Sunday, February 18, 2007

Baggage: Notorious Internet Sc*m Artist

(NB: This post was written with Baggage's Permission)

I doubt there are any people who read this blog who don't read Baggage's, I mean, who doesn't read Baggage? If you don't, then get your tail over there are read about the week from hell. The short version: Baggage got three traumatized, very sick (as in puking) children who have nothing to wear. After enough people pestered her long enough someone finally convinced her to let us help. She set up an account at www.Walmart.com so that we could buy clothes for the kids if we want. (If you choose to do so, the gift registry is in the name of "Bug Baggage." The gift will go to someone whose name you have never heard. That 's not Baggage's real name, it is someone who was willing to put her name on the list who will delivery everything to our Baggage.)

As you may have guessed I bought the kids something -- just a little something, but I figured that plenty of other people would do something small and it would all add up to something significant.

And I was right.

In fact I was so right that I got a call from W*lmart. A very nice woman, clearly concerned, wanted to confirm that I made the purchase. She then wanted to know if actually knew anyone named "Bug Baggage."

I laughed and explained. It took several minutes for the woman to be confident that I really knew this person. It does strike me as funny though, and after her first shocked reaction, I think it struck Baggage as funny too. What sort of scam artist swindles people out of toddler clothes?

I mean, I know there are people who tell tales of woe about sick children in order to get sympathetic people to send them money -- but don't they normally seek thousands of dollars to pay for non-existent cancer treatment?

Not our Baggage though. No...she's after a package of onesies, baby towels and 3T clothes.

Scary.

After we laughed about it together, Baggage and I agreed that it was a good thing that people do watch out for fraud.

7 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I'll go check out the list now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:58 PM

    Well, you know, if I lose much more weight, I might be able to fit into 3T's. And then some onesies. That is my goal. I'm going to try to start a new fashion trend..the onesie! I'm glad I'm not famous, because I'm sure my face would be on the cover of the Enquirer by now saying I checked into rehab.

    I'm sad you told on me though. I had a good scam going :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:10 PM

    Hm. . .I wonder if that's why I got an e-mail from W*l-M**t telling me that they had cancelled my gift card to Baggage. Maybe they were protecting me? I have not been able to get to the bottom of it yet.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maybe...my gift was also a gift card.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was going to do a gift card but my weekend has been nuts.

    I still plan to so let me know if there is some kind of problem.

    If she doesn't need it now, she may later.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6:18 AM

    I sent a gift card and my credit card company contacted me to see if I really wanted to make the purchase. I need to check to make sure the the gift card was sent and everything is okay.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7:26 AM

    No doubt the woman is amazing. Thanks for the reminder. Everyday life has been flinging me out of bed - sucking me in - and dropping me back in bed at night. Can barely remember the day sometimes.

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be open for a little while, then I will be shutting them off. The blog will stay, but I do not want either to moderate comments or leave the blog available to spammers.