What a day! I awoke this morning to find this message in my Etsy account mailbox. The person – Felicia Podoloski (doubt that’s her/ his name) wanted to buy a very expensive print off me, well £320, which is not something I sell too much. I emailed her back in her yahoo account like she asked, then the dramatic story started unravelling and I was quickly sucked in! She told me she was an ocean stenographer out at sea (I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN RIGHT THERE!) and she wanted this very large print as a gift for her mother. She would pay by paypal then a courier would be round immediately to pick up. Well, I didn’t have the print, so I did a rush at the printers, and it cost a lot of money! I thought for a second “what if this is a scam?” But quickly thought “naah, it’s through Etsy, she went through the trouble of getting an Etsy account. Etsy is for independent artists. Fraud would not happen. HOW WRONG WAS I?
First she would send me money through paypal. Then there was this drama, that the courier didn’t take paypal, only Western Union. Dunno about you, but I have never heard of a courier that only takes Western Union. Then I asked her what the couriers name was. She replied “They are small private individual shipper and they have been working for me for yrs i trust them.” Hmm… I asked again for the name and she said “UCL, 39, N state st, Lincoln Illinois, 62656,USA.” I googled the name and nothing existed. I was had. After looking back at the emails I now see all the grammatical errors I ignored. I did see them, but thought “Well if I was out at sea, I might have a difficult time typing too.” Ha Ha! I fell for it! Luckily the game was over then. Either the plan was that I would go to Western Union and send the courier money, they would pay me when they picked up my item. Which was never going to happen, I’m not that gullible. The other scenario is they have my name, address, phone number, paypal email, perhaps they will try and hack my account or assume my identity? Who effin knows. But I spent hours on the phone to paypal & in emails to Etsy alerting them to Felica Podoloski’s scam. Now, I have to go to the printers and pick up my very expensive print. Oh well, I’ll sell it eventually. Live and learn eh? gd
It’s Mothers Day in America. This is my mother at Longleat Estate in 2002. We had a fun day touring the grand house, walking through the zoo and getting lost for hours in the hedge maze. Shortly after this picture was taken, mamma returned to America and was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The doctor said her best outlook would be a 30% chance to live to 3 years. I was devastated. I couldn’t imagine my life with out her. Luckily mamma’s strong mind beat the odds and 10 years she’s been cancer free. I love her so much. She’s extremely smart, funny, knowledgeable, compassionate, witty, charming and beautiful. The epitome of southern grace. She’s my best friend and mentor. She always told me I could achieve anything and to follow my dreams. That as long as I love what I’m doing, I will never spend a day at work. I am so lucky she is my mother. I have had a wonderful life because of her. I love you mamma! Happy Mothers day! oxoxoxo Love me
