Crazy (Literally) Customers

[AmericanZero8503]

So we have a Western Union terminal at the service desk where I work. I hate the thing, it is the devil. It still relies on dial-up technology that will kick you off in the middle of entering data...because you missed a capital letter in your password. Not to mention the last time I fired up the terminal the copyright date on the start up screen was 1993. How nice, a computer that was new when I was a 3rd grader.

Well WU asks us to report any suspicious overseas transactions...due to fraud and money laundering. Our store asks for the ID of anyone sending money, just to keep ourselves safe. And strangely most of our foreign customers have stopped sending money for our location (hmmm...makes you think).

Well anyway, recently I had this lady sending money to Nigeria. Now this lady just had the look of crazy and didn't know internet scams. She was trying to send $725 dollars there, and said it was for her husband. Now she was on the phone the entire time with this guy (supposedly).

Me: Ma'am do you know the person you are sending this money to?
CSC (Crazy Stupid Customer): Yes! He's my husband...the Prince of Nigeria.

***THAT PART GOT ME. And I told her about scams***

CSC: He's my HUSBAND.

***Well this crazy lady believed this because her ID had his last name***

So I process the transaction. If you're dumb enough to think you are MARRIED to the Prince of Nigeria...then you're dumb enough to lose $725. As she's leaving she is hanging up on the Prince of Nigeria.

CSC: When he comes here, I'll introduce him. He'll have his royal party with him as well.

Good luck crazy lady, good luck.

[Chanlin]

The ironic end to this story would be if she actually shows up with the Prince of Nigeria in tow with the royal party even... complete with James Earl Jones and Eddie Murphy :P

At work we have started referring to such e-mails as "The e-mail that cried wolf..." or we refer to them as wolf e-mails for short.

[Jacen]

Poor Poor Lady just lost her money.

[Soulstealer]

Well you did try to warn her. If she refuses to listen there's nothing you can do about that.

[Alpha Strike]

So we have a Western Union terminal at the service desk where I work. I hate the thing, it is the devil. It still relies on dial-up technology that will kick you off in the middle of entering data...because you missed a capital letter in your password. Not to mention the last time I fired up the terminal the copyright date on the start up screen was 1993. How nice, a computer that was new when I was a 3rd grader...

We use Western Union to do our phone pay services - NOT a fan of that at all. At least our computer systems are a bit more modern - say, 2001 or so.

[bainsidhe]

With all the scamming and fraud going on these days, I wonder if someone at your store might have called the police and/or refused her transaction. I mean, sure, management would have to be involved, but this scenario screamed fraud fraud, oh and did I mention, fraud. Kudos to you for trying to steer her to the path of non-sucker, but it's a shame she wouldn't even give you the time of day. I'm sure part of her attitude made you more willing to let things just be, but it's so frustrating that fraudsters prey on people who are too ignorant and/or trusting to know better. I wish they had better means of catching these jerks. Makes me wonder, though, do you think this so-called "prince of Nigeria" had maybe an American accent?

[gunsage]

Hey, let us know who this lady is; I could use some easy money!

[GyroKat]

Tsk... Nigeria doesn't even have a prince, they have a President! And the president has 2 wives and 9 children already, I doubt he'd want more!

[GolfCart34]

How could that lady fall for the oldest scam in the book? We're allowed to deny people who make wire transfers of questionable nature, especially since the transaction could still end up coming back to haunt us. We also will get our security officer involved to back us up if need be.

Hopefully she won't come back and complain about how she just lost her money and that you should have stopped her.

[MrDelirious]

So we have a Western Union terminal at the service desk where I work. I hate the thing, it is the devil. It still relies on dial-up technology that will kick you off in the middle of entering data...because you missed a capital letter in your password. Not to mention the last time I fired up the terminal the copyright date on the start up screen was 1993. How nice, a computer that was new when I was a 3rd grader.

Excellent. Now, imagine that, but throughout the whole store.

Welcome to my world.

[FritzCat]

Should have asked her, "if he's a really a prince, why does he need your money?"

[Shironu-Akaineko]

I was wondering that too.

[Record Store Tough Guy]

Yeah, at least you tried to warn her. That's really all you can do. You can explain it to them with a PowerPoint presentation, 30 minute video, and three-part harmony, and the answer you get? "Oh, but I'm sure THIS one's legitimate!"

No. No it's not. There is no Nigerian Prince who will give you money. Although that one must have had a convincing story to make her "marry" him.

Numpties.

[donruss]

The ironic end to this story would be if she actually shows up with the Prince of Nigeria in tow with the royal party even... complete with James Earl Jones and Eddie Murphy :P

This made me want to

[Lady Heather]

That's Queen Crazy Lady!

I, Lady Heater of the Court of the Nightside do hereby request that you send Threezillion dollars to my Country. "We" (royal plural) need the money to apease the gods. The Money will be burned at the Protection Ceramoney. The light of the burning money will hold the Darkness at bay. "We" thank you in advance for your money.

Sad part it would probably work.