Are you receiving messages like this one on Mylot? How do you respond?

United States
October 31, 2008 8:00am CST
Just the other day this person made a request that I be his friend. I saw him in one of the discussions I did or responded to. I did accept him as a friend. Then today I get this message. I told him he should just take all his purchases back. Today with all the truly needy people out there, and people trying to take advantage of others, you close off to people in need because you don't trust them. But most people who really have a need are the ones who do not ask. Did you get a not like this? I know I am not the only one who received this. Hey Yestheypayme2dothis! I know we only know each other from here at MyLot, but I don't know what else to try. You also seem like the kind of person who is willing to help a stranger. As you may know, because of PTSD and other health problems, I can't work anymore. I also have episodes of lost time and problems with short term memory. Anyway, the other night I had one of these episodes. The outcome of it was I spent a lot of money online that I know I did do, so I won't try to weasel out of them, but I only remember it like you would remember a dream you had a few months ago. I've taken steps to make sure this doesn't happen again, at least not on the computer, and I've made arrangements with my bank so the overdrafts won't land me in jail, but well... I need your help. If you choose not to help me, that is fine, I won't hold it against you in the least. But I would appreciate it if you could. My paypal email address is ParaTed2k@yahoo.com. If there is any way you could put a couple of bucks in it, it would really help. I'm asking all my cyberbuddies here and some in another site. The bank did help me by expanding my overdraft protection, but I still need to pay the money back. Like I said, any help you could be would be greatly appreciated. If you can't, or won't, that is cool too. I don't want you to feel any pressure or guilt here. Just one cyberbuddy to another. Either way, thanks for the good discussions here at MyLot and here's to many more to come!
10 people like this
19 responses
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
31 Oct 08
Sounds to me, like someone using a sad story to try to get over on people. Soliciting for money is a violation on Mylot, probably through PM as well. I imagine, it is a new person to try something like this. What really make someone think that people would give their money over like that to a stranger. Who knows, maybe someone fell for it, if I were you , I would not take it serious because people are trying all sorts of things now a days. I usually do not accept brand new people as friends, I usually wait to see if there is an adequate amount of activity. I have five friends pending, and everytime I look their numbers are still the same, so I will not accept them until I see activity. Thanks for the post, and have a great day.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
31 Oct 08
That discussion shouldn't have been deleted. That person didn't even name names! And they aren't the one who violated guidelines.
• United States
31 Oct 08
He has done quite a few posts to be new...well over 2,000. I reported him. This happened to someone else and she used it as a discussion and it was deleted. Under no circumstances should that have happened. People should be aware.
1 person likes this
@caskins (689)
• United States
31 Oct 08
hello my fellow myLotter, i have not received this message but i have seen a discussion started with the same message. i think it is a scam to get people to send them money. i think you should report the message and delete the friend from your list.
2 people like this
• United States
31 Oct 08
I did report it and delete him. One of my friends received a message asking for money, and she used it as a discussion. Mylot deleted the discussion.
1 person likes this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
31 Oct 08
I fell so gullible right now. I sent him money. He has been a long time friend of mine here on MyLot. I sent him some money the day he sent me the message, and I still have not received at lest a thank you. If I needed money so bad that I had to ask someone for it, I would thank them for whatever I received. I do not know if I can still be friends with a man that used me like that. I did not expect anything in return except a thank you. I geuss I have learn a lesson, do not trust anyone.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Oct 08
I don't believe it! You are alway ahead of the rest.
1 person likes this
• Australia
1 Nov 08
Don't feel bad about yourself. You're a caring person who's willing to help a friend out. That he might have lied and made up a story is irrelevant.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
31 Oct 08
Oh girl, how long do you think it will be before this discussion gets deleted? LOL
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
31 Oct 08
I agree.
• United States
31 Oct 08
I give it 5 minutes. That is what happened to someone else. But people have a right to know.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
31 Oct 08
4 hours and it is still here!
1 person likes this
31 Oct 08
Hi I haven't come across this type of message here before, but now that I have... I think it is disgusting that this person is doing this on a site like Mylot where a lot of people go for enjoyment and just to enjoy themselves and help others out. Times are really sad when people can get away with something like this and even sadder when people actually send him money - I hope not many have done this, but I'd imagine there will be a few who will have done what he asks as they feel sorry for him. Unfortunately, most scam artists are very clever people and often get away with their schemes. Personally, I think I would have just ignored his request, reported him and then deleted him as a friend.
• United States
31 Oct 08
That is exactly what I did.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
31 Oct 08
It is sad. So many people need money. And not because they shopped. Because they have legit bills.
• United States
31 Oct 08
And this man owns a store.
1 person likes this
@amlegend (945)
• Pakistan
31 Oct 08
dear they keep on finding new ways to rob people of their money. i also came across one while surfing a traffic exchange site and the context was same and that person had made an appeal on the entire site and then given some information of his health problems and his paypal id and it made me think that how can we be so fool that if these people have issues then how could they have time and money to come up online and make appeals to people... you should avoid that and maybe delete that friend. good luck
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Oct 08
That's what I did. I deleted him and resported him.
1 person likes this
• Australia
1 Nov 08
It's not really robbing when they ask. Any money he's getting was GIVEN to him.
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
1 Nov 08
Wow, Some people will use the PM privilege to spam others as much as possible. If this person needs money that bad why don't he/she try making some on their own? We are...and since they have a computer and Internet connection they could too. If they are having episodes of spending money on the 'net without any regard to their budget they should not have access to a computer. Guess some people will do anything to get free money. If I was in desperate need of money I would sell my computer and stop paying for internet connection. Most people have a refund policy so why doesn't he try to get them. PayPal would even help him/her. Sounds fishy to me. I would delete them as a friend. Did you do a search to find out more about this person?
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Nov 08
No, I just reported him, did this discussion and deleted him.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Nov 08
Does he really have PTSD and other health problems? Usually when you do, you talk about them and ask someone who can help you, find how to cope, etc. Then again, even if he does, it is not right to ask others for money. If I had a short term memory, I would keep notes. So why does he not do this? Instead he begs fro money. It is a wonder that he can even remember to download the money from Paypal into his bank account or maybe he has downloaded the money twice and wrote a check two or three times for the same thing, forget where he put his checkbook etc. Sounds fishy to me.
• United States
1 Nov 08
He sent that out to all of his friends at Mylot. He owns a store. Why doesn't just take back everything he bought? At least one person sent him money.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Nov 08
Since I started this discussion, my points went down.
2 people like this
• Australia
1 Nov 08
I think your points are going down because you keep repeating yourself or only reply with "I agree" or something similar. My guess is that people are rating those posts negatively.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
1 Nov 08
I'm glad you didn't send that guy money. I haven't gotten any messages like that here at Mylot, but I'm always getting emails from persons or organizations asking for money for one reason or another. I also get mail from charities, and phone calls everyday asking for donations. I couldn't afford to give something for every request, though I do contribute to some things.
• United States
1 Nov 08
I prefer to give things I know people need rather than money.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
31 Oct 08
It is sad because you really don't know when people are being honest and when they are not being. I would say they aren't for if they have internet access and need money they can either continue to do what all of us do or take the internet away and try to find ways to be more frugal so that they don't spend as much money. Plus some of these seem to fake, the only ones I would trust to help are ones on sites that are legitimate and I trust such as news sites or sites from my community.
• United States
1 Nov 08
Most people who really need help, don't ask for it.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
31 Oct 08
No, not yet.. This sounds like the silly scams that come in my inbox daily.. Don't fall for it! It may very well be an hoax of some kind! Delete this email, but before you do, hand it over to myLot so that they can take a look at it.. Even if this person is being honest, it is still against myLot rules to exchange money through the email like this.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Nov 08
That is just what I did.
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
31 Oct 08
You are the second person to be contacted by this creep that I've heard of. He admitted to the other person that he was doing a mass mailing to ALL his friends. You should report him to Admin as this is a definite breaking of the guidelines. If I remember correctly, the other discussion was deleted...probably reported by the creep himself!!!
• United States
31 Oct 08
I did report him and delete him. I think this discussion should not be deleted, as it let's people know about it.
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
1 Nov 08
I agree with you completely!!! I just know when I hit the submit button, it came up discussion deleted. Maybe it was deleted for a different reason. I do wish they'd give the guideline that was violated when they delete a discussion!!!
@camomom (7535)
• United States
31 Oct 08
No, this has not happened to me before but I think it was wrong of you to post there email address for all to see. That may be a violation in itself. I won't report it but thought you should be told about it.
• United States
31 Oct 08
I did not do it on purpose..I just cut and paste without thinking. However, that is like saying he is the innocent one and should be protected. What he did was against the rules big time.
@camomom (7535)
• United States
31 Oct 08
I'm not saying he's innocent. I'm saying that youwere also wrong posting someones email address. You wouldn't want yours posted, would you? They should not be protected, they were wrong and never should have done that to begin with. Yes, what he did was against the rules but so is posting someones personal information.
1 person likes this
@taripres (1499)
• United States
1 Nov 08
Hm, I think that cat was one of my "friends" didn't get the message though! It is pretty messed up that they would try to solicit u for some money with that outrageous story, haha..whaateever!!!! Taripre$
• United States
1 Nov 08
He should be exposed, and I do my best.
@taripres (1499)
• United States
1 Nov 08
Yep, get the spam scam artist! Well a wannabe scam artist for that matter! "Oh I'm so broke, I need help, I got medical issues, I'm going to get prosecuted". Whatever homie; ok I'm broke as the next person, probably moreso, Well, I have nothing! But u don't see me posting trying to solicit funds from anyone! If I do, you'll definitely get sumn in return, like some Avon, A money making program, or sumn for your time! I can understand if he/she had some sort of charity, ok; but just give me some money? Go downtown with a cup or can, u'll have a better chance... Taripre$
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
31 Oct 08
You go girl DELETE, DELETE Sometimes I just can't believe the low level some people will stoop, the minute they smell that your are a kind loving, caring individual !
• United States
31 Oct 08
I did, and I feel much better!
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
11 Nov 09
There are some ppl like this...I wouldn't have sent him anything either. If this is a reaccuring problem, like he says, then he should have safteguards in place to keep it from happening. Also even if I did desperately need money I wouldn't turn to MyLot, I'd go to family or even local churches. [b]~~I AM WHO I AM~~ **STANDING STRONG IN MY BELIEFS**[/b]
@kholid78 (341)
• Indonesia
1 Nov 08
people Maybe He makes wrong definite with his make money on line. In his mind thats definite is Ask Money On line. He should shame himself, even he is an own of store.
• United States
31 Oct 08
Tell him to go con somebody else. There's no need to try to figure out why he's contacting you, just blow him off, eventually he'll give up.
• United States
1 Nov 08
I took care of it.
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
21 Aug 10
HI, If I were you, I will just ignored this message. For me, I never bother to read those message and no need to give any reply. Not sure whether the person is really having problem or just a fake. Better don't get yourself involved.