Streams of Consciousness & Thoughts~~~

[seoulsearch]

Wow, some people are just out to ruin everybody's day.
The person who bought my car sent me $2000, when I asked for $1000. Great, right? Not so much. He sent me $2000, so I could take care of the movers for him. That's still not so bad, until I had to run to the bank to deposit the money, go back to get a cashier's check, go back again to undo the cashier's check (because he didn't want a cashier's check), then run to Walmart to do a money gram transfer, and had to pay for the transfer.
So that was half of my stressful day.
I thought it was all over. Technically, the vehicle was sold, right? So it's not mine anymore, right?
The guy texts me later, and tells me he doesn't want it anymore, and I need to send the money back to him. All of it. So I told him "no", because the car is paid for, he's already stressed me out enough, and I can't pay it all back now anyway, because I've spent some of it to take care of our needs. So he tells me he's going to get the police involved.
I haven't heard back, since I told him I had all the proof that the car was sold, and he can call the police, but it would basically be calling them because I'm not buying the car back from him. The police can't do anything, I'm assuming he knows that.
Then a couple of my friends told me that this guy was basically trying to scam me, and that I should call the police myself. So I did. The officer told me that I could keep the car and what was left of the money, since technically, he decided he didn't want the car anymore after he had already bought it. Mr. Police man told me I could try to resell the car.

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Imma--I'm glad you were able to get this resolved quickly and with little damage.

I used to work in a store that did Western Union transfers and this is a classic scam. FOR ANYONE READING THIS, PLEASE BEWARE OF ANYONE SENDING YOU MORE MONEY THAN WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, ESPECIALLY A LARGE AMOUNT.

Here's how it works: the "buyer" sends you a check, usually for a much larger amount than the selling price. The catch is, THE SELLER DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY THEY ARE SENDING YOU. They send it as a check, but don't have the money to back the check. HOWEVER, what they'll want you to do, as Imma found out, is to either send them part of all the money back in the form of an automatic money transfer (Money Gram, Western Union, etc.) that they can pick up as cash.

They're banking on sending you a dead (fake or with no funds) check that will be used to send them cash before it's discovered that the check is worthless. (If you do this, you're sending them YOUR money, and they had no money to begin with, so guess who's REALLY paying out?)

I know it's an old saying, but if something sounds to good to be true, trust that something is wrong, especially when thousands of dollars are involved.

ALWAYS be suspicious of someone sends you more money than what you asked.

 

[Lynx]

Immawildthing: You should be aware that someone will have to cover that check you cashed. If the person who claimed to be buying the car isn't covering the check you will be charged. You might want to hang onto whatever is left of that money. It does indeed smell like a scam.

 

[seoulsearch]

Question for all our talented CC cooks and bakers: where would I find pre-made "caramel sauce"? What section of the grocery store would this be in?

I've found a few delectable-looking dessert recipes that call for it, but have never found this in stores, and where I live now, there aren't any specialty stores.

All I can ever find is caramel ice cream toppings, and I know that wouldn't work well in the recipes (too thin and runny.)

 

[Lynx]

Question for all our talented CC cooks and bakers: where would I find pre-made "caramel sauce"? What section of the grocery store would this be in?

I've found a few delectable-looking dessert recipes that call for it, but have never found this in stores, and where I live now, there aren't any specialty stores.

All I can ever find is caramel ice cream toppings, and I know that wouldn't work well in the recipes (too thin and runny.)

No no NO, that "caramel" ice cream topping is not real caramel! It's an abomination of corn syrup solids.

Caramel - REAL caramel - is hard to find in the stores, but dead easy to make in a sauce pan. Throw some cream and sugar in a pan and cook it. If you cook it hotter it comes out firmer, if you cook it not-so-hot it comes out thinner. If it's too thin, put it back on the stove.

Yes it's that simple.

 

[seoulsearch]

No no NO, that "caramel" ice cream topping is not real caramel! It's an abomination of corn syrup solids.

Caramel - REAL caramel - is hard to find in the stores, but dead easy to make in a sauce pan. Throw some cream and sugar in a pan and cook it. If you cook it hotter it comes out firmer, if you cook it not-so-hot it comes out thinner. If it's too thin, put it back on the stove.

Yes it's that simple.

So what you're saying, Lynx... is that I can find it down aisle 5... (Can't resist torturing you a little with notions of prepackaged foods... though I know you'll say that I'M the one who will be tortured... by eating them...)

 

[Lynx]

Nah, you do what you want. You can even make caramel by putting a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot of boiling water and boiling it for a while. Take it out, open the can and it's "caramel." Or that's what a local restaurant does anyway, for their "caramel" pie.

But real caramel is not only better, it's easier to make as well. But I gave up on other people loooooong ago. I just enjoy real food myself and let them eat whatever.

 

[Immawildthing]

Immawildthing: You should be aware that someone will have to cover that check you cashed. If the person who claimed to be buying the car isn't covering the check you will be charged. You might want to hang onto whatever is left of that money. It does indeed smell like a scam.

Yeah, I'm pretty worried about that myself. I'm not sure if we can do anything to make sure we still come out on top. After everything was said and done, we only have $899 of $2000 left.

 

[MollyConnor]

Yeah, I'm pretty worried about that myself. I'm not sure if we can do anything to make sure we still come out on top. After everything was said and done, we only have $899 of $2000 left.

It does sound like a scam, Imma. I'm sorry! I'll be praying for you and your family.
I'm curious, if you want to share, where were you selling this vehicle? Was it online? Like Craigslist?

My mom works at a bank and she's told me some horror stories similar to yours. But hey at least it wasn't $50,000. I know $2,000 is still a lot of money but my mom once told me about an older lady that was tricked into giving a man from another state $50,000 for a car she was selling online.

If you're the one selling something, you shouldn't be the one sending them money.

 

[seoulsearch]

If you're the one selling something, you shouldn't be the one sending them money.

This is excellent advice.

Any time a money transfer service (also known as "wiring money" through Money Gram, Western Union, etc.) is involved, be extra careful because the person is receiving CASH and there is no trace of it except for the transfer transaction number.

I used to work in a store where I had to process a lot of Western Unions and we saw a few instances of scams such as this:

1. Someone claiming to be a relative that needs money, and needs it wired right away (sometimes people also set up false alerts online, using pictures of your loved ones.) Always call that person or someone who knows them first and make SURE it's really them and that they will be the ones to pick up the money.

2. When selling something, be sure the person doesn't send you "extra" money, for reasons discussed above. They're sending you a check for money they actually don't have, and you're sending them cash--YOUR CASH--in return. As Lynx pointed out, if you cash their check, you'll be responsible for that as well because the check will bounce--they have no money to back it. They're sending you a worthless piece of paper and you're sending them cash in return.

3. When selling something and the person is sending payment as a money transfer, BE SURE they actually send the money. I remember one transaction I did in which a very nice woman had supposedly sold something for a couple thousand dollars and already had it packaged and sent--but when she came in to receive the payment, nothing was there. As far as I know, she never did receive the money.

4. One of the saddest things I witnessed personally were older people who apparently had quite a bit of savings and were basically giving money away in return for what they perceived as love and approval. I saw older men who sent money to their supposed 20-something "girlfriend" in another country whom they only knew online, as well as several older people who insisted (even when we gently tried to tell them they were being scammed) on sending thousands of dollars to people they'd never met every month, and in some cases, every week. The true test, of course, would have been if they'd actually stopped sending money. How much attention would these people give them after that?!

While the rules have probably changed somewhat since I worked with W.U. (and it depends on where you're sending it to and for how much), if you want to make sure the person who's picking up the money is really that person, you can ask that special precautions be made (for instance, that the person will have to present an official photo ID and know the answer to a test question only you and that person should know.)

I know that isn't very helpful when sending money to someone you've never met, but it's extra insurance if you're sending it to a friend or relative. (Some pickups require only knowing the answer to the test question and waive a need for ID--it's much more secure to require both.)

Sorry for going on a ramble but hopefully these tips might save someone a lot of grief!

 

[blueorchidjd]

I wish God would communicate more clearly...

 

[MollyConnor]

I wish God would communicate more clearly...

What's wrong, Blue? Are you okay?

 

[Immawildthing]

It does sound like a scam, Imma. I'm sorry! I'll be praying for you and your family.
I'm curious, if you want to share, where were you selling this vehicle? Was it online? Like Craigslist?

My mom works at a bank and she's told me some horror stories similar to yours. But hey at least it wasn't $50,000. I know $2,000 is still a lot of money but my mom once told me about an older lady that was tricked into giving a man from another state $50,000 for a car she was selling online.

If you're the one selling something, you shouldn't be the one sending them money.

I was selling on KSL. $2,000 is a lot of money for my family. It might as well have been $50,000.
All the tips are great and would be helpful, if it hadn't already happened. Now we're just worried that we're going to end up in debt because of all of this. We're already $2,000 in debt, another $2,000 is not good.

 

[MollyConnor]

I was selling on KSL. $2,000 is a lot of money for my family. It might as well have been $50,000.
All the tips are great and would be helpful, if it hadn't already happened. Now we're just worried that we're going to end up in debt because of all of this. We're already $2,000 in debt, another $2,000 is not good.

I'm so sorry. I was trying to help you feel better about it.
I will be praying for you and your family. I hope it all goes well. I understand that $2,000 is a lot of money. Believe me, I just lost my job recently and it's very difficult sometimes. The only way to get through that is to find hope in the Lord. He will get you through it.

 

[Olerica]

I JUST got a call. A girlfriend from church lost her youngest child to drowning in a pond this afternoon. It's been 6 months since they lost the child's great grandfather, the family's patriarch and one of our church's pillars. They/we all are heartbroken. Please pray for this young family.

 

[MollyConnor]

I JUST got a call. A girlfriend from church lost her youngest child to drowning in a pond this afternoon. It's been 6 months since they lost the child's great grandfather, the family's patriarch and one of our church's pillars. They/we all are heartbroken. Please pray for this young family.

I will pray. I'm sorry, Olerica. That's very sad.

 

[skylove7]

Oh nooo!
Olerica
How devastating! My prayers are with the family at your church tonight!

 

[lil_christian]

Today was....rough to say the least.

 

[VioletReigns]

It's my 59th birthday tomorrow! Yay! \/


(Well, mostly all original! ROFL!!)

 

[MollyConnor]

It's my 59th birthday tomorrow! Yay! \/

View attachment 137160
(Well, mostly all original! ROFL!!)

Mine is in 2 weeks
I'll be 26.

Happy Early Birthday, Violet! Yay for October!

 

[cmarieh]

Mine is in 2 weeks
I'll be 26.

Happy Early Birthday, Violet! Yay for October!

I agree October babies rock. Mine is this Friday and the best part is no school or work