Venerable or Vulnerable

We are all used to thinking of young people as vulnerable, particularly when it comes to being played by scammers and con artists. I recently came to the startling conclusion that older people are targets too.

I have been the victim of a magazine scam perpetrated by a slimy telemarketing company calling itself US Magazine Service. It is located in LoLo, Montana, of all places. I received several magazines like ESPN and Outside, despite the fact that I made it very clear that I did not wish their services and have no interest in sports. Without my knowledge, they were billing my bank card. I had to cancel the card when I found out.

I have made complaints to the regional Better Business Bureau and am posting warnings to others about these guys on various social media. I find that I am far from alone. Look at this business site and this site for complaints  I even found a Montana court case they lost for the same kind of behavior. 

Looking at all of this, I found that most of the victims were kids who seem to have fallen for exactly the same con as I did. I guess we have something in common, but I can’t say that I am happy about what it is. I did not have a lot of fun at 18, but I had a lot more ahead of me.

 

I could make excuses. I was very sick when I talked to these guys. But, the fact is, they managed to play me.

Oh well, I am giving them some publicity on various social media, including local newspaper web forums in Montana, other web forums and blogs, Facebook, Twitter and so on. I am writing to their magazines. There is an old hillbilly saying about the way to kill a snake. “Lift up the rock and let the sumbitch die in the sun.”

Age, youth and disability may make us vulnerable, but we can still fight back–and I intend to.

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