Help for AFFer/FTer - bag stolen, lost PP - Now resolved

[JohnK]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I got this too....as I'm an uncaring b.....d, I deleted it immediately...

:shock: Has your AFF account been hacked!

I did not get an email or PM so do not know how I would have reacted....

 

[QF WP]

Call me cynical, but I am still not 100% certain.

After all, that person could be under coercion. If so, I pray that Flashware survives - he's street wise so have no doubt he'd disappear into the crowd . If not, the last AFF'er to see him alive might be Princess Fiona.

I am never sorry that I have been sure about these issues. I'd rather say I did all these checks than blindly follow what my emotions say - which is why scams work so well - reason is thrown out the window in an effort to help.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Call me cynical, but I am still not 100% certain.

After all, that person could be under coercion. If so, I pray that Flashware survives - he's street wise so have no doubt he'd disappear into the crowd . If not, the last AFF'er to see him alive might be Princess Fiona.

I am never sorry that I have been sure about these issues. I'd rather say I did all these checks than blindly follow what my emotions say - which is why scans work so well - reason is thrown out the window in an effort to help.

Have just left Flashware in the capable company of Cove and Mrs Cove.
We enjoyed a great night at London Bridge. Managed to guest all 3 into the ( very small) lounge and had a dinner at an Italian restaurant on the waterfront. Reasonable food, poor service, great company
I'm sure Flashware will be just fine

 

[Flashback]

I've been very spoilt for company the past week with 3 AFFers offering up some of their time. Has been great company and just a shame my +1 was unable to make it. I'm all set for tomorrow and will be sure to let you all know of a hopefully happy ending

Sent from my HTC Desire using AustFreqFly

 

[QF WP]

Look forward to hearing from you at the meet. Should be an interesting chat with the person. Expect an interesting TR out of it as well.

 

[QF WP]

redacted comment, by request

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thanks for splitting up the thread, maybe our friend in question will be a little bit concerned that we have started a separate thread.

It does bring up the question what do we do when we get something like our bag or passport stolen, who should you contact.

When you get things stolen you are going to be in a state of distress, so I guess like the FA safety announcement I guess in the one time that someone might need to use it you are then familiar with it.

I was surprised to get the email, and as the email didn't include any other email addresses I then wondered was the email genuine but then also who else had received the email, you couldn't tell from the email. If you are going to get help I would think to include 2 or 3 friends who know each other so that way the 2 or 3 people could discuss amongst themselves who you could contact, in this case we have 1 friend in flashware in the UK who could assist, Flashware might have got 5 or 10 separate emails or phone messages asking for his help, but each of us not knowing if the other had spoken to flashware.

My 2nd point of the email was that our friend was trying to set up some background information before he asked for what he required. The initial wording almost sounded like a Nigerian scam email, so I am wondering whether you are better off being very short with what has happened, passport stolen and then suggest the 2 or 3 ways how you could be helped.

Also there was no way other than by email to contact our friend so then any scammer would have your details, if you had only sent the email to 2 or 3 close friends then you could have included the hotel where you are currently staying that way you could straight away be contacted.

My 4th point is that there was no background information to say that other family members had already been contacted, so we didn't really have any idea whether this had only just happened, to get a new passport you are going to need copies of documents from family members.

I originally sent a copy of the email to Lindsay and ask whether he could speak to our friends brother George.

I thought I would include a post on the Off Topic Thread for opinions, even though the original email said don't post on AFF or FT forums but if someone has something that needs sorting out tell a few people about it.

This is rather long, I guess I spent a few sleepless hours going over in my own mind.

What should have I done? "read the email more carefully"
and
What our friend could have done better to help himself. "tell us who he is contacting in the email, and get to the point faster.

 

[Major]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

That original email really is very similar to a scam one I received last year. I can understand the scepticism and original apprehension.

I hope it is genuine and someone can help

 

[simongr]

I dont think anyone should be annoyed at themselves for not believing this at first - we are bombarded by scams all the time. Also as people who are active on the internet through our association with forums like this (I assume that a lot of people here don't just frequent this forum) we are at higher risk. There is more personal information here than we sometimes realise - we might not distribute things like real names and dates of birth but all it takes is "Hi all - had a great night last night with simongr at HOP having a beer for his birthday whilst he is away from the missus and the little feller" - a lot of personal information that can be cross referenced with other data to make people seem more legit than they are.

Scammers also take a bulk target approach - for example "Hey I remember you from Ozfest" - if they are wrong it could easily be explained away by "Oh you didn't go? Man I had a big night on the Saturday with simongr [who they have confirmed was there] so I must have mistaken you for anat0l".

If I get a call from anyone asking for details I hang up and phone a number that I have for who they allege to be. If I get an email from someone with an attachment if it doesn't have something like "HI simon this is an email from your brother who you will recall you stole freddo frogs from when you were 6 and I think the attached picture would be of interest to you" the email gets deleted.

I take these precautions because I take additional risks by putting things on line.

The message to everyone here I think is that if you are going to email people for help then you need to not look like a scammer - mind you the fact that the email was lucid, well written an free from spelling and grammatical errors might have provided some assurance...

 

[QF WP]

I have received a PM from the person about 2 hours ago, requesting that certain identifying details be deleted from posts in this thread, to protect his privacy. This has been done with relevant reasoning inserted.

I now hold little doubt it is him. Sad to think that he may have gone through this, however as Bundy Bear and I discussed this morning (which prompted his post above), I think that if somebody is going to go through this situation again, limit the number of people one contacts and give personal identifying details (say verbal comments between the two people that only the two would know/remember). That way, clarification of the reality of the situation and not the possibility of a scam, can be brought forward. This would decrease the time taken to respond positively.

Thankfully, this person is well known to a lot of us regulars/older members (on the Forums, not necessarily in age). Imagine if it's a well known forum member who has never met anybody? The chances of getting assistance could be limited. Travelling by oneself can be fraught with danger, having friends around the world to call on is magic

 

[Storyteller]

We will have to welcome him home in a suitable way. Show him the love.

 

[docjames]

Well, I certainly retract my "it's a scam" posting, but certianly the presented posting early on in this discussion was very similar to the scam I mentioned in my previous post.

I'm glad the AFF/FTer is ok (as is Flashaware).

 

[Nigelinoz]

We will have to welcome him home in a suitable way. Show him the love.

Typical AFF,any excuse for an F lounge run.:mrgreen:.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[casanovawa]

I know when i lost my wallet in Buenos Aries last year on the 3rd day of a 2.5 month RTW trip it was incredibly frustrating trying to get my credit cards and all replaced etc... I was lucky I was travelling with someone for the first part of the trip who had credit cards and so was able to book accommodation and I had brought about A$2k with me which lasted me a while... I'll never keep all my credit cards together after that experience... Lucky I had a sister in the US i was seeing in 3 weeks to get some credit cards sent to, but after the bank screwed that up i had a facebook friend in London i could have 2nd crack at getting replacement cards... Even then I was down to my last A$50 in Oslo before i got it sorted!?!?! My first thought would be to work through family and friends rather than AFF to get assistance, but its good to keep in the back of the mind as another option if in distress in the future and to now know a few tips for the best way to go about being identified and trusted...

 

[Simo]

Great to see the world off AFF working.

 

[Storyteller]

I know when i lost my wallet in Buenos Aries last year on the 3rd day of a 2.5 month RTW trip it was incredibly frustrating trying to get my credit cards and all replaced etc... I was lucky I was travelling with someone for the first part of the trip who had credit cards and so was able to book accommodation and I had brought about A$2k with me which lasted me a while... I'll never keep all my credit cards together after that experience... Lucky I had a sister in the US i was seeing in 3 weeks to get some credit cards sent to, but after the bank screwed that up i had a facebook friend in London i could have 2nd crack at getting replacement cards... Even then I was down to my last A$50 in Oslo before i got it sorted!?!?! My first thought would be to work through family and friends rather than AFF to get assistance, but its good to keep in the back of the mind as another option if in distress in the future and to now know a few tips for the best way to go about being identified and trusted...

I always keep a photocopy of my passport in my checked bag. Also one at home with family, ready to scan & email / fax.
And keep a spare cc separate to my wallet, that I never use except it is there for emergencies, so should never get corrupted. Costs me $30 / year, and just sits there, quietly waiting.

I imagine once this current situation is sorted, we can collectively plan for similar situations.

 

[serfty]

Content that may have personal indications has been redacted at the request of parties involved.

A successful meet did take place, but I am sure others will post on that.

 

[haydensydney]

Mental note to self: If robbed in future, do not come to AFF for assistance

 

[serfty]

Mental note to self: If robbed in future, do not come to AFF for assistance

Actually, assistance was being provided, indeed it commenced several hours before the opening post of this thread was originally made in TTOTT.

This was enacted by the communication with several AFF/FT forum members known personally to the victim.

 

[Flashback]

The AFF collective did indeed pull through for a fellow member who has since been able to gather the required materials to get themself back on track. You could see the relief on their face when we met. I would hope that if in a similar situation someone else would do the same for me:!: