Sad Story from One Who Trusted without Checking!

[lizziepooh]

I am so sorry this happened to you. Thanks for sharing. I just wonder how many other people have been taken by her. I hope something can be done soon to stop her. She has obviously discovered a good way to scam people and apparently has no plans to stop.

 

[kimberh]

I would like the names of the offenders PMed to me also. I don't understand why they are not blocked off of the disboard. I get a transfer from time to time and I think we all need to take care of each other.

 

[alldiz]

i too would also love someone to pm me with who this is....
i tried to rent points....around the same time.....
my 1st post....didn't go through with it.....glad i didnt
always wondered if my responses were this person..
thanks
kerri

 

[wdwfan1]

I really liked the idea of fellow Disers sending you guys a few $$ to make up for your loss. It would not hurt any of us, in fact it would make us feel like we could help--and you wouldn't be out the $$$.

 

[tor]

I suggested exposing the perpetrator several pages back but I was told it is against DIS policy and if you need to know if your dealing with this person you could pm JIMMIA and he would let you know if it was this individual or not

 

[sillyguys]

What a story. I'm very sorry for the "victims" and I hope that it all works out for you. I rented for the first time last May and had a very pleasant experience and easy transaction. Much of my comfort level was due to the fact that I could call MS and ask that they confirm that the reservation was in my name (which I did many times). However, from reading most of this thread, am I to understand that a renter can no longer make that type of call to MS? If that's the case, that would be unfortunate because, as a renter, it really gave me peace of mind. I'm taking the family back in May 07 and was hoping to rent points again. However, reading this thread has made me very wary. Thanks for sharing your stories. Again, I hope that it all works out for you both.

 

[InstImpres]

I've read this whole thread now but wish I had 3 weeks ago. I was also scammed by the same person "R".

I can't believe this.

I hope things resolve (I know not quickly but at least positively) for all of you. I also hope that everyone else continues to have successful transactions and doesn't get sucked in by this scammer!!

 

[Squidrific]

Can someone post a link to this Vogel thread that is being referred to? I have looked for it, but haven't found it.

 

[goofynme]

Sally,

I was away on vacation and got back to have a message from a US postal Service inspector asking if my transaction with this woman went the way I desired it to and that if it did not I should call him (which I did).

I got ripped off by her nearly a year ago and this is the first law enforcement officer that seems willing to help (I approached several and filed reports).

I may have been her first victim as it was last November and was $1,548. I payed via paypal and once I got the sick feeling that something was not right I filed a Paypal complaint and the transaction was frozen. Paypal investigated (a little bit) and made the decision that the transaction was for a non-tangible item and their guidelines state any complaint must be for tangible items which they define as physical. In spite of my cutting and pasting the definition of tangible from websters online (capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value ) Paypal wanted nothing to do with it and released the funds to the criminal. (Iwill refrain from venting any further about Paypal's handling of this situation)

I still send her a PAypal invoice every 2 weeks for $1,548 hoping that somehow she will miraculously consider her actions and do the right thing (wishful thinking perhaps). Ayway I would really like to make sure it is the same woman so please PM me...thanks!

 

[StaceySaulino]

Sally,

I am so sorry this happened to you. It really feels bad when someone does this to you, especially when you are a nice trust worthy person. I also have two kids that I disappointed, as a result of the PP's actions (and my stupidity). A 7 and 2 year old. We are trying to work out when we'll be able to re-schedule, but no plans yet. I hope you get some resolution. I have no news on my end of anything positive, and I'm reallying hoping something breaks for someone soon!! This woman should be ashamed of herself doing this to people with small kids, and to others for that matter. My fear has always been she'll get someone with all their money saved up for the vacation of their dreams (and they wouldn't be able to re-schedule). Anyway, Sally's post disturbed me. Sorry for the ranting and raving. Hope everyone has a good day, and hang in there Sally. Things will get better. You reap what you sow!!

 

[Muushka]

Paypal investigated (a little bit) and made the decision that the transaction was for a non-tangible item and their guidelines state any complaint must be for tangible items which they define as physical

Oh yeah. PayPal is really a Pal, huh? I put PayPal in the same category as TicketMaster.

 

[Olaf]

I've been avoiding this thread, because it's so depressing. Sally and Goofynme, I'm so sorry that you are also a victims of this pathetic woman. How many does that make now? I wonder how many others are out there?

 

[InstImpres]

I may have been her first victim as it was last November and was $1,548.

So is the count really now at 4 victims???

 

[chris1gill]

So is the count really now at 4 victims???

I think it makes four just for this one woman right? And she's still operating here on the boards? The whole thing is despicable...

 

[robinb]

Can someone post a link to this Vogel thread that is being referred to? I have looked for it, but haven't found it.

Here you go!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=15032988#post15032988

Since at least one of the transactions went through ... albeit with problems ... I had been giving PP the benefit of the doubt. She just seemed more stupid than malicious. No more and boy, do I feel foolish. Jim ... you were right and I was wrong.

BTW, goofynme, did you contact the DIS moderation team when your deal went south?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I still wonder, what exactly, the contract-owner aunts involvement was. Was she aware her niece was committing fraud and using her membership as the driving force? If she was involved in any way, it would be nice if somehow the points could be seized and the proceeds from it used to pay the victims back. I have felt all along there were many more people taken with this scam than the few that have come forward on the DIS. It's hard to say how many places advertisements were placed. It's all very shocking...and sad.

 

[OKWMom]

I’m so very sorry for all of you who have been victimized by this person. I have been watching this thread carefully, hoping for good news for Dani and Stacey and was horrified this morning when two additional victims reported in. I am saddened and sickened by the entire mess and hope the PP is found and her fraudulent activities are brought to a stop.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I was giving the benefit of the doubt to PP also but after the third person surfaced she's just a thief. And if she's the same person back in 2005! Maybe its time to go after the owner of the contract.

FWIW I think the person is blocked from renting at least under her two names. However I wonder what other names she posted under.

 

[Olaf]

I was giving the benefit of the doubt to PP also but after the third person surfaced she's just a thief. And if she's the same person back in 2005! Maybe its time to go after the owner of the contract.

I agree. I keep wondering if anyone has contacted DVC? I know they can't do anything about it, but I'd think they'd want to know that one of their members points were being used to defraud people.

 

[BurkeTribe]

I rented for the first time last May and had a very pleasant experience and easy transaction. Much of my comfort level was due to the fact that I could call MS and ask that they confirm that the reservation was in my name (which I did many times). However, from reading most of this thread, am I to understand that a renter can no longer make that type of call to MS? If that's the case, that would be unfortunate because, as a renter, it really gave me peace of mind.

Next time you rent, you can get rentee "comfort" by checking for deeds, etc., in the name/address of the person whose points you are renting at

http://www.comptroller.co.orange.fl.us/disclaimer.html

I have rented twice to great success, and I didn't know about the Orange County site until recently, so I thought calling MS a week before the trip was a comfort also (mainly from fear of computer screw-ups rather than rental scammers), but from now on I plan on checking the deeds before renting and calling the resort the day before our trips to be sure the machines/humanerror haven't glitched our trip . Which is what I do with regular reservations anyway ... paranoia, but better than arriving to "no room at the inn"

And I personally won't pay anyone except the person/family who/which owns the points... so, sorry, second-cousin's uncle-in-law of the owner, if your name ain't on the deed, no deal