382: Getting Over

[starscream]

Originally Posted by william

My Nigerian scammer fuck-around. I even got the bastard to send me his real name and a scan of his passport. I almost got him to send me money

Last week's Close To Home was about "Nigerians" scamming a preacher. Or something. I really can't pay attention to that show, even when I'm really trying. Here's the TV Guide recap:

"A preacher is murdered and clues point to his wife (Ann Cusack), yet suspicion falls on someone else after police learn the church lost its building fund in an Internet scam. But the money trail leads to a scandalous discovery that further complicates the case."

[william]

Via BoingBoing.net...

Bank of America loses $50 million from customers upset by false arrest

UPDATE: So far, Boing Boing readers have promised to close BofA accounts totaling over $46,500 because of this incident. Details below.

In August Matthew Shinnick sold a pair of bikes on Craig's list for $600. After shipping the bikes, he received a check for $2000, not $600. The buyer explained that the extra money was for shipping costs and for his "trouble."

Shinnick was suspicious, so when he went to a San Francisco branch of Bank of America to deposit the check, but expressed concern that the check might not be good. He asked the teller to find out before depositing it.

"The teller contacted the business and was informed that no check had been written to Shinnick for $2,000 or any other amount. She immediately passed the check to the branch manager. "I saw him talking on the phone and staring at me," Shinnick said. "A few minutes later, four SFPD officers came into the bank. They didn't say a thing. They just kicked my legs apart and handcuffed me behind my back." The police report for Shinnick's arrest says he was taken into custody "for the safety of the bank employees as well as the bank customers." -- SFGate

Shinnick was hauled to jail, stripped of his clothing and put into an orange jumpsuit. His father posted $4,500 bond to spring him. Shinnick ended up spending $14,000 to get out of the mess Bank of America caused.

Bank of America refused to reimburse Shinnick, and so Shinnick took his story to a consumer advocate radio show host, Clark Howard. Lots of Bank of America customers were disgusted by BofA's callousness and have closed their accounts with the bank. Howard says they've pulled $50 million from B of A.

This is Broken has the full story, with relevant links. Link

[mali]

Originally Posted by william

Via BoingBoing.net...

Bank of America loses $50 million from customers upset by false arrest

This makes me feel better about Chase Manhattan. At the time I was pissed that they made me wait a week for a cashier's check to clear. But now I'm quite glad.

Unfortunately I now use BoA and as soon as the credit union down the street opens, i'm so pulling my accounts.

[william]

Originally Posted by mali

Unfortunately I now use BoA and as soon as the credit union down the street opens, i'm so pulling my accounts.

Maybe they'll serenade you to keep your accounts

[MichaelG]

I like WAMU I hope they don't fuck up so I have to leave them

[william]

Originally Posted by spaceboy

That is really embarrassing.

Thing is, he doesn't have that bad a voice.

But can you imagine the hours spent writing and practicing this?

...and we've got Bank One on the run
What's in your wallet? It's not Capital One
It's us...

And we'll make lots of money...

We'll live out our core values
While the competition runs...

[Shawn]

Originally Posted by MichaelG

I like WAMU

I used to have a mortgage with them. Terrible customer service.

[Shawn]

Originally Posted by william

Maybe they'll serenade you to keep your accounts

Considering that Bank of America is a huge company with (most likely) a huge legal department, I'd guess that they went out and licensed the rights to the original song. I hope Bono uses the money to save all of the AIDS babies in Africa. It'll help ease the sting of selling out.