Sunday, November 30, 2008

because you are just a fugly fraud.

1 message received.

it's thrillin' to see someone cared at that moment, especially if that someone is someone you would want to care, at that moment. (kinda confusin? :D) anyway, you opened your phone only to find an anonymous number (thinking it was a dark and mysterious ala-edward cullen guy) with this VERY familiar message:

honey dto ka reply. lodan mo k 150pesos.

dream bubble popped. darn it! it's just one of those text scams so rampant and, irritatingly, happens so often! it's just sad to know that maybe due to coincidence or curiosity some people will actually fall into this trap.

worse is, there are more, varied and ingenuous ways on how text or chat scam-ers "trap their preys."

for instance, note this ym conversation:

male: hi! how have you been?
female: huh? do i know you?
m: yes. we have met before. dont you remember me?
f: who are you?
m: i'm *name*
f: sorry but i don't know you. you sure we're acquainted already?
m: yes. at a party. a lasallian party.
i'm from ateneo. second year. but i was invited by a friend from la salle to a party where i met you.
f: really huh.
m: yea
f: soo, where'd we meet? you know, maybe i remember you...
can you give me the place?
any place. warehouse? metrowalk? alchemy?
m: yes. alchemy.
f: funny. i've never been to alchemy.

gotcha loser! BUSTEEEEDDD.
but wait, there's more!

m: oh. maybe it's another girl. haha
f: right. then contact her instead.
m: maybe we can get re-acquainted?
f: look, i DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU. what if you're some psycho or something??
m: i am no psycho.
f: then you're something. tsk tsk not good
can you give me a pic of yours then maybe i get to remember you?

photo sharing started.
some b&w american guy with cap picture. looks candid.

f: don't remember you. you sure you're just in college? second year? :))
m: yea. why what are you laughing at?
f: nothing. :)) (looks old. as in thirties. major lolo!)

to continue,

m: can we meet up tomorrow? there are no classes right?
my treat!
f: where do you live
m: white plains, qc. you?
f: makati. i dont think we can meet it's too far.
m: no i'll just go there. are we on?
f: whatever. i'll have to think about it.
m: look, i know you. you're from la salle right?
f: no. up. but in highschool yes.
m: see?
f: ha-ha c'mon you just saw it in my friendster profile.
m: no. i don't have any friendster profile. just facebook and myspace.
f: ah really
look, you are not yet answering my question, where'd you get my id??
m: from a friend a COMMON friend. doesn't really matter.
so what's you number?
f: *number* (not real of course)
m: great! im gonna text you and then we'll meet up tomorrow okay?
f: im not sure really. i promised my sister ill go with her shopping. so i really dont have time
m: aww. next time then, okay?
hey gtg bye!

*no more reply from f*

after doing a little research i found out that:

1. this stupid guy doesn't have a facebook account. and he does have a friendster one with the same pic he showed me as his primary pic.
2. though his profile is private, he's location is paranaque, metro manila. not white plains, qc. (from north to south?? wth.)
3. we don't have any common friends in friendster. who could this common friend he is referring to, be?

i don't have any idea how he got my email add since my friendster profile is private. or perhaps he could've gotten it from sites i downloaded various freewares or videos from. whatever his methods be, his purpose is obviously not genuine.

why do people fool others? what do they get from it? the satisfaction of fooling people? why do they do it? for lust? for some pathetic reason that would fulfill their pathological need for attention?

it's just disappointing to know that there are actually people who would fool people for the most selfish and psychotic reasons. it's also disappointing that there are "preys" fooled into these scams as their egos are being fed.

Wikpiedia calls this as "confidence trick". scams are just merely feeding one's ego to convince or persuade a person to agree on an arrangement. it's just normal. i mean we use confidence trick to appease our mothers to give us our allowance, when we playfully nudge our professors to give us better grades or when we pressure our peers to hang out with us.

but playing the confidence trick to greatly harm another is no longer normal. it is criminal!

so be wise enough in dealing with other people. do not be afraid to make friends but make sure that the friends you make are more than friendly faces but most of all, with genuine purposes.

if the government cannot protect us from these vicious predators, it is time to rely on ourselves and protect us.
be wary. be alert. be wise.

posted by anthonette || 10:06 PM