I gots a querstion...

[maxwellissmart]

Dude who was all scammy with wanting the pics and paying me for them contacted me again out of the blue and is like "I'm at Western Union! I'm ready to pay you—here's your MTCN to pick up the money!"

 

So, being laid up with the flu—I was like: fine, I'll waste your time. I quickly read up on how WU scams work, but they always seem to be the buyer doesn't get what the seller is offering, or the buyer is required to send a pre-sum of money to the seller. In this case, I'M the seller and HE'S the buyer. Allegedly he's sent me $200 in cash for 4-5 pics. He sent me a MTCN number to pick up "Money in Minutes" from WU, under my escorting name. The reference number doesn't work, but his cellphone number does, and leads to a screen that allows me to check the validity of the transaction. It exists for the amount that he says it does for.

 

Here's the thing. I know this is a scam. He sent me literally 30+ texts wanting me to pick up the money right then. I kept deferring, saying that the number was too long or that WU wouldn't process the transaction because I didn't know him, and I told him to try FedEx instead. At one point I even threw in the corkscrew of telling him: "if all you want is a pic or two, I'll just give them to you for free." He responded that he was not going to cancel the transaction and that taking pics was an effort that I should be paid for, blah blah blah and then he insisted again that I pick up the money. At another point he started in with: "I can't believe I trusted you" as though I had not delivered on my promise, until I stated very clearly that I had not processed the transaction and did not intend to—then he was like "oh, well try again."

 

Again, I realize that this IS a scam, but I can't figure out HOW it's a scam. Is he going to claim that he didn't receive a product? Did he use a fake method of payment and they would somehow take money from me? He also refused to go over the limit of $200, when I initially suggested that he buy more pics for $300. I'm not sure how these things work. Is this just some case of attempted ID theft? I've never given him any sort of information other than what he was able to find on M4RN already, so I'm not worried about that. I don't have any intention of playing this game with him anymore, but I am confused about what he hopes to gain here.

 

[Guest JackF]

I think you'd have an issue picking up the funds to begin with. WU (supposed to be a rule) requires you to show your ID with full name, etc. in order to receive and walk out with the funds. I had this issue before (not in this biz) and my first name didn't have the last few letters on it, the guy almost wouldn't let me pick up the money. Everything else matched except that part, so they're supposed to be strict.

How it's a scam......I'm still trying to figure that one out myself....

[seeker630]

Maybe he just gets off on sending you on a futile quest to get money that isn't there or that you can't claim?

 

If you had to show ID to claim it, would that info be relayed back to him?

[Guest countryboywny]

I suspect that this guy is trying to get your identity, or some other information. For me, if it's too good to be true, it IS!

caution.. caution.. caution! If I were you, I'd quit playing his game, it just doesn't pass the "sniff" test.

[Diverdan]

WALK AWAY QUICKLY... don't look back... block his number, etc.

[+ deej]

Maybe he just gets off on sending you on a futile quest to get money that isn't there or that you can't claim?

 

This is most likely it. Particularly if he specifies a WU location for pickup.

 

The convenience of WU is that the recipient can walk into any WU location anywhere in the world and pick up the money. If he specifies a location, your money won't be there and he'll likely be sitting in a nearby coffee shop watching and getting his jollies.

 

Also, unless you have a legal ID matching your M4RN name he can't send you money anyway. WU is easy because all it takes is a name, but it's hard because it has to be a *real* name and the receiver has to prove it.

[Guest JackF]

This is most likely it. Particularly if he specifies a WU location for pickup.

 

The convenience of WU is that the recipient can walk into any WU location anywhere in the world and pick up the money. If he specifies a location, your money won't be there and he'll likely be sitting in a nearby coffee shop watching and getting his jollies.

 

Also, unless you have a legal ID matching your M4RN name he can't send you money anyway. WU is easy because all it takes is a name, but it's hard because it has to be a *real* name and the receiver has to prove it.

 

Very true, and yes, I do believe that the sender will actually get your information because they can check after the money has been "picked up" and verify "who" picked it up.

[+ azdr0710]

you said the money was sent to you at a WU office under your escort name....since you probably don't have ID that matches your escort name, you couldn't claim it....right??....

 

yeah, would like to know why he/she is doing all this, if not for jollies....

[gallahadesquire]

Either it's a setup - why do I see an arrest somewhere around here? Entrapment? - or, perhaps. your "buyer" is just a crazy SOB.

 

I wanted to post a "Danger, Will Robinson!" but couldn't find a good photo.

[Khakis]

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr131/yachtsilverswan/DangerWillRobinson.jpg

 

[video=youtube;REvmhBO99I4]

[gallahadesquire]

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr131/yachtsilverswan/DangerWillRobinson.jpg

 

[video=youtube;REvmhBO99I4]

 

Thank you, Khakis! (Another comes in from lurking ...)

[maxwellissmart]

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr131/yachtsilverswan/DangerWillRobinson.jpg

 

[video=youtube;REvmhBO99I4]

 

I love this show. Especially when I'm sick. I wish the movie had been better.

 

As far as some of the things mentioned above...

 

entrapment - I thought about this, it just seems like an awful amount of effort, especially when I specifically asked if he wanted to meet instead of buying pics and he said "no." I mean, if I were selling renderings of myself etched in cocaine, I could understand. Also, he was very specific about the amount of money (he refused to go any higher than $200), which makes me think there's some sort of WU alarm attached to this, or some sort of legality where if it's above that amount it's a certain crime.

 

watching me jump through hoops for his enjoyment - This seems rather low-reward as well. Why not just set me up for a fake appointment? That seems easier.

 

Oh well—thanks for giving me some feedback about it... I would have just dropped the issue but the guy called again, and again, and again. I'll just block his number from this point on.

[+ Travis69]

Is selling pornographic photos legal in your city/county/state? Perhaps they are setting you up for blackmail or it's the police trying to set you up.

[maxwellissmart]

Is selling pornographic photos legal in your city/county/state? Perhaps they are setting you up for blackmail or it's the police trying to set you up.

 

Well, that's what I thought at first—which is why I kept trying to get him to agree to buying 10 photos for $350. You'd think if it were a sting (either porno or selling/distributing to a minor) they wouldn't care about the amount and would have immediately said yes. It could be ONE photo to get busted for a sting. He was adamant about the money amount ($200) and that I have an erection in one of the photos.

[+ Travis69]

Maybe they figure $200.00 isn't a lot to lose if they can't blackmail you. If they can blackmail you and convince you to pay their profit margin increases with just a $200.00 payment to you. Perhaps they went to Harvard Business School or Wharton and seek to maximize their profits...............

[+ deej]

watching me jump through hoops for his enjoyment - This seems rather low-reward as well. Why not just set me up for a fake appointment? That seems easier.

 

You never heard of gateway drugs? First they set up fake appointments, and then they need a bigger thrill.

 

Just sayin'

[Irtwo]

Just playing devil's advocate here: is it possible this guy really did send the money to WU and he is unable to take it back. So it bothers him that he's spent the money but it's just sitting there, going to waste, and not going to its intended recipient. Kind of like if you sent a prepaid gift card to someone and they never use it.

[uwsman2]

To me it sounds like a set-up to entrap you for selling an obscene photograph through interstate communications, which would make it federal. I would block his calls and not communicate with him further.

[maxwellissmart]

Just playing devil's advocate here: is it possible this guy really did send the money to WU and he is unable to take it back. So it bothers him that he's spent the money but it's just sitting there, going to waste, and not going to its intended recipient. Kind of like if you sent a prepaid gift card to someone and they never use it.

 

No, because he sent yet another email offering to cancel the WU transaction and send it via FedEx if only I would hurry up and Send. Those. Pics!

[Guest JackF]

Just playing devil's advocate here: is it possible this guy really did send the money to WU and he is unable to take it back. So it bothers him that he's spent the money but it's just sitting there, going to waste, and not going to its intended recipient. Kind of like if you sent a prepaid gift card to someone and they never use it.

 

 

I see where you're coming from, however I'm 99.9% sure that you are able to retrieve funds from WU if they are not "picked up" on the other end....I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time, HAH).

[maxwellissmart]

To me it sounds like a set-up to entrap you for selling an obscene photograph through interstate communications, which would make it federal. I would block his calls and not communicate with him further.

 

He's blocked. If indeed that is the case—you would think that law enforcement would have much better ways to spend time and resources, rather than go after Joe Escort for selling a couple of pics for $200.

 

Although, I bet you this is an individual who will threaten to prosecute if I don't pay him to go away. Now that's a scam angle I could see in this case.

 

18 USC § 1465 - Production and transportation of obscene matters for sale or distribution

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1465

 

I'm glad I engaged him now—I bet that's exactly what he's trying to do.