My Jerry Springer Family! Sheesh.......

**MaryCarney** · 07-19-2011, 08:39 PM

Sometimes, even I am amazed by the depths to which people will go to avoid work.
I have a family member (niece/nephew/cousin - type relative) who is on my facebook feed. This person posted an 'event'. The event was 'let's raise money for the 'homeless shelter in my town'. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

Until you discover that there is no homeless shelter in his/her town and the link for donations is his/her personal paypal account!
For the love of Mike.............

**bumplett** · 07-19-2011, 10:15 PM

O.M.G.

I would swear that has to be against half a dozen laws.

hmmmm???

come on, I know you thought about it.....

**Paws** · 07-19-2011, 10:28 PM

Wow...

Sorry, no disrespect meant, but that's pretty low...

**frugalfoster** · 07-19-2011, 10:52 PM

Believe it or not..this is not the first time i've heard of this...I know people who use their kids as a way of getting people to donate to them. They then use the money to buy luxury cars... it's disgusting and it's wrong.

**MaryCarney** · 07-19-2011, 11:09 PM

I'm seriously thinking of contacting paypal.......anyone know if this violates their policies??

**MissSeetonFan** · 07-20-2011, 12:06 AM

At a bare minimum, it is fraud which would be a violation of policy - doing something illegal with the account - and it is illegal. Don't know what the laws are for his area but you could call and see. Anonymous tip???

**MaryCarney** · 07-20-2011, 12:15 AM

I need to just let this go........

**thefrug** · 07-20-2011, 06:36 AM

Yea. You have to watch FB. Our neighbors go on there begging for money to buy hay for their horses. Telling people that the weather is/was so bad they only got one cutting of hay. The only thing is...they don't have any equiptment or even the gumption to cut any hay. And people actually send them money!!! Lazy people.

**lotsadebt** · 07-20-2011, 07:34 AM

Fraud, plan and simple.

**OOwl** · 07-20-2011, 08:43 AM

If that was his motive, that's, indeed, heinous, but, perhaps (always giving the benefit of doubt here), he just thought he would collect donations and then write this shelter he refers to a check from the proceeds (not smart on his part, but maybe just ignorance about the correct way to collect for a charity). Maybe he stretched it out a bit and it wasn't actually IN his town, but maybe close by? I dunno, I think I'd ask a few questions of him, certainly, before I decided FOR SURE he was committing fraud. I guess that's the police department in me (innocent until proven otherwise). Hope it turns out to be a misunderstanding.

**MaryCarney** · 07-20-2011, 10:04 AM

Oh, it's fraud all right.

Another family member (who lives in the area) asked for contact info for the shelter in order to contribute goods needed instead of cash and POOF all event invitations and links disappeared (within like 10 minutes of the posting).

I love my family, I truly do. But it is really hard sometimes to understand how their minds work in thinking this is OK. The other thing is this - if they need $$, why not just say "I need $$" ? This person dropped out of high school and has no real job skills. We understand that, and might have helped if asked.

**Libby** · 07-20-2011, 10:09 AM

MC - we need to find that Island where we put Murphy and banish our Jerry Springer families there.

**mh3rdwheel** · 07-20-2011, 10:12 AM

I would post something on facebook about the fraud, say something like there is NO HOMELESS SHELTER in your area, get ahold of facebook, and paypal, let people know.

Good Luck.

**MaryCarney** · 07-20-2011, 10:24 AM

* hangs head in shame *
I actually do have a family member who has (really and truly) been on the Jerry Springer Show. Not in the audience, on the stage.

**Libby** · 07-20-2011, 10:36 AM

HAHAHAHA - Im sorry but I needed that. I hope you understand.

ETA: I think my oldest sister aspires to be on that show though its no longer recording.