reefrunner69
Aquarium Advice Addict
Recently one of our members posted a message to our members asking them for help in setting up a tank for a boy that had "Downs Syndrome", The original post was not asking for donations, simply asking for 2 dollars over shipping for plants and therefore did not violate our "No Soliciting" policy, as the member was a "member in good standing" with 500 or so posts and lots of positive feedback in the "for sale/trade" forums our members showed their support. As you might expect, the outpouring of sympathy and donations of equipment and money from the rest of the member base was overwhelming. You guys did good, I was so proud of our members for rising to the occasion and giving for someone they had never met, nor would ever meet. It's that kind of charity and humanitarianism that gives this world hope for the future.
When it was posted earlier this week that the boy had been hospitalized, the sympathy from our members was another sign of their awesome character. Through the thread members began feeling they knew this little boy, they became emotionally invested in this project for this little boy.
Just a day after we were informed of this boy's hospitalization, the boy's "mother" joined and wrote a thank you note to our members and informed us the boy had died in surgery. Again, I was stunned by the outpouring support for this "woman", and again you should be proud of yourselves for the sympathy and generosity you showed to a complete stranger.
However, for more cynical members, such as myself, and members that have been "burned" by con men before red flags were popping up all over the place. Earlier today we received a "concerned PM" illustrating some of the inconsistencies.
The "Mother's" writing style was identical to the Original Posters, the misspelled words were the same as was misspelled by the OP. Upon investigation we found that the "Mother's" sign up email address was actually that of the OP. With all the circumstantial evidence from the posts, I dug a little deeper, looking through the obituaries in the area the member was from, I could find no notice of death, nor notice of funeral services for this boy. I can't help but wonder if the next post would have been to tell us how the boy's family could not afford to pay for his funeral, etc....
For those of you involved, the thread has been locked and moved from public view, and the member has been banned. What is the most dis-heartening to me is that some people that gave equipment or money, or even just gave emotional support will become jaded. They will "never be taken like that again"! While I certainly understand where they are coming from I hope this experience will not prevent them from helping thos less fortunate than them in the future. You will, deservedly, feel some form of animosity towards the member that duped us, but you should be proud of what you did. You showed tremendous generosity and sympathy for someone you believed to be in need, that's nothing to be ashamed of, it's something you can feel good about.
When it was posted earlier this week that the boy had been hospitalized, the sympathy from our members was another sign of their awesome character. Through the thread members began feeling they knew this little boy, they became emotionally invested in this project for this little boy.
Just a day after we were informed of this boy's hospitalization, the boy's "mother" joined and wrote a thank you note to our members and informed us the boy had died in surgery. Again, I was stunned by the outpouring support for this "woman", and again you should be proud of yourselves for the sympathy and generosity you showed to a complete stranger.
However, for more cynical members, such as myself, and members that have been "burned" by con men before red flags were popping up all over the place. Earlier today we received a "concerned PM" illustrating some of the inconsistencies.
The "Mother's" writing style was identical to the Original Posters, the misspelled words were the same as was misspelled by the OP. Upon investigation we found that the "Mother's" sign up email address was actually that of the OP. With all the circumstantial evidence from the posts, I dug a little deeper, looking through the obituaries in the area the member was from, I could find no notice of death, nor notice of funeral services for this boy. I can't help but wonder if the next post would have been to tell us how the boy's family could not afford to pay for his funeral, etc....
For those of you involved, the thread has been locked and moved from public view, and the member has been banned. What is the most dis-heartening to me is that some people that gave equipment or money, or even just gave emotional support will become jaded. They will "never be taken like that again"! While I certainly understand where they are coming from I hope this experience will not prevent them from helping thos less fortunate than them in the future. You will, deservedly, feel some form of animosity towards the member that duped us, but you should be proud of what you did. You showed tremendous generosity and sympathy for someone you believed to be in need, that's nothing to be ashamed of, it's something you can feel good about.
He seemed "on the level". I'm just in shock. I do have his phone number. I've thought about calling him and asking him what the ___ he thought he was doing and why he took advantage of such nice people. If need be I can contact this dumb ____ and try to help get some stuff back. Just let me know.
