Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.
Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.
Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.
Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.
17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.
Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."
Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tabitha said 11:20AM on 1-31-2008
Verizon charged me 300 for mine. I had horrible service with them and refused to go back. I think it is about time something like this is done.
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Rob2tall said 11:27AM on 1-31-2008
This suit is the tip of the iceberg as far as Verizons record of scams against its nationwide users.In early December of 2007, Verizon sent out invitations to its customers offering a discount plan called "Freedom Essentials" for just $24.99 a month. After calling on December 12th and signing up, a third party who is supposed to verify your order was contacted and recorded the call for proof I signed up. Verizon reps told me to cancel my other long distance carrier-which I did, but then never added me on to the service.They claimed later that they had no record of any change to me service-it seems Verizon erased all the orders for service to cover up a huge scam.They required each customer to pay the normal $51.00 a month fee two months in advance, prior to the $24.99 fee taking effect.After you paid double , twice-they were going to "credit" you for the advance fees later on.Do the math...if 70 million customers switched to this plan-but paid out $102.00 in advance-Verizon would bank over $7 billion in advance fees and that would pay off any claims for their early termination law suit the now have to shell out over 1 billion for! With over 5 billion in banks-that props up their earnings for 2007 and allows stock values to soar.Much like the ENRON scam-because now Verizon has to pay all subscribers back!
If you signed up for that service contact your State Attorney General and file a complaint online.Its a case of Wire Fraud,Internet Fraud,and
Tax Fraud-and they are getting away scott free!
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Isis said 12:07PM on 1-31-2008
As a current and long time customer of Verizon, only once has there been an issue. It was handled well, and beyond my satisfaction. We currently have 4 cell, 1 wireless internet and three home numbers with them--for less than $250 a month. AT&T was looked at when we moved in 05 but why in the world would I change just to pay almost double. In fact, we recently updated to the new Juke for my husband and two new choc for my daughter and myself. After paying less than $100 before rebates for all three--and then using $150 in rebates to buy all the desired accessories---I am in no hurry to go anywhere-plus they have a good military discount.
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Linda Christensen said 1:25PM on 1-31-2008
As an employee of Verizon Telecom, I have a Vz wireless phone and have had the acount for approx. 9 years. Any issues that have come up, the personnel in the Vz stores have been very accomodating, not only to me, but as I observed to others while in the store. Example: Last year I had LG inexpensive cellular phone. While traveling for business, in Tampa, it went out and would not work. I drove that night after work to a Vz Wireless store. They were extremely helpful. Even though the phone was out of warranty and they did not have the inventory to replace it in ther store, they agreed to send one to my home with a 2 day delivery, at no charge to me (for the phone or shipping) to make me a satisfied customer. It was clear to me they would have done this for any customer; not just because I am a Verizon employee. Kuddos to the Wireless store employees in Temple Terrace (Tampa) for GREAT providing me with a GREAT customer experience.
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Cash said 4:56PM on 1-31-2008
Verizon has been great to me, my family and my friends. If you signed the contract then you should stick to the contract. The early termination fee is not a surprise it clearly states you will be charged a fee if you break the contract. People will sue over anything nowadays and we wonder why insurance coverage costs so much.
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Phoenix said 12:04AM on 2-06-2008
As of today I am a former Verizon customer. I was one of the many who halfheartedly signed away onto a 2 year contract, but never planned to break it... I've changed service in the past because my wireless had extremely poor reception and my cell would drop calls like a hot potato. I only came to Verizon because my previous service was missing a feature I wanted. When I wanted to upgrade the service was great and live; when I had trouble with my billing I'd get forwarded to an automated system. I'm going back to T-Mobile and begging forgiveness for leaving them now after being with them for years, and have prepared myself to pay that ridiculous termination fee for Verizon. Most people do not abuse contractual agreements and usually have legitimate reasons for wanting to cancel service; the whole premise of an early termination fee is nothing but bottom line politics as far as I'm concerned.
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Pat Lewis said 8:12AM on 2-13-2008
Verizon, and its predecessor, are the only providers I have ever had - 14 years now. I've never considered changing due to the excellent service and good customer relations they have offered. Therefore, I've never tried to get out of my contract but would not any way until it was over. You agree to it - you stick with it.
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jo said 2:34PM on 7-19-2008
I’ve been with Verizon for a long time mainly because work required. I would have gone with someone else long ago. Their customer service is none existing. You get transferred so many times eventually you have to give up. I got into a contract that I never agreed to. Originally I had a blackberry with a standard plan. Now I was told that it was not possible as a blackberry needs a data plan. When I confronted them, no one could give me a straight answer. It is on papers the amount I was paying before and. I moved to a different provider now and sure enough I am charged $160 for early termination fees for a contract that doesn’t exist. I am going to file a complained against them as their moronic practice needs to be deal with.
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Cynthia said 2:13PM on 8-04-2008
This happened to me about a few years back. I was a verizon customer for 2 years and my dad had poor credit and asked if I could get him a cell phone so of course I did and they put me on a 1 year agreement. A year later after the contract expire I upgraded my phone. Unhappy few months later with the service I cancelled and went to another provider. Recently I had my credit report checked to purchase a home and low and behold Verizon Wireless 808.00. This was early termination fees for both phones with years of interest. I called and they said because I changed my phone I was put on another 2 yr agreement and I did not sign anything so I havent paid it, but now its being paid in order to maintatin good credit. Now what? Should they give me my money back or do I need to sue them?
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