I Was Swindled Out Of $1000 Dollars

[ghost]

There is a whole industry based on this kind of reasoning - it is called marketing. How much saving is attractive enough? Often people buy products "on sale" and end up spending more (e.g. there is a cheaper option available, buying a larger format would be a better deal, etc.)
So, how come marketing does exist if we are aware of these tricks? Because nobody thinks about the consequences.

If you were to ask Joe today to trust you to go to Uruguay and bring back $1000, what would Joe say?

a) Sure, I'd save $200 ---> might end up losing $1000​

B) No way, lesson learned ---> "not all expats are the same" ---> won't save $200, but won't lose a dime​

There is a 50/50 possibility that Joe gets scammed again. Either he gets scammed or not. By suggesting that "most of the people are not scammer" you no longer feel it's 50/50, maybe a 90/10, so you'd still go for it.

Marketing has nothing to do with it. Human nature has allot.

 

[Girino]

Marketing has nothing to do with it. Human nature has allot.

I see it like this: Joe bought the scammer's idea. The scammer is a good marketer.

 

[ghost]

I see it like this: Joe bought the scammer's idea. The scammer is a good marketer.

Then so is the Catholic Church. [if sales and marketing are one and the same]

 

[Girino]

Then so is the Catholic Church. [if sales and marketing are one and the same]

Totally! And you know why? Because they play on feelings.
They make you feel you are gaining something, while instead you are losing some.

 

[sleslie23]

All marketing is bullshit, but is all bullshit marketing? Should I create a Venn diagram?

Edit: Am I just bullshitting? Or am I marketing my skill at Venn diagram creation?

 

[Rich One]

I see it like this: Joe bought the scammer's idea. The scammer is a good marketer.

The issue is the loss of the $1000 bucks, and the suffering of the innocent victim. Your point about the excellent marketing abilities of the stammer is like throwing salt in the wound . IMO

 

[fred mertz]

Joseph,
Sorry, but I'm not about to read the dozens of responses to this post,so I don't know if my suggestions have been said. Yes, I know that they're basically useless, but do you think that the U.S. Embassy would be of any help? If what you say is true and you have proof, couldn't the U.S. Embassy contact the Argentina Customs and have him detained when and if he returns? Actually, how do you know that he went to Uruguay? "Because he told me" doesn't work.
Since I would doubt that you and he have anything in writing about your storing his stuff, why not give all of it to a charity, immdeiately?
Co-Ch- Vera, dude?

 

[garryl]

The issue is the loss of the $1000 bucks, and the suffering of the innocent victim. Your point about the excellent marketing abilities of the stammer is like throwing salt in the wound . IMO

I am not sure if this an excellent marketing scammer or something else( do not over estimate this dumb move). It could be that this guy got comfortable after he received the 1k from Joe, decided to stay longer abroad, or he is cheap and short on cash. But whatever the reason, please return Joe's 1k, and we will forgive you. Otherwise, you will feel so sorry for the stupid thing you have done, this will haunt you for a long time, not worth it.

 

[Girino]

I am not sure if this an excellent marketing scammer or something else( do not over estimate this dumb move).

From Joe's reconstruction of the events, it was Joe himself to propose the scammer to bring back $1000, whereas we all assumed that the scammer looked for Joe and set him up.

 

[Joe]

From Joe's reconstruction of the events, it was Joe himself to propose the scammer to bring back $1000, whereas we all assumed that the scammer looked for Joe and set him up.

That is correct. He never suggested he bring me back money, if he had, that would have set off alarm bells.
I asked him if he could bring me back some money since he was returning in a few days and he said, "sure no problem".
Regarding how I know he was in Uruguay, I sent the money to Uruguay and I received a phone call from him from Uruguay apologizing for not returning on one of his three scheduled, but always postponed, returns.