{Scammer: Kristina, Merrimack NH - [email protected]} - Friday - I was bored, lonely, a little out of it, probably sleep deprived. I decided to put my inhibitions aside for once and find a likable girl on craigslist. Not anything too wild, I am a genuine nice guy, try not to be crude. I sometimes read different lisings there as a curiosity, but this was my first, and probably last attemt to engage in this myself. I responded to an ad titled "I like music!" (Merrimack) in the NH lists. Here is the content:
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"There’s somethin about a guy who smokes that just drives me nuts ( in a totally good way! ) I smoke myself so yes I'm one of the anti-social few now. I on drink though or do anything else naughty and everyone has to have at least one vice, right? lol. I'm say here alone now looking out the window and typing this wondering why on earth I am bothering but hey you never know, you might be out there somewhere wondering where I'm too. Slim, funny, determined, stubborn, cute, shy are the best words I could use to describe myself. Interested?"
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I was indeed interested, looking back I feel like I wasn't really being true to myself, maybe a tad bit desperate to connect with someone, In a bit of a mental fog. I think maybe the smoking thing somewhat put me at ease, I couldn't imagine why a scammer would say that. I don't regret putting myself out there this far anyway, but as I began to pour my heart out, writing these long emails and trying to get at the person behind this advert while recieving brief, somewhat impersonal responses, alarm bells should have been ringing right away but I guess I got caught up in the moment. Truthfully, she was way too pretty, like a hot, attention grabbing, no problem getting guys type pretty, and I was like 'maybe she is just really good at deceptive photography or is into guys that you would never think you would be her type.' I just wanted to believe so bad that the girl pictured could be into me, a normal and down-to-earth guy. I even recall thinking these pics look kinda edited and for some reason I was ok with that.
Anyways, as I said, I was writing these long emails attempting to break down barriers, and was getting back brief responses which were vaguely related to what I had said, enough so that I believed I was at least talking to a real person. I surely had doubts, and voiced them, but she was adamant that she was interested in meeting, told me that her roomate is out, so we would be able to "hang out" there, which I took as a bit forward and was the first big red flag. So I am well aware by this point that I am entering dangerous ground but I was somewhat blinded by what I had built up in my head, I was really too caught up at this point in my own feelings of lonliness and inadequicy to see clearly.
So I finally lost all hope when she emails me:
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"k awesome, can't wait : ) But before we go out I have to ask you to sign up on this site http://checkdate.org/aechica776 . They check to make sure that you're not a creeper or like on parole or anything. You can also create a profile, post pics, videos, stuff like that, its fun. My profile is private but if you sign up on my page it'll add you and can get my phone number and my sn on aim. Be sure to give me a call after you sign up ; )
Lol and please don't be all pissed off. I really wanna hang out but I need to know that I'm safe, please understand.. Soo I won't be responding to anymore emails, only phone calls : P hope i hear from you soon!
muah <3
Kristina"
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Now this didn't fool me for a second, well maybe some small part of me considered the possibility that in this day and age girls might require backround checks. Upon viewing the website, which tried to send me some sort of virus, I was not fooled for a second. There was absolutely no information availabe as to the nature of checkdate, just a picture of "Kristina" and a pitch to sign up, same exact thing when her username directory was taken off the web address. The signup link leads to -http://dmtracking01.com/aff/ep.php?act=200342&prog=1&site=82&skin=dm&tour=113- - the site is registered to PrivacyProtect.org (checkdate's reg. name appears to be "kristina"), a hosting company which apparently is based in Nobby Beach, AU. I got this at - http://whois.domaintools.com/checkdate.org - the info there reaffirms what I already know. Privacyprotect.org has a form to submit spammers - that will be my next step to copy/paste some form of this there.
I surely feel a bit silly and foolish I didn't really feel too mad or violated, I gave up my phone # and first name to "her" as well as some clean photos, but I see people post that much all over the internet so I'm not too worried. I almost wanted to offer him/her advice, as I got a bit sucked into the con, but if the con-artist put in a little more groundwork building up a more believeable character, there is a chance I would have been smitten enough to fall for something I normally wouldn't, quite worrisome. I decided against it and found my way here to write this instead.
I always wondered how otherwise sensible people got into these situations, now I know. Live and learn I guess.