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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think people should take responsibility for their own stupidity?

86 replies

Blackout234 · 19/01/2015 21:09

2 cards were hand delivered at my house about an hour or so ago, with "Jane smith" (Fake name) on both. we live at number 57 street, this was addressed to 57 way, an honest mistake.
the street it was supposed to go to was on my way to the shop anyway so i decided to go there and ask for a jane smith (to make sure i had the right place) and then hand them over, i went to the house and knocked and got no answer so went to the shop and on my way home knocked again still no answer, i took a chance and posted the cards and went home... to find that a man had come looking for the cards and spoken to my younger sister who explained that i had gone out to deliver them, he left a number for me to call, i called him when i got home and was told rather rudely that if the cards didnt go to the right place i would cough up 40 quid as there was 20 quid in each card, AIBU to think people should take responsibility for their own stupidity? I did what I thought was the right thing as there was no return address, no stamp (so obviously hand delivered), AIBU if i refuse to cough up the money if the cards never arrive?

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 19/01/2015 23:51

It's really sad to realise that there are people who would fall fir such a stupid scam, otherwise they wouldn't do it.

PhaedraIsMyName · 20/01/2015 00:33

It's not a "stupid" scam. It's a nasty scam designed to try to take advantage of people who will be intimidated.

Neither the police nor any of the other bodies dealing with scams and the like will ever call a scam, or the victim of a scam , stupid.

They realise making victims think they are stupid is one of the things scammers rely on. People are too embarrassed to report they have been conned by such a "stupid " scam.

If anyone has been scammed, or knows any one who has been scammed, you must not be prevented from reporting it because you think you have been stupid.

RingtheBells · 20/01/2015 05:12

Its like being mugged on your doorstep as you have someone there, intimidating you and demanding money which is what would have happened had OP still had the cards, he would have said she had took the money and demanded it. That is no different to being mugged in the street.

HellKitty · 20/01/2015 05:52

I would never have thought of this being a scam at first! Jesus. You lot are good!

I do remember years ago a small boy of about 10 asking for sponsorship in my old area. It was a long street but we all kind of knew or recognised the children who went to school and he wasn't one of them. I called 101 then just because of a hunch and that was a scam. Not that I would have sponsored a strange child anyway, I'm a tight arse.

purplemunkey · 20/01/2015 06:09

Not 'stupid' to fall for this at all. My road turns into another road halfway, we often get post for No.1 Other Road and vice versa. I'll happily pop any mis-delivered post as I pass their house. I'd say it's a pretty good scan preying on the kindness of neighbours. I, like OP, would refuse any demands for money though, that would definitely be a red flag.

Hobby2014 · 20/01/2015 06:10

Wow, never realised this could be a scam. They're finding new ways everyday to fuck people over.

Thumbwitch · 20/01/2015 06:15

I agree that it's a jolly good job that you passed the cards on - if you'd kept them and handed them back to him, he could have claimed that you stole the money out of them, which would have been harder to deny and more scary.

Glad you've called the police, hope they catch the nasty bugger. Does your sister have a good description of him? Oh, and you have his phone number of course!

UptheChimney · 20/01/2015 08:32

hes apparently the grandfather of 15 year old jane smith and they were apparently janes birthday cards

Ha ha a! A supposed grandfather (yeh right) delivering cards with £40 to the wrong house? Doesn't he know where his daughter lives.

I hope the police reassure you that you've done nothing wrong & he's harassing you.

WannaBe · 20/01/2015 08:37

thing is, now yo've told him where you delivered the cards he may well reverse the scam and go round there demanding money as well...

Bellerina2 · 20/01/2015 09:00

Gosh, you do seem to have a lot of drama in your life Blackout. Poor you - seems to be something new almost every day :( This definitely sounds like a big scam and don't go anywhere with this bloke.

ghostyslovesheep · 20/01/2015 09:14

I was going to say the same x your life seems full of drama !

Hope it calms down soon

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