Have things gotten really this bad in the US?
 

Need help badly ... food...family of 4

I hope they are using the public library to post this on the internet if they already have no money for food and toilet paper.

If this CL post is legit, things are pretty bad.

I will bring them food if this turns out to be legit.

The simple answer is yes, however poverty in the US has been as bad for longer than late 2008.

jeez...it's legit....they responded to my email. I will get them food/tp/shampoo tonight. i had no clue this stuff was going on in my backyard,

this is the email correspondence...


Thank you so much. We need food and basic neccesities....toilet paper, shampoo...stuff like that. My daughters are 15 and 11. My address is now 2230 Park Summit Blvd. Apex, NC 27523. My house is now for sale and I can try and pay you back when it sells and I am also trying to sell some furniture etc that I can pay you back.
On Oct 24, 2011 2:59 PM, "BenHogan" <focus27514@yahoo.com> wrote:

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams


What does your family need right now?

What is your address?

I will be happy to help if this is not a scam.

-Ben



This message was remailed to you via: sale-cfubp-2666338739@craigslist.org
If this email is a scam or spam please flag it now:
http://www.craigslist.org/flag/?flagCode=31&smtpid=20111024185914qjMDRHL-4BGrCEX0Sdfpbw

Ya, its bad out there indeed. Foodshare programs are at incredible levels and pantries are running full staff.

As for the comment about hoping they posted at the library. I agree. To cut expenses I dropped internet at home and get over-air TV. Not because of financials, but because its two major expenses that I never used. So much free WiFi and over-air programing is pretty dang good!

There is a property my company manages. They are on a state food program and get housing mostly paid for by state. When I was over for an inspection they had one of every game console I knew of. Several very large flat panel TVs. And all sorts of expensive toys. Everyone in the house had an iPhone. It was pretty much then I knew the system was in much worse shape than I imagined.

Must not be TOO bad ;)

edit: I see you changed it - the TOU dictates that quotations have to retain their intended meaning so I'm throwing a disclaimer in. Quote above meant "pantries" but said "panties" and thus I quoted the somewhat humorous mistake.

Food bank at school is always really busy. It's bad.

This turned out to be a scam....

I checked on Facebook and she was dumb enough to be there. With pictures and updates.

She admittedly LOVES 'free and really cheap stuff'.....that is her M.O.

Man, don't I feel lke a chump.

How low does one have to go to get cheap stuff? Thats terrible.

You're not a chump, the lazy scammers code preys on productive people who care about others. Unfortunately most of the resources available for those in need are gobbled up by the human debris you encountered..

Did you flag her post on CL

You should report this to the cops, it is fraud. File charges on her a$$.

There is a second ad:

Need food & other neccesities for family

I've seen a number of these since things went in the crapper and always wondered about them. . Virtually any town of any size has a mission where these people can get necessaries like toothpaste and meals, particularly those with kids in tow. Begging on CL doesn't make sense. Flag her ads. Or post up her FB here and let's have some fun. And BTW, you're obviously a caring person. Not a chump.

So, this thread goes back to the original question, but in a different light. Sad that some people try to capitalize on genuine generosity. Glad you caught it before it was too late Ben, and the fact that you were trying to help does say something about your character. I'll file this one away under "duly noted" whenever I see those ads.

Its better to just help out in larger operations proving these items rather than responding to a one of on craigslist, for safety's sake. Its to easy to get lured into a bad situation.