought to offer money or toys to someone I only know through an internet message board. Do people really fall for that, especially after all of the Nigerian email scams and whatnot? Wouldn't a message board be just another forum to exploit with an email-type scam?

 

[Swan4Me]

Great and timely post. It looks like some are already starting to lay the groundwork.

 

[Marionnette]

Wow, I never would have thought to offer money or toys to someone I only know through an internet message board. Do people really fall for that, especially after all of the Nigerian email scams and whatnot? Wouldn't a message board be just another forum to exploit with an email-type scam?

You would think that people would be more skeptical but it happens over and over again. Even on the disboards. Perhaps even more so on here because people who love Disney also seem to be a little more trusting than the general population.

There was a woman a few years ago who posted a sob story about a neighbor (or was it a niece?) who was expecting multiples. Tough times. No money, etc. People sent her baby clothes, small baby items and even money. The cash disappeared and the baby stuff ended up on ebay.

It's better to give locally than to some stranger on an internet board. You will still be able to help someone and you will have the assurance that your money went to someone who really was in need of support.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Wow, I never would have thought to offer money or toys to someone I only know through an internet message board. Do people really fall for that, especially after all of the Nigerian email scams and whatnot? Wouldn't a message board be just another forum to exploit with an email-type scam?

First I want to thank everyone who posted and is keeping this thread alive. I know that the people who have been on the boards for a while would understand.

DisneyCher, I don't mean to single you out, but your post is the reason I wrote mine. The answer to your post is YES people do give money, items, and even organize for others to give. Both people who have posted for a long time and those who are really new.

These posters that do this, have been on the boards (well the one's that are harder to figure out) with us for a long-time. The person who has 3 posts and tells a story of how they lost their jobs is easier to dismiss than the poster who we have talked to with all year. We know their stories, family, etc. Then they HIT - BAM!! This is how they work. If you are newer to the community you would not have been a part of or seen it happen before.

You will find in the next few months posters who will start to make "remarks" about another poster. It may come off to you as being - well MEAN. BUT, and this is really important, that poster who said something, is trying to help you without coming right out and saying what is happening. You really can't just come out and blast a poster. You would get points and or banned. And the people who work these scams know this.

So I was just asking everyone to please remember you don't really know the person on the other side of the computer. Even if they posted for one day or for the last 4 years here with us.

 

[AlwaysMoving]

I've long since stopped donating anywhere but in my local community and through national organizations I've had the time to investigate. If I'm going to donate my hard earned money, I want it to get where it is needed most, and not into some scammer's pocket.

And just as someone would investigate a national organization for legitimacy, if people would do some investigating of these internet scammers, they would be pleasantly surprised to find the same copy/pasted posts on many message boards. That, to me, makes the "need" more business like.

There is also nothing more upsetting than to see a kind soul donate a gift, then have the receiver complain it is not exactly what they wanted. That is worse than seeing it on Ebay, which most likely is where it will end up. Since when does being poor and begging give you the right to complain?

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

You would think that people would be more skeptical but it happens over and over again. Even on the disboards. Perhaps even more so on here because people who love Disney also seem to be a little more trusting than the general population.

There was a woman a few years ago who posted a sob story about a neighbor (or was it a niece?) who was expecting multiples. Tough times. No money, etc. People sent her baby clothes, small baby items and even money. The cash disappeared and the baby stuff ended up on ebay.

It's better to give locally than to some stranger on an internet board. You will still be able to help someone and you will have the assurance that your money went to someone who really was in need of support.

You're good. It took you three paragraphs to say what would be maybe 8 or 9 from me.

 

[Swan4Me]

You will find in the next few months posters who will start to make "remarks" about another poster. It may come off to you as being - well MEAN. BUT, and this is really important, that poster who said something, is trying to help you without coming right out and saying what is happening. You really can't just come out and blast a poster. You would get points and or banned. And the people who work these scams know this.

.

Could you link to previous begging posts-or would that give you points?
Just wondering

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Could you link to previous begging posts-or would that give you points?
Just wondering

I will PM you later. I burnt my fingers on a poptart and am having a hard time typing and searching.